Medical Oncology
Palliative Care
My goal is to provide high-quality, compassionate cancer care that is consistent with you and your family’s wishes, both when a cure is possible and when it is not. My colleagues and I offer well-coordinated care through Fred Hutch’s Sarcoma Clinic, and we are developing and testing new treatments to improve your survival. During a typical appointment, we’ll talk through your course of treatment and answer any questions that you have. I also like to ensure that you’re aware of our supportive care services, which can improve your overall well-being by helping with side effects such as fatigue, lack of appetite and depression.
My family lost my paternal grandmother to cancer long before I was born, but I witnessed how the experience affected my father even years later. This awareness drove me to become a medical oncologist — to work toward curing cancer and to ensure the experience of having cancer could be transformative in a positive way for both patients and families. Often, there is little or no good information available about rare cancers like sarcomas. So patients need expert, trustworthy partners in finding the best care for their individual needs. I find it gratifying to fulfill that role.
Area of Clinical Practice
Sarcoma, palliative care
Sarcoma
I am a medical oncologist who treats patients with sarcoma, a rare cancer of the bones and soft tissue. I divide my time at Fred Hutch between seeing patients and doing research. Although I’m an expert in the care of all forms of sarcoma, my research focuses on intra-abdominal and retroperitoneal tumors and rare, aggressive forms of sarcoma, like epitheliod sarcoma and solitary fibrous tumor. In addition to identifying novel treatments, I also study ways to improve health care delivery and patient communication, particularly for patients with advanced cancer.
Palliative Care
I serve as the medical director of Supportive and Palliative Care Services at Fred Hutch. Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life and symptom management during treatment — even if that treatment is intended for a cure. One study has indicated that palliative care — not to be confused with hospice care — may actually help you tolerate more treatment and help you live longer.
English
Undergraduate Degree
Stanford University
Medical Degree
University of Minnesota Medical School
Residency
Massachusetts General Hospital, Internal Medicine
Fellowship
Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Hematology-Oncology
Board Certification
Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 2012; Medical Oncology, 2009; Internal Medicine, 2006, American Board of Internal Medicine
Other
PhD, University of Minnesota
Outstanding Healthcare Practitioner
Received an Outstanding Healthcare Practitioner Silver Award from Seattle Business magazine in 2014.
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.
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.
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.