Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Fred Hutch), University of Washington (UW) Medicine, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA), and Seattle Children’s have announced plans to explore restructuring their longtime relationship to accelerate a shared mission of advancing diagnosis, treatment, and pioneering of cures for cancer and other diseases. If finalized and approved, the proposed restructure would establish an adult-focused oncology program and, separately, a pediatric oncology program. These programs would be collaborative and integrated with the innovative cancer research from Fred Hutch, UW Medicine, and Seattle Children’s.
Under the new structure, SCCA and Fred Hutch would merge to form Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, an independent, private, not-for-profit organization operating as a clinically integrated part of UW Medicine. As part of the merger, all SCCA clinical sites would be Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center sites. Seattle Children’s would continue operating independently and be the central site for pediatric cancer care among the organizations. Creating Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center would further strengthen the alliance’s contributions to Washington State in health-care delivery, economic growth, and a life sciences industry. Members of UW Physicians, who are School of Medicine faculty, would provide cancer care at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and other parts of UW Medicine.
In the coming weeks and months, leaders from the four organizations will be discussing the restructure with governing boards, faculty, staff, labor partners, government officials, and other stakeholders to inform the plan. The goal is to secure all necessary board and governmental approvals by early 2022.
Uniting Research and Patient Care
The new Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center would combine Fred Hutch’s research and science with SCCA’s clinical care and UW Medicine’s research and adult cancer care programs. UW Medicine would continue its longstanding partnership in pediatric oncology with Seattle Children’s, and all organizations, including the newly created Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, would continue collaboration in pediatric oncology research.
The proposed structure also reflects plans currently underway to consolidate the outpatient pediatric bone marrow transplant program at SCCA to Seattle Children’s as part of the hospital’s upcoming expansion with the opening of Building Care.
