Lynn Symonds, MD
Lynn Symonds, MD
- Physician, Fred Hutch
- Clinical Researcher, Medical Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine
Medical Oncology
“People feel vulnerable when they walk through our doors, but I always see amazing strength in my patients. Getting to know them and their support system is what drives me to be the best doctor I can be.”
— Dr. Symonds
Why should a patient trust Fred Hutch for care?
Everyone here is a compassionate professional dedicated to delivering the best care, and I feel confident our team offers what our patients need to get the best possible outcomes. I get to focus on treating only breast cancer patients, so I have a deep understanding of the treatments and the unique experiences our patients face. This is where I would want my own family to receive care.
How would you describe your approach to care?
I provide my patients with the most up-to-date, evidence-based information so they can feel empowered to make decisions. Patients are faced with so many details and advice that it can become overwhelming, but it’s my job to help break it all down and put everything in context for each individual. I want my patients to feel safe, valued and heard by me and my team. It’s a privilege to support my patients and their families, and I feel honored to be a part of their care.
Provider Background
Specialty: Medical Oncology
Breast cancer
I am a medical oncologist who sees patients at the Breast Health Clinic at Fred Hutch.
I was planning to study music, but decided I wanted to become a doctor so I could combine my love for science with my passion for taking care of people. During a seminar in college, I heard a patient talk about her experience being on a clinical trial with a HER2-targeted therapy. Her oncologist explained how this was a newer (at that time) treatment for her specific type of breast cancer and that it had fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy because it was targeting the HER2 protein. I was inspired and decided I wanted to do research in the field, where I could impact change for many patients by helping to develop treatments that improved outcomes and decreased toxicity.
I have experience with all types of breast cancer research, from clinical trials to working in the lab. My current focus is translational and clinical research focused on understanding and preventing metastasis.
Diseases Treated
Languages
English
Education, Experience and Certifications
Undergraduate Degree
Dartmouth College
Medical Degree
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Internship
University of Washington
Residency
University of Washington, Internal Medicine
Fellowship
University of Washington, Hematology-Oncology
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