Nicholas P. Giustini, MD
Nicholas P. Giustini, MD
- Physician, Fred Hutch
- Acting Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology, University of Washington School of Medicine
Medical Oncology
“The way I work with a patient is more like a partnership. I appreciate really getting to know my patients, and I value the relationship. They are the reason I do this. It’s rewarding being able to do a lot of good and be an agent of change. I want what’s best for them, and I think they can feel that.”
— Nicholas P. Giustini, MD
Why did you choose oncology?
In fellowship, I had the opportunity to research lung cancer. With the explosion of research and clinical trials, it was exciting to see how much better patients do today than they did a decade ago. Later, I got to see the special relationship patients develop with their oncologist during treatment, which lasts months or years. I decided I wanted to be there for those patients, helping them to navigate the lung cancer journey.
What is your favorite part of what you do?
It’s always really gratifying when somebody has a really good response to treatment, but it can be just as rewarding when a patient has health issues. That’s when we figure out what the patient wants and how to tailor the treatment we deliver. I try to understand where the patient is coming from, their motivations and their values. Do they value living as long as possible, or do they value being as comfortable as possible? Do they have a graduation in a few months and want to do everything possible to get there? In partnership, we consider these goals and make decisions about treatment together.
Provider Background
Specialty: Medical Oncology
Thoracic oncology
Focus on treatment of thoracic cancers, including lung cancer.
Languages
English
Education, Experience and Certifications
Residency
UCLA Medical Center
Fellowship, Hematology/Oncology
University of California San Diego
Medical Degree
University of Southern Californa
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