"Fred Hutch Cancer Center" "Cures Start Here"

William P. Harris, MD

Provider

William P. Harris, MD

Physician, Fred Hutch
Associate Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
Associate Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington

Specialty:

Medical Oncology

Request an Appointment Print

“I get to know my patients well. It’s an important part of guiding them through some very big and complicated decisions.”

— Dr. Harris

What experiences have informed your approach to oncology?

It was always my plan to work in cancer care, but I wanted to have broader medical training first, so I studied internal medicine before pursuing oncology. This background has proven valuable for helping me understand a patient’s entire medical history and manage the full scope of the difficult problems they face as part of a cancer diagnosis. Oncology is a unique specialty; I feel that we, as cancer physicians, are positioned to practice a delicate balance of the art and science of medicine. a

What do you want patients to know about working with you?

I believe in designing a treatment plan based upon the specifics of your unique case: the biology of your disease, your lifestyle preferences, how aggressively you want to approach the cancer and the risks you’re prepared to take to get the best results. I get to know my patients well. It’s an important part of guiding them through some very big and complicated decisions. Sometimes those decisions involve whether to participate in clinical trials, which provide access to new, promising therapeutic agents. Cancer therapy has come a long way, but there is still room for improvement. Trials can offer patients the latest advancements in care — and raise the bar for what will be the next standard of care.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Gastrointestinal cancers

I am a board-certified oncologist who specializes in treating gastrointestinal cancers. These malignancies can affect the liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, pancreas, colon, rectum, anus, stomach and esophagus. I am a consultant for the multidisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Specialty Clinic and the Liver Tumor Clinic at UW Medical Center . I also serve as a moderator for UW 's Gastrointestinal Malignancy Tumor Board.

In addition to providing clinical care, I also design and conduct clinical trials. My research focuses on new targeted therapies, immunotherapies, novel drug combinations and other experimental therapies for patients with liver and biliary-tract cancers. Other areas of interest include analyzing data relating to treatment outcomes for patients with GI cancers and identifying new treatments for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, a rare liver cancer that affects children and young adults.

Diseases Treated

Esophageal Cancer

Liver Tumors and Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

Languages

English

Education, Experience and Certifications

Undergraduate Degree
Brown University

Medical Degree
Columbia University

Residency
University of Washington School of Medicine, Internal Medicine

Fellowship
University of Minnesota, Pathology; University of Washington School of Medicine, Medical Oncology

Board Certification
Medical Oncology, 2010, American Board of Internal Medicine

Other
Internship, University of Washington

Awards

Seattle Magazine's 2021 Top Doctors award
Dr. Harris has been recognized as a Top Doctor in Seattle Magazine's annual survey multiple years in a row.

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. Harris'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