"Fred Hutch Cancer Center" "Cures Start Here"

William Rayford Gwin III, MD

Provider

William Rayford Gwin III, MD

Physician, Fred Hutch
Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine

Specialty:

Medical Oncology

South Lake Union Clinic

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“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

Area of Clinical Practice
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

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. Gwin

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. Gwin's Publications

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