"Fred Hutch Cancer Center" "Cures Start Here"

Jesse L. Roberts, MD

Provider

Jesse L. Roberts, MD

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

Specialty:

Surgery

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“My greatest professional joy is partnering with patients to bring back their health and to restore their physical functioning.”

— Dr. Roberts

What do you enjoy most about your specialty?

As an orthopedic oncologist, I usually have dual goals: eliminating a patient’s cancer and then helping that person return to the highest level of functioning possible. What that means is unique to each individual. I enjoy finding out what makes life meaningful for patients and coming up with creative solutions so they can resume those activities. For example, during my fellowship I collaborated with several colleagues to treat a patient with a sarcoma in his arm. After we removed the tumor, we performed a multiple joint replacement surgery so that he could continue pursuing his two passions: fishing and painting. My greatest professional joy is partnering with patients to bring back their health and to restore their physical functioning.

How do you approach care?

One of the reasons I chose this specialty is that I get to stand alongside patients throughout the whole process of care. I break down in understandable terms what a sarcoma diagnosis means and how we can treat it. In orthopedic oncology, there are often multiple treatment options to choose from, none of which is necessarily superior to another. By understanding your goals and what’s important to you, I can help you weigh the risks and benefits and choose the option that’s the best fit. While I can’t promise a specific outcome, I can promise that I will be there to help you face every challenge.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Bone and soft tissue sarcomas, orthopedic oncology, pediatric sarcomas

I am an orthopedic oncologist who specializes in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of sarcomas. This rare form of cancer affects bones and soft tissue, such as muscles and tendons. My expertise includes performing joint reconstructions and managing the musculoskeletal complications of cancer treatment. I see both children and adults, providing care at the South Lake Union Clinic, Fred Hutch at UW Medical Center - Montlake and Seattle Children's.

In addition to working with patients, I am also interested in how telemedicine and advanced technology (wearable devices, for example) can be used to help people recover from surgery more quickly and thoroughly. These tools could be particularly valuable for patients who must travel long distances for care. My other research interests include exploring the role of novel technology in orthopedic surgery and understanding the factors that lead patients to choose a particular surgery when there are multiple options.

Diseases Treated

Pediatric Malignancies

Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Languages

English

Education, Experience and Certifications

Undergraduate Degree
Occidental College

Medical Degree
New York Medical College

Residency
University of Colorado, Orthopedic Surgery

Fellowship
University of California Medical Center, Davis, Sarcoma Surgery

Other
MS, Tufts University

Board Certification
Orthopaedic Surgery, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

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.

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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.

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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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