"Fred Hutch Cancer Center" "Cures Start Here"

Prakash Varadarajan, MBBS

Provider

Prakash Varadarajan, MBBS

Physician, Fred Hutch
Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine

Specialty:

Hematology-Oncology

Fred Hutch at EvergreenHealth

Print

“Seeing immense courage and unconditional love in the face of adversity inspires me to better myself every single day, both as a physician and as a human. ”

— Dr. Varadarajan

Why do you practice oncology?

Growing up, I was a voracious reader who was fascinated by science, and this was what drew me to medical school. At first, I didn’t have a vision of what type of doctor I wanted to be, but as my training progressed, I had some incredible mentors in oncology and hematology. They were able to occupy two parallel worlds at once — caring for patients in the clinic while also having their hands in scientific research — which was really appealing to me. Cancer care requires a balanced mix of thought, heart and perseverance that keeps me motivated every day.

What’s it like to work with you?

I believe in being deeply engaged with my patients as they go through one of the most difficult periods of their lives. For me, this means listening to your needs so that I can best support you and suggest treatment pathways that fit your goals and preferences. Working with people who have cancer and their families continues to be a truly fulfilling experience. Seeing immense courage and unconditional love in the face of adversity inspires me to better myself every single day, both as a physician and as a human.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Blood disorders, gastrointestinal cancers, genitourinary cancers, head and neck cancers, lung cancer

I am a hematologist-oncologist who treats malignant and non-malignant blood disorders as well as cancers affecting the digestive system, prostate, bladder, lungs, head and neck. My background includes working at CHI Franciscan in Lakewood and Tacoma and providing cancer care at a community hematology-oncology practice in Saginaw, Michigan. Today, my practice is based at Fred Hutch at EvergreenHealth.

In addition to providing hands-on care, I am also interested in improving outcomes for patients with genitourinary (GU) cancers, which affect the bladder and male reproductive system. One of my goals is to expand the clinical trials program for GU cancers at EvergreenHealth. Helping a patient find the right clinical trial is a joy; it can expand our knowledge and understanding of specific treatments while also potentially helping patients in real time.

Community Oncology

Our mission is to provide patients with the highest quality, personalized care closer to home. As part of Fred Hutch, our community oncologists offer patients multidisciplinary tumor board opinions, clinical trials and expertise in treating a variety of cancers.

Languages

English
Hindi

Education, Experience and Certifications

Medical Degree
Goa Medical College

Residency
University of Buffalo, Internal Medicine; B.J Govt Medical College/Sassoon General Hospital, Radiology; Goa Medical College, Dermatology

Fellowship
University of Texas Health Science Center, Hematology-Oncology

Board Certification
Medical Oncology, 2012; Hematology, 2012; Internal Medicine, 2009, 2019, American Board of Internal Medicine

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.

View Clinical Trials

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. Varadarajan'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.

Meet Other Providers

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.

More About Insurance