"Fred Hutch Cancer Center" "Cures Start Here"

Elyse J. Brinkmann, MD

Provider

Elyse J. Brinkmann, MD

Physician, Fred Hutch
Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine

Specialty:

Surgery

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“I believe in the value of clear and open communication, both within a care team and between patients and providers.”

— Dr. Brinkmann

How would you describe your approach as a care provider?

My goal is to provide patients with all the information they need to fully participate in the shared decision-making process, so together we can form a plan of care that meets the patient's specific goals and expectations. Because bone and soft tissue sarcomas are so rare, patients are often unfamiliar with their diagnosis before their appointment, so a huge part of my role as a provider involves patient education, especially at the first visit.

Why should a patient trust Fred Hutch for care?

I am proud to work with a knowledgeable team of experts who are committed to providing high-quality care focused on each patient’s goals and needs. Sarcomas are a particularly rare group of cancers, and our large multidisciplinary team has the specialized training and expertise necessary to coordinate care for patients with this rare diagnosis. We strive to provide each patient with the dignity, care and time they deserve to navigate the complex pathways of diagnosis, treatment and surveillance.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Orthopedic oncology, adult hip and knee reconstruction

I am a board-certified physician who sees patients at the South Lake Union Clinic and Fred Hutch at UW Medical Center – Montlake.

Orthopedic oncology is very different from other subspecialties within the field of orthopedic surgery, most notably in the team-based, multidisciplinary treatment that is involved in the long-term care of our patients with primary bone and soft tissue sarcomas. I enjoy the incredibly collaborative nature of the field, and I find it rewarding to work with others to provide patients who have new cancer diagnoses with a care plan that is specific to their goals.

While there are countless patients who have a lasting impact on our lives as providers, one of my most special memories of working with a patient involves caring for a young woman who had multiple sites of cancer related to a genetic predisposition. I was impressed by her extraordinary resilience and enjoyed getting to celebrate each milestone of her recovery with her and her family, both in the early stages of her hospitalization and especially at her follow-up appointments, when her amazing progress became most evident. I still receive updates on her many pursuits and accomplishments, and I love having the opportunity to reflect on her incredible journey.

Diseases Treated

Languages

English

Education, Experience and Certifications

Undergraduate Degree
University of California, Los Angeles

Medical Degree
Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Residency
Loyola University Medical Center, Orthopaedic Surgery

Fellowship
Mayo Clinic, Musculoskeletal Oncology
Brigham Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School,Adult Hip and Knee Reconstruction

Board Certification
Orthopaedic Surgery, 2019, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Awards

Schwartz Traveling Fellowship, Loyola University Medical Center, 2019
Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society Resident Scholarship, 2019
Sofield Traveling Fellowship, Loyola University Medical Center, 2017

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.

Find a Clinical Trial Led by Dr. Brinkmann

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. Brinkmann'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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