William Rayford Gwin III, MD
William Rayford Gwin III, MD
- Physician, Fred Hutch
- Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine
Medical Oncology
“One of the aspects of my profession that I really enjoy is bringing new clinical trials to patients and witnessing how the therapies being tested often change their lives for the better.”
— Dr. Gwin III
What personal experiences informed your decision to focus on breast oncology?
When I was growing up, two of my grandparents had metastatic cancer. Seeing what this disease put them through — emotionally, cognitively and physically — was what initially got me interested in this field. I felt like there was a lot that could be done to improve the lives of people with breast cancer, and I wanted to contribute to that goal. Since then, there’s been significant progress in breast cancer treatment, particularly in the last 10–15 years. A lot of new targeted therapies are available now that don’t have the grueling side effects of general chemotherapy. One of the aspects of my profession that I really enjoy is bringing new clinical trials to patients and witnessing how the therapies being tested often change their lives for the better.
Tell us about an interaction with a patient that had a significant impact on you.
There was a patient I treated who loved to garden and cook. Whenever she came to the clinic, we’d talk about what she was growing and what recipes she’d tried recently. I always knew things weren’t going well if she told me that she hadn’t been in the garden lately or hadn’t set foot in the kitchen to prepare a meal. It was a signal that we needed to adjust what we were doing so that she could get back to her beloved activities. I invest a lot of time in learning about patients and their families so that I can support them throughout treatment and we can make decisions that align with their goals.
Provider Background
Specialty: Medical Oncology
Area of clinical practice
Breast cancers
Breast cancer
I am a board-certified medical oncologist who treats patients with all stages and types of breast cancer. In addition to providing care, I am a principal investigator with UW Medicine’s Cancer Vaccine Institute. My research focuses on the development of immune system-based therapies, such as vaccines or checkpoint inhibitors, for breast cancer and ovarian cancer. I oversee clinical trials and manage the care of patients who participate in them.
Diseases Treated
Languages
English
Education, Experience and Certifications
Undergraduate Degree
Auburn University
Medical Degree
University of Alabama School of Medicine
Residency
University of Washington
Fellowship
Duke University Medical Center
Board Certification
Medical Oncology, 2014; Hematology, 2013; Internal Medicine, 2009, American Board of Internal Medicine
Other
Senior Fellowship, Duke University Medical Center
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