Kathryn (Molly) Blau, MD, MS
Kathryn (Molly) Blau, MD, MS
- Physician, Fred Hutch
- Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine
Radiation Oncology
“Having everything in one place is great for patients, and it also helps us as providers because we get to combine our knowledge and work together. ”
— Dr. Blau
What brought you to cancer treatment?
I have always been interested in oncology and treating cancer because I have a parent who is an oncologist, but I found radiation oncology by accident. I was in my third year of medical school and taking care of a patient who had brain metastases. We worked with radiation oncology to get him treated very quickly, and I was really impressed with the communication and ease of working with the department as well as what we were able to do for the patient. It was a mix of hands-on work and technical skills, and I realized it would allow me to integrate a lot of different aspects of medical care into my practice.
What do you value about your work?
The part I find most fulfilling – and that I try to spend the most time on – is getting to know each individual patient so we can determine the best path forward together. Knowing people’s values and figuring out how these fit with the recommendations is so important.
Provider Background
Specialty: Radiation Oncology
Radiation oncology
I am a radiation oncologist who sees patients at the South Lake Union Clinic.
One of my mentors during training told me, “Cancer doesn’t always read the full book.” For each patient, the experience is unique. A lot of times, we may be seeing multiple patients for the same diagnosis, but there are a lot of different treatment paths.
Diseases Treated
Languages
English
Education, Experience and Certifications
Undergraduate Degree
Stanford University
Graduate Degree
Georgetown University
Medical School
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Fellowship
Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics
Clinical Trials
We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch doctors. Many of these trials at Fred Hutch have led to FDA-approved treatments and have improved standards of care globally. Together, you and your doctor can decide if a study is right for you.
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