"Fred Hutch Cancer Center" "Cures Start Here"

Matthew Old, MD, FACS

Provider

Matthew Old, MD, FACS

Physician, Fred Hutch
Professor and Chair, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine
Allison T. Wanamaker Endowed Chair in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, UW Medicine

Specialty:

Surgery

Reconstructive Surgery

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“I want each patient to know they are at the center of everything I do. Head and neck cancer care is complex, and my goal is not only to treat the disease but to help each patient live fully.”

— Dr. Old

How do you approach providing patient care?

Treating head and neck cancer requires personalized approaches to disease management and restoring essential functions such as speech, swallowing and appearance. My approach integrates advanced therapies, surgery, radiation and reconstructive procedures with a strong emphasis on functional outcomes to make sure patients can return to meaningful lives after treatment. I work within a multidisciplinary team — collaborating with medical and radiation oncologists, speech therapists, advanced practice providers, nurses, dentists and other specialists — to create individualized treatment plans. I strive to combine leading-edge science with compassionate care, guiding patients through complex decisions and supporting them throughout the process. Education and clear communication are central to my philosophy, so patients and families understand their options and feel confident in their care.

What drew you to head and neck oncology, surgery and reconstruction, and what do you value about your work?

I chose this specialty because it allows me to integrate my passions for clinical care, research, education and innovation in a way that profoundly impacts patients’ lives. Head and neck cancer treatment is uniquely complex. I am driven by the opportunity to improve both survival and quality of life for patients through advanced novel therapies, surgical techniques and reconstructive approaches.

I appreciate when patients share about the life events they get to experience because of their treatment — weddings, graduations and other family milestones. Celebrating those moments is incredibly meaningful and reminds me of why I do this work.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Head and neck surgery and oncology, skin cancer, thyroid and parathyroid disease

I am an otolaryngologist who sees patients at the Sloan Clinic, Fred Hutch at UW Medical Center - Montlake and Fred Hutch at UW Medical Center - Northwest and Harborview Medical Center.

My research in head and neck cancer spans translational science, clinical outcomes and innovation in surgical oncology. I established a comprehensive clinical database for oropharyngeal, oral cavity and adenoid cystic carcinomas, paired with tissue to enable biomarker discovery and personalized treatment strategies. I also lead outcomes-based research focused on improving quality of life and reducing postoperative complications in head and neck surgery, including microvascular reconstruction. I actively participate in phase I–III clinical trials and have served as site principal investigator and co-principal investigator for multiple immunotherapy and targeted therapy studies, including neoadjuvant and adjuvant checkpoint inhibitor trials. My work has contributed to national guidelines, such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) task force on immunotherapy, and I maintain executive leadership roles in our national societies including the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS).

Diseases Treated

Head and Neck Cancers

Medullary Throid Cancer

Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Paragangliomas and Schwannomas of the Head and Neck

Parathyroid Cancer

Pediatric Malignancies

Salivary Gland Cancer

Languages

English

Education, Experience and Certifications

Undergraduate Degree
Stanford University

Medical Degree
The University of Texas Houston Health Science Center

Residency
University of Michigan, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Fellowship
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Head and Neck Oncologic, Reconstructive, and Skull Base Surgery

Board Certifications
Head and Neck Surgery, 2009, American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery; Adult Complex Thyroid/Parathyroid Surgery, 2025, American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Awards

Castle Connolly Top Doctors, 2012-2025

Mazzaferri-Ellison Society of Master Clinicians Inductee, The Ohio State University College of Medicine

American Head & Neck Society Community Service Award, 2020

Excellence in Teaching Award, Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, 2011, 2015

Forty under Forty 40 Award, Columbus Business First Magazine

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.

View Dr. Old's Publications

Your Care Team

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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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.

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