Christina S. Baik, MD, MPH
Christina S. Baik, MD, MPH
- Physician, Fred Hutch
- Associate Professor, Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine
- Associate Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
Medical Oncology
“I believe the best cancer treatment decisions stem from actively collaborating with you and your family and understanding your values and priorities.”
— Dr. Baik
When did you know you wanted to be an oncologist?
In high school, I was very interested in sciences and also very drawn to community service. I felt that becoming a doctor was a perfect way to combine these interests. During my residency, I felt an especially close connection with the cancer patients I met. Many had a perspective of life that enriched and challenged me, both as a physician and as a person. I also believe in the importance of extending care to the community by better understanding cancer risk factors and developing prevention strategies for those at risk. This is part of my work as an oncologist too.
How do you approach cancer treatment?
My personal motto is to live a life of grace and generosity. I try to bring this into all of my work. Treatment is a process, and I feel very privileged when my patients and their families allow me to see some of the most intimate details of their lives as we take each step in that process. I enjoy being an educator, not only to other physicians and trainees, but also with you and your family throughout your care.
Provider Background
Specialty: Medical Oncology
Area of clinical practice
Head and neck cancers, thoracic cancers
Lung cancer
My clinical research focuses on developing effective targeted therapies for people with oncogene-driven lung cancer. I’m also interested in understanding the mechanisms of primary and secondary resistance to immunotherapy, or why immunotherapy doesn’t work for everyone. In my lifetime, I hope that we’ll be able to detect more lung cancers in the early curable stages and that metastatic lung cancer will become manageable so people can live long and productive lives even with the disease.
Head and neck cancers
While a diagnosis of head and neck cancer can be devastating news for patients and their families, I’ve witnessed that the news can bring out the best in many people. This is one reason I decided to take care of people with cancer. It’s a very rewarding way to commit my time and energy.
Languages
English
Korean
Education, Experience and Certifications
Undergraduate Degree
University of Puget Sound
Medical Degree
University of Rochester School of Medicine
Residency
Brown Medical School, General Internal Medicine
Fellowship
Tufts Medical Center, Hematology-Oncology
Board Certification
Oncology, 2009, 2019, American Board of Internal Medicine
Other
MPH, Harvard School of Public Health; Post-doctoral Research Fellowship, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Your Care Team
At Fred Hutch, you receive care from a team of providers with extensive experience in your disease. Your team includes doctors, a patient care coordinator, a registered nurse, an advanced practice provider and others, based on your needs. You also have access to experts like nutritionists, social workers, acupuncturists, psychiatrists and more who specialize in supporting people with cancer or blood disorders.
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.
For the Media
The Media Relations team at Fred Hutch is available to assist members of the news media who would like to arrange interviews with providers.
Email media@fredhutch.org or call 206.667.2210