"Fred Hutch Cancer Center" "Cures Start Here"

Samuel (Sam) Emerson, MD, PhD

Provider

Samuel (Sam) Emerson, MD, PhD

Physician, Fred Hutch
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine

Specialty:

Surgery

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“I want to be an ally to patients and help with their overall well-being while they deal with a brain tumor diagnosis and treatment, and for them to know they are not going to go through it alone. I am on their team.”

— Dr. Emerson

What brought you to neurosurgery at Fred Hutch?

I have always been interested in medicine as well as the brain and how it works. I was a biomedical engineering major as an undergraduate. In medical school, I decided to focus on neurosurgery because I get to help people when they are in an unfamiliar situation. I like to walk patients through the process and serve as a navigator.

Fred Hutch is world-class in terms of research and advancing treatments for not only brain tumors, but tumors of all types. I think we can make a real difference for patients and improve care for very tough and challenging diagnoses.

What do you hope it's like for a patient to work with you?

I want patients to know they have someone on their side who understands they are going through a situation that can feel very uncertain. I want to show empathy with their struggle. With a brain tumor diagnosis, whether it’s benign or malignant, that’s a life-changing thing. I want patients to know I understand and for them to see me as a guide.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Neurosurgery

I am a neurosurgeon who sees patients at UW Medical Center – Montlake and the South Lake Union Clinic.

I see patients for brain tumors of all types, whether they are from the brain itself or have spread to the brain from other parts of the body. I also have expertise in clinical trial design and will be working to grow the neuro-oncology clinical trial program.

Diseases Treated

Brain and Spinal Cord Cancers

Languages

English

Education, Experience and Certifications

Medical School
University of Washington School of Medicine

Fellowship
Brigham and Women's Hospital

Residency
Brigham and Women's Hospital

Other
PhD, University of Washington School of 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. Emerson's Publications

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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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