"Fred Hutch Cancer Center" "Cures Start Here"

Erin Gillespie, MD, MPH

Provider

Erin Gillespie, MD, MPH

Physician, Fred Hutch
Associate Professor, Radiation Oncology Division, Fred Hutch
Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine

Specialty:

Radiation Oncology

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“I encourage patients to be open about their unique circumstances so we can tailor treatments and make sure they have the best possible outcomes.”

— Dr. Gillespie

What brought you to oncology and health care research?

When I was in high school in Anchorage, Alaska, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to travel to the lower 48 — the contiguous United States — for six weeks of radiation. Ever since then, I have had in my mind, “Why can’t people trust that they’re getting high-quality care closer to home?” I want to help make high-quality care more accessible for people everywhere.

How do you approach providing patient care? What drives you in your research efforts?

My approach to care is rooted in my dual role as a provider and health services researcher, with a focus on implementation science and its application to clinical radiation oncology. My clinical and research efforts are driven by a mission to serve varying populations and expand access to high-quality, patient-centered care through innovation in how cancer care is delivered.

I want to understand patients’ experiences and improve symptom management, including lower-grade toxicities like fatigue, pain, and the financial burdens associated with travel related to treatment.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Radiation oncology, health care quality research

I am a radiation oncologist who sees patients at the Sloan Clinic and Fred Hutch Cancer Center - Proton Therapy.

I specialize in radiation treatment for patients with breast cancer, including metastatic disease. I am also a scientist whose research focuses on understanding variation in the quality and types of treatments people receive and identifying ways to bring best practices to patients no matter where they live.

I was fortunate to get involved in breast cancer research in college and have valued working toward better understanding and treatment for this disease that has affected my family and so many others. We also see increasingly excellent outcomes for many patients, and this allows us to really understand and tailor treatment to reduce the burden on patients and their families.

Diseases Treated

Languages

English

Education, Experience and Certifications

Undergraduate Degree
Yale University

Medical School
University of Michigan Medical School

Residency
University of California (San Diego) Medical Center

Board Certification
Radiation Oncology, 2018, American Board of Radiology

Other
MPH, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Awards

Steven A. Leibel Memorial Award for best abstract at American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), 2022

National Cancer Institute (NCI) K08 Career Development Award, 2020

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Young Investigator Award, 2017

Radiologic Society of North America (RSNA) Roentgen Resident Research Award, 2017

Stories

All news

The Beam: New roles for Drs. Weg, Chen and Gillespie, plus a history of radiation

The Beam: New roles for Drs. Weg, Chen and Gillespie, plus a history of radiation June 27, 2023

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 Led by Dr. Gillespie

Many of our Fred Hutch physicians conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by other doctors 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. Gillespie's Publications

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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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