"Fred Hutch Cancer Center" "Cures Start Here"

Christina S. Baik, MD, MPH

Provider

Christina S. Baik, MD, MPH

Physician, Fred Hutch
Associate Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
Clinical Research Director, Thoracic, Head and Neck Oncology, UW Medicine
Associate Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine

Specialty:

Medical Oncology

South Lake Union Clinic
Fred Hutch at UW Medical Center - Montlake

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“I believe the best cancer treatment decisions stem from actively collaborating with you and your family and understanding your values and priorities.”

— Dr. Baik

When did you know you wanted to be an oncologist?

In high school, I was very interested in sciences and also very drawn to community service. I felt that becoming a doctor was a perfect way to combine these interests. During my residency, I felt an especially close connection with the cancer patients I met. Many had a perspective of life that enriched and challenged me, both as a physician and as a person. I also believe in the importance of extending care to the community by better understanding cancer risk factors and developing prevention strategies for those at risk. This is part of my work as an oncologist too.

How do you approach cancer treatment?

My personal motto is to live a life of grace and generosity. I try to bring this into all of my work. Treatment is a process, and I feel very privileged when my patients and their families allow me to see some of the most intimate details of their lives as we take each step in that process. I enjoy being an educator, not only to other physicians and trainees, but also with you and your family throughout your care.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Head and neck cancers, thoracic cancers

Lung Cancer
My clinical research focuses on developing effective targeted therapies for people with oncogene-driven lung cancer. I’m also interested in understanding the mechanisms of primary and secondary resistance to immunotherapy, or why immunotherapy doesn’t work for everyone. In my lifetime, I hope that we’ll be able to detect more lung cancers in the early curable stages and that metastatic lung cancer will become manageable so people can live long and productive lives even with the disease.

Head and Neck Cancers
While a diagnosis of head and neck cancer can be devastating news for patients and their families, I’ve witnessed that the news can bring out the best in many people. This is one reason I decided to take care of people with cancer. It’s a very rewarding way to commit my time and energy.

Diseases Treated

Endocrine Tumors

Head and Neck Cancers

Salivary Gland Cancer

Languages

English
Korean

Education, Experience and Certifications

Undergraduate Degree
University of Puget Sound

Medical Degree
University of Rochester School of Medicine

Residency
Brown Medical School, General Internal Medicine

Fellowship
Tufts Medical Center, Hematology-Oncology

Board Certification
Oncology, 2009, 2019, American Board of Internal Medicine

Other
MPH, Harvard School of Public Health; Post-doctoral Research Fellowship, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Stories

All news

Expert recommendations for treating metastatic non-small cell lung cancer

Expert recommendations for treating metastatic non-small cell lung cancer January 11, 2023

SCCA launches new Thoracic Oncology Multidisciplinary Clinic

SCCA launches new Thoracic Oncology Multidisciplinary Clinic November 11, 2020

New program to fast-track lung cancer research from lab to clinic

New program to fast-track lung cancer research from lab to clinic Patient-focused science at the heart of $13M National Cancer Institute grant August 6, 2019

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.

Find a Clinical Trial Led by Dr. Baik

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. Baik'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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