"Fred Hutch Cancer Center" "Cures Start Here"

Jonathan G. Sham, MD, MBEE

Provider

Jonathan G. Sham, MD, MBEE

Physician, Fred Hutch
Affiliate Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine

Specialty:

Surgery

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

Request an Appointment Print

“It’s important for patients to know that they aren’t alone in their fight against cancer. I will be with you as a source of support throughout your treatment journey, whether it involves surgery or not.”

— Dr. Sham

What personal experiences have informed your approach to care?

When I was in surgical training, a close family member had surgery to remove a large pelvic tumor, and going through that experience made me a better doctor. I know what it’s like to be on the other side — to get the imaging study, to wait for the results, to meet with the surgeon, to pace around the room as you wait for the operation to be over and to sit at your loved one’s bedside as they recover. There’s a lot of uncertainty and fear and anxiety, and I look for ways to help patients and families navigate these challenges. My personal experience also serves as a reminder of how important it is to be present with people in the moment. One of the most valuable gifts we, as physicians, can offer patients is our undivided attention.

What do patients appreciate about working with you?

I try to meet patients where they are in terms of what they understand about their disease and how they’re feeling about the situation. I strive to combine precision with compassion in order to support each person in identifying and fulfilling their treatment goals, whatever they may be. It’s important for patients to know that they aren’t alone in their fight against cancer. I will be with you as a source of support throughout your treatment journey, whether it involves surgery or not.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Gastrointestinal cancers, liver cancer, pancreas cancer, bile duct cancer, gallbladder cancer

I am board-certified in hepatobiliary and complex surgical oncology and specialize in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery. Known as HPB surgery, this area of medicine focuses on treating diseases of the liver, pancreas, bile ducts and gallbladder. I perform outpatient procedures as well as complex surgeries that require a hospital stay. I see patients at the South Lake Union Clinic and Fred Hutch at UW Medical Center - Montlake.

In addition to caring for patients, I’m also interested in developing novel biomaterials and targeted therapies to help improve outcomes after HPB surgery. Another goal of my research is to use targeted drug therapies to help control disease in patients who traditionally would not be eligible for surgical treatment. Sometimes this happens due to the location or size of a tumor or because it has spread to other parts of the body. The idea is that these drug therapies could help overcome obstacles to surgery, potentially making inoperable tumors operable.

Diseases Treated

Bile Duct and Gallbladder Cancer

Liver Tumors and Cancer

Neuroendocrine Tumors

Pancreatic Cancer

Languages

English

Education, Experience and Certifications

Undergraduate Degree
Brandeis University

Medical Degree
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Residency
University of Washington, General Surgery

Fellowship
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Complex Surgical Oncology; Johns Hopkins Hospital, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery

Board Certification
Complex Surgical Oncology, 2020, American Board of Surgery; General Surgery, 2018, American Board of Surgery

Master of Biotechnology Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
Johns Hopkins University

Awards

Seattle Met's 2023 Top Doctors award
Dr. Sham has received this peer-nominated award for exceptional patient care for multiple years.

The David Tapper Resident Teaching & Leadership Award
Dr. Sham received this award in 2017 from the University of Washington Department of Surgery for his dedication to teaching and his exemplary leadership qualities.

Alavi-Mandell Award
Dr. Sham received this award in 2015 from the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. The award recognizes young researchers who make a significant contribution to the field by being first author on an original article published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Stories

All news

Pancreatic cancer: New surgery gives hope to more patients, outcomes continue to improve

Pancreatic cancer: New surgery gives hope to more patients, outcomes continue to improve January 30, 2021

For some patients with pancreatic cancer, a newly introduced procedure at SCCA provides hope

For some patients with pancreatic cancer, a newly introduced procedure at SCCA provides hope September 15, 2020

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. Sham'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 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