"Fred Hutch Cancer Center" "Cures Start Here"

Benjamin C. Li, MD, MBA

Provider

Benjamin C. Li, MD, MBA

Physician, Fred Hutch
Assistant Professor, Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington
Physician Lead, Program in Global Oncology and Health Disparities for Radiation Oncology, University of Washington

Specialty:

Radiation Oncology

South Lake Union Clinic

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“My goal is to empower patients, make sure they understand the most important points of the conversation and help them feel prepared for their next steps. I am dedicated to countering health inequities and making sure everyone gets high-quality care.”

— Dr. Li

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

I want to create a safe, supportive and productive atmosphere. I try to avoid medical jargon and focus on clear communication and answering questions with honesty, transparency and compassion.

I had a young patient who loved video games, which had been helpful to provide a sense of normalcy during an otherwise difficult period. The patient became inspired to share this with others, and I helped them identify a way they could donate a console and games so other patients could have the same resource. I felt honored to work with them to spread positivity in the world.

Have you been personally impacted by cancer?

My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer just as I started medical school. She had spent most of her life caring for others as a family medicine doctor, but then she became the patient. This experience introduced me to oncology and shaped my path.

I appreciate not just the diagnosis that someone has, but who they are as a person and the narrative of their cancer experience.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Breast cancer, brain and spine tumors, metastatic cancers

I am a radiation oncologist who sees patients at the South Lake Union Clinic.

I have led the development of curricula and the study of radiation oncology training programs for providers, helping clinics around the globe implement high-quality stereotactic radiotherapy (SRS/SBRT) for the treatment of central nervous system and spine tumors. I have similarly been involved in training programs focusing on 3D-conformal (3D-CRT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) techniques that are commonly used for the treatment of breast cancer. I have been involved in collaborative studies looking at outcomes with novel uses of SRS in the treatment of brain metastases and continue to work on making this type of treatment more accessible.

As Physician Lead for the Program in Global Oncology and Health Disparities for Radiation Oncology, I lead teams dedicated to improving circumstances for cancer patients in limited-resource settings globally. I work closely with domestic and international partners, colleagues, and clinics to support them in promoting access to high-quality, timely, and affordable radiotherapy. Together, we build and scale solutions that can help improve cancer outcomes across all disease sites.

Diseases Treated

Brain and Spinal Cord Cancers

Languages

English
Spanish

Education, Experience and Certifications

Undergraduate Degree
Harvard University

Medical Degree
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Residency
University of California San Francisco

Other
MBA, Vanderbilt University

Board Certification
California Medical Board, 2019

Awards

Chief Resident, University of California San Francisco, 2023

Health Professions Education Pathway, University of California San Francisco, 2023

Health Systems Science Impact Challenge, American Medical Association, 2021

Graduate Certificate in Global Health, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2018

Turner Family Center Fellowship, Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management, 2018

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. Li'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.

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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.

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