Dr. Heather Parsons to Lead Fred Hutch's Breast Cancer Initiatives
Medical oncologist Dr. Heather Parsons, MD, MPH, has a personal connection to cancer, having witnessed its impact on her family when her younger sister was diagnosed with lymphoma as a young adult, and later with melanoma in childhood.
According to Dr. Parsons, cancer affects the entire family, and patients often work with the same oncology team for months or years, depending on the progression of the illness and treatment response.
Parsons' sister is now thriving, but the experience of her diagnosis and treatment remains a challenging time for her family.
Driven by a desire to improve the experience for patients and their families, Dr. Parsons specializes in oncology, specifically breast cancer treatment and research, and has joined Fred Hutch Cancer Center as program head of the Breast Oncology Program.
Author's summary: Dr. Heather Parsons leads breast cancer initiatives at Fred Hutch.