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Wener
Mark Wener, MD

Mark Wener, MD

  • Physician, Fred Hutch
  • Co-Director, Scleroderma Clinic, UW Medicine
  • Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology; Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine
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About

Dr. Mark Wener is a rheumatologist at Fred Hutch who cares for patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Area of Clinical Practice
Rheumatology, immunotherapy, clinical pathology 

“Since medical school, I have been fascinated by immunology and immunologically mediated disease. I feel fortunate to work with colleagues to use exciting emerging options of cell therapy to treat autoimmune diseases.”

— Dr. Wener

How do you approach providing patient care?

Most of the patients I see have complex conditions that may affect many organs and cause a variety of symptoms. I talk with patients and review their medical records to understand the long-term course of their disease and how it impacts their life. I try to educate patients about options for treatment and make decisions with patients to choose treatments that align with their goals. I communicate and share perspectives with other providers and specialists treating patients with complex diseases to help patients and their families coordinate and manage their condition.

So many patients have taught me lessons about coping with disease and setbacks, as well as successful treatments. I think of a patient who was too ill to start a family, whose disease was successfully managed so she later could become pregnant, and now returns to the clinic with her children or their photos. This has been so gratifying.

Have you conducted any research in your area of practice?

I was a co-investigator in the National Institutes of Health-sponsored national clinical trial establishing the effectiveness of hematopoietic stem cell therapy in treatment of patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Currently, I am participating in trials treating systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus, myositis and rheumatoid arthritis using CAR T-cell therapy. 

I have been involved in other clinical trials treating lupus, scleroderma interstitial lung disease and related disorders. I have also been involved in the standardization and development of laboratory tests for diagnosis and monitoring autoimmune rheumatic diseases and development of laboratory tests by epidemiologists. Working with Fred Hutch and University of Washington colleagues, we developed the only clinical laboratory test used to monitor Merkel cell carcinoma using anti-viral antibodies.

Diseases Treated

Autoimmune Diseases

Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis

Languages

English

Education and Experience

Fellowship, Rheumatology, University of Iowa; Rheumatology and Immunology, University of Washington

Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Iowa

MD, Washington University 

BS, Chemistry, University of Chicago

Board Certifications

Clinical and Laboratory Immunology, 1986, American Board of Allergy and Immunology; Rheumatology, 1980; Internal Medicine, 1978; American Board of Internal Medicine

Awards

Carl Jolliff Award for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical or Diagnostic Medicine, Clinical Immunology Division, American Association of Clinical Chemistry (Association of Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine), 2023

Irwin Neter Laureate Award of Lifetime Achievement, Association of Medical Laboratory Immunologists, 2023

Clinical Trials

We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch physicians. Many of these trials at Fred Hutch have led to FDA-approved treatments and have improved standards of care globally. Together, you and your physician can decide if a study is right for you.

View Clinical Trials

Publications

Many of our Fred Hutch physicians conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by other physicians and selected for publication to the United States National Library of Medicine, the largest medical library in the world. See scientific papers this Fred Hutch physician has written.

View Dr. Wener's Publications

Your Care Team

At Fred Hutch, you receive care from a team of providers with extensive experience in your disease. Your team includes physicians, a patient care coordinator, a registered nurse, an advanced practice provider and others, based on your needs. You also have access to experts like registered dietitians, social workers, acupuncturists, psychiatrists and more who specialize in supporting people with cancer or blood disorders.

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Insurance

Fred Hutch accepts most national private health insurance plans as well as Medicare. We also accept Medicaid for people from Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. We are working to ensure that everyone, no matter what their financial situation, has access to the care they need.

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