Fred Hutch, Seattle Children’s, UW Medicine announce plans for new cancer partnership

SEATTLE — The founding members of Seattle Cancer Care Alliance — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Children’s and UW Medicine — announced on Tuesday plans to explore a restructuring of their 20-year relationship.

The goal is to advance their shared mission of diagnosing, treating and discovering cures for cancer and other diseases.

The new structure would merge Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to form “Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center,” an independent, private, not-for-profit organization operating as part of UW Medicine.

All Seattle Cancer Care Alliance clinical sites would be renamed Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center sites.

The newly created Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center would lead an oncology program focused on adults. There would be a separate pediatric oncology program led by Seattle Children’s, which would continue operating independently and be the central site for pediatric cancer treatment among the organizations.

The programs would be collaborative and integrated with the cancer research at Fred Hutchison, UW Medicine and Seattle Children’s.

The senior leadership of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center would become members of the UW Medicine senior management team. Members of UW Physicians would provide cancer treatment at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and other parts of UW Medicine.

“Creating Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center would further strengthen the alliance’s contributions to Washington state in health care delivery, economic growth and a robust life sciences industry,” a news release for the announcement said.

The organizations hope to have all the necessary board and governmental approvals by early 2022.

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