Lee D. Cranmer, MD, PhD, FACP
Lee D. Cranmer, MD, PhD, FACP
- Director of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, Fred Hutch
- Program Director, Bob and Eileen Gilman Family Sarcoma Research Program, Fred Hutch
- Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
- Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine
Medical Oncology
“You are more than a patient: You are a critical partner in our research efforts. If we hope to improve cancer care, it will only be by working together.”
— Dr. Cranmer
How do you partner with your patients?
I believe in a team-based approach to cancer care, with you at the center of the team. You are also a vital partner in our scientific work, as well as the direct beneficiary of our past and current laboratory research and clinical trials. Although most discoveries lead to only incremental improvements, I’ve been honored to participate in research that has been groundbreaking in its impact on the people we care for.
What made you want to practice oncology?
Several of the mentors and role models in my early life were physicians, and I always knew I wanted to work in a field where my efforts would directly improve the world. While I was a medical resident at the Mayo Clinic, I worked in the cancer ward and quickly realized there were unmet needs for people with cancer, which made me want to continue working with them to see how I could help. I believe that immunotherapy will provide a means to treat the disease more effectively and even prevent it in some cases. I expect to make this the focus of the rest of my career.
Provider Background
Area of Clinical Practice
Sarcomas
As the director of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, my expertise is in the clinical management of sarcomas, a rare kind of cancer that grows in connective tissue — cells that connect or support other kinds of tissue in your body. I am focused on supporting and expanding sarcoma research collaborations at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and UW Medicine, including the development of local clinical trials, involvement in national clinical trials, the teaching and mentoring of hematology-oncology fellows and community-outreach activities.
Skin cancers
I treat patients with melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. I’ve been directly involved in the design or execution of over 70 institutional, industry and national cooperative group-sponsored therapeutic clinical trials for melanoma and sarcoma patients, in addition to phase 1 solid tumor protocols. These have included trials of molecularly targeted therapies and immune-boosting therapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Diseases Treated
Languages
English
Education, Experience and Certifications
Undergraduate Degree
Harvard University
Medical Degree
University of California, San Diego
Residency
Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Internal Medicine
Fellowship
University of Arizona College of Medicine, Medical Oncology
Board Certification
Medical Oncology, 2004, 2014; Internal Medicine, 2001, 2011, American Board of Internal Medicine
Other
PhD, University of California, San Diego; MSc, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine; Master, University of Liverpool; MPH, University of Arizona; Teaching Appointment, University of Arizona
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