“I like to say I entered the family business in a way,” says Lynch Jr., who has served as president and director of Fred Hutch Cancer Center since February 2020, assuming the role at the outset of the pandemic. “I would see the impact that cancer made on people’s lives. The importance of that work was made very clear to me.”

Lynch’s career includes prominent roles such as chief scientific officer at global biopharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb, leadership positions at Massachusetts General Physicians Organization and Yale Cancer Center, and a professorship at Harvard Medical School. He was part of the first research team to discover how targeted therapies could change outcomes for lung cancer patients.

Since taking the helm at Fred Hutch in February 2020, Lynch has led the center through significant growth, including its merger with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

Last fall, Fred Hutch also spearheaded the Cancer AI Alliance (CAIA), a groundbreaking partnership with top cancer centers to harness artificial intelligence for cancer research. The more than $40 million in funding from tech and consulting giants like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Deloitte and Slalom is paving the way for transformative changes in cancer care.

In his own words:

My father was a big baseball fan, and he said Fred Hutch was the manager of the (Cincinnati) Reds, and they named the cancer center after him in Seattle. He said they were doing things that nobody else was.

People would go to Fred Hutch from all over the country as the only place that was doing bone marrow transplants. That’s why it was such an important institution. I remember hearing him telling me that when I was a teenager.

This (job) was the perfect combination of things. It represented the natural progression of my career with my combination of business and drug development experience plus the scientific experience of having run a cancer center. All those things are so important to the mission of Fred Hutch.

I’d never been out here before. I brought my wife once to look at it. What we didn’t realize is that Seattle was hilly. We never knew. It’s been great for biking and keeping yourself in shape, but that was the big surprise.

AI is completely changing the face of medicine. I say in three ways it’s going to change it. The first is administrative. Just like in every business in Seattle, AI is going to make the transaction part of our days much easier: to schedule appointments, to check your lab results, process bills, deal with insurance companies.

The second thing is in research, which is what CAIA is all about. This will allow us to gain insights into cancer cells and tumors and how they progress in patients. The impact on basic science, clinical science and drug development enabled by AI is going to be extraordinary. You can’t overemphasize it. It’s going to transform our world in a way that we could never have imagined. The third way is clinical medicine.

I use AI all the time. Now, when I’m talking about patients or talking about a disease, I will go to ChatGPT or other AI sources and I will inquire about the most recent literature on the treatment of a certain cancer. It’s going to change what a doctor needs to do.

A big discovery (recently) was on a new treatment for rectal cancer. I was able to get the entire work summarized and put in perspective in milliseconds.

(AI) will have a huge impact on visits and how doctors work in their daily life. A computer will generate the notes and documentation and provide decision support. In research, it will provide unbelievable amounts of data that even the best scientists can’t wade through. AI will enable us to unlock the secrets that are in that data, and it’s going to lead to new drugs in 10 years, drugs that we can’t even imagine today.

You’ve got to have cancer centers working together. We brought together four of the best cancer centers in the world to share our data using an AI algorithm. Our hope is to make that available to every cancer center in the country. You could use the collective wisdom of every patient treated across the country someday to be able to make those kinds of connections and observations.

The reason (CAIA) was so critical is that if I want to share data with Sloan Kettering, we have to negotiate a data sharing agreement between the two hospitals. That’s two years of lawyers going back and forth on data sharing. It just takes forever to get that done. ChatGPT is going to enable sharing on a time scale that we need to make differences.

Medical schools aren’t going away. Doctors still have to be trained and know what makes sense. AI is not going to completely replace the physician.

Two things. One is (that) the ability of ChatGPT and Copilot in July 2025 is way better than it was in July 2023. The difference in two years is mind-boggling. It’s much more accurate. It still makes mistakes, though. You want to make sure you have confidence in the answers as you go forward, and that’s something we have to be very, very careful about.

The other thing about AI is the ethics and the fact that datasets that AI is based on aren’t always the same that doctors would have used.

We also have to make sure that it represents our whole population. How many native Alaskans are in databases that AI is going to access? At Hutch, we really are working on those areas that are underserved — the rural parts of Washington state, the rural parts of Alaska and Idaho. We want to enhance our connection to those communities.

We’d love to see (in CAIA) if we can ask a question and get an answer: that it’s technically possible to do federated learning from these datasets from these four places. We’re pretty sure we’ll be able to do that.

The real promise is when the questions get better and the answers get more important. We’re still working on the technology of how to actually do this. The progress will be exponential after that. We’re going to get a lot better.

But it also puts a real premium on gathering data effectively and making sure that we’re profiling patients and that we’re doing full comprehensive molecular profiling and genomic sequencing.

I think the one thing that I’ve always been impressed with in Seattle is the can-do attitude of the place. It’s not a surprise that Hutch is one of the most innovative cancer centers in the world.

It’s also not a surprise that Amazon, Microsoft, Costco, Starbucks, Expedia, T-Mobile all got their starts here. That’s not random, and it says a lot about the culture of the city, the town, the region.

I do want people to know that in medicine, collaboration is way more common than you might think.

There are people who came out with a collaborative study that showed you could cure rectal cancer with just a drug — with no need for surgery, no need for radiation. My God, it’s something I could never have imagined when I started off: that a simple drug would cure rectal cancer. This is a massive breakthrough in terms of what we can do. That’s curing cancer everywhere.

In the Northwest, the places we’ve made a huge difference are in diseases like myeloma and leukemia, lymphoma. And it’s not just the Hutch, it’s the whole ecosystem of the Northwest. We’re at a time now of amazingly fast discoveries, as long as we don’t stop federal funding for research. That’s my biggest concern.

It’s been a remarkably strong partnership between the federal government and science in the U.S. that’s led to all of these breakthroughs. And gosh, it would be a disaster if we did anything that interrupted that.

I think you’re going to find that specific cancers will be cured. I still think it’s going to take a while to cure all the different cancers, because cancer’s not one disease, it’s thousands. In the next 10 years, we’re going to cure some of them, and some of them 10 years after that.

Fred Hutch has done incredible things in infectious disease, and we continue to work in that area. Even when cancer’s cured, and it might be 20 years, it might be 50 years, it might be 100 years, we will still have infectious diseases to worry about.

When we created a new structure in 2022 we had to meet with the lawyers. And the lawyers said, “What if your mission is no longer valid?” And I can’t tell you the smile that brought to my face. And these were dry lawyers who didn’t even realize what they were asking.

As to the next 50 years, the great news is we’ve solidified our campus here in downtown Seattle. That will enable us to grow.

We want to bring the best scientists in the world to Seattle. I started my morning talking with my senior leaders about which top scientists we want to recruit this year. We won’t get every one of them, but we’ll get a lot of them because people want to be at Fred Hutch to do science. We’re growing our profile in the curative approach to cancer. And that’s what the next 50 years is all about.

I just think it’s really important to thank the people of Seattle who’ve been so extraordinarily supportive of the Hutch over the years from a philanthropy standpoint. You can’t do this just based on federal funding.

It’s got to also involve people stepping forward and riding an OBL (Obliteride, a bike ride that raises money for cancer research). Or you’ve got a colleague at the Boeing plant who’s got leukemia, and you do something to help out.

The people of Seattle have made such a big difference in supporting us. I feel so supported by a community here that really values the Hutch as a treasured part of what makes Seattle great.

The post From Vision To Victory appeared first on Seattle magazine.

What inspired you to become a doctor?

My father is a retired primary care physician who would often share his joy when he made a challenging diagnosis or put together a thoughtful treatment plan that made a huge difference to his patients and their families. The science, logic and caring required of a good doctor makes medicine a perfect career choice for me.

What’s one thing about being a doctor that most people misunderstand?

We don’t know all things in the entire medical field. Many doctors become specialized to be an expert on some things at the expense of other subjects (our brains get too full). I specialize in cardiology so my heart knowledge is terrific. But I have had patients try to get me to diagnose a
rash, and I truly have no idea. Dermatology was my worst subject in medical school and has only gotten worse in the 27 years since graduation!

What’s something in medicine you believe will be totally different in 10 years?

I think that artificial intelligence will make diagnosing and treating disease more efficient, accurate, reliable and predictable. But I think that doctors will always be needed to train the artificial intelligence systems and to update the best practice protocols. Most important, doctors will be needed to share the diagnoses and prognoses with patients and families in an understandable and compassionate way that no machine could duplicate.

Have you ever had a patient diagnose themselves correctly?

Of course. In some cases, it can be extremely helpful as some motivated patients have already read about and thought about what I might want to share with them for a particular diagnosis. But it is important not to find some rare disease online and try to fit the symptoms to the disease. When there are a lot more common causes of a symptom, we should consider the most likely diagnoses first before moving on to more rare explanations.

What’s one myth about health or medicine that you wish would go away?

“Can I just do it naturally?” I think that sometimes we think of doing one treatment or another treatment. I spend a lot of time encouraging my patients to follow the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Essential Eight,” which focuses on a healthy lifestyle. At the same time, there are some medications that I recommend for my heart patients that have been shown to offer benefit in addition to the heart-healthy lifestyle.

What’s the most unusual case you’ve ever encountered?

I have diagnosed a pheochromocytoma in a patient once. This disease is thought to occur in an estimated 2.8 out of 1 million people. This adrenaline-producing tumor can intermittently cause someone to feel fight-or-flight symptoms, with classic symptoms being headache, palpitations and excessive sweating. The challenge is that these symptoms can occur for a variety of reasons. I was pretty happy to make the diagnosis, which led to appropriate treatment for the patient.

What’s one piece of advice you wished every patient followed?

A heart-healthy lifestyle makes all the difference in the world. Many patients can help themselves achieve better health than I ever could with my medications. Smoking cessation cuts the risk of heart attack, stroke and death in half. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can be as protective as smoking cessation. Regular exercise can reduce the risk of death by 20% when compared to being sedentary. A Mediterranean diet has been shown to be even better than a low-fat diet.

If you could change one thing about the healthcare system, what would it be?

Wouldn’t it be ideal if we could keep all our modern knowledge and therapeutic advances in medical care but go back to the idyllic world of Norman Rockwell where a doctor had time to listen to a patient’s doll with a stethoscope and seemed to have nothing else to rush off to? No preauthorization or surprise medical bills. A doctor, a patient and a lot of caring.

The post Dr. Tobias Lee, M.D. appeared first on Seattle magazine.

What inspired you to become a doctor?

Being a doctor is not just a profession. It’s a calling fueled by relentless dedication and purpose. I feel profoundly grateful to walk this path every day, driven by a deep love of science, the excitement of research discovery and a steadfast commitment to patient care. It is an ongoing journey that continues to inspire and drive me.

What’s one thing about being a doctor that most people misunderstand?

Being a doctor goes far beyond diagnosing and treating. It’s a deeply human role that involves carrying emotional burdens; supporting patients, families and even colleagues; and balancing empathy with clear judgment. Doctors must stay composed under pressure, sometimes placing others’ needs above their own. This profound human connection is why doctors won’t — and hopefully never will — be replaced by machines.

What’s something in medicine you believe will be totally different in 10 years?

I’m excited about the growing role of artificial intelligence in medicine, helping us make quicker, more accurate decisions with fewer errors. Over the next decade, I expect significant advancements in this area. My hope is that the efficiency AI brings will free up more time for what matters most — deepening the human connection between doctors and patients.

Have you ever had a patient diagnose themselves correctly?

Transplantation is a highly specialized field that often involves managing multiple complex conditions. While many patients worry about rejection, it’s rarely the primary issue — in fact, recognizing when something feels off and seeking timely medical help is often more important than a perfect diagnosis. Online tools can raise awareness and guide patients to seek care, which is progress in many cases, though it can sometimes lead to unnecessary concern or misinformation.

What’s one myth about health or medicine that you wish would go away?

One myth about transplant rejection I wish would disappear is the belief that it’s always sudden and obvious. In reality, rejection is often subtle, gradual and even silent, detectable mainly through routine monitoring rather than symptoms. This misconception may lead patients to overlook small changes in medications or skip doses and follow-ups, particularly when feeling well. Thankfully, through research we’ve achieved significant advancements in new technologies for earlier detection of rejection and organ injury.

What’s the most unusual case you’ve ever encountered?

In kidney transplantation, I’m deeply moved by the selflessness of non-directed donors: individuals who offer a kidney not to a family member or close friend, but to a complete stranger in need. Their generosity is truly humbling, and witnessing such acts of kindness reaffirms the incredible capacity for compassion in people. These donors are true angels, and their selfless gift is a profound reminder of the goodness that exists in humanity.

If you could change one thing about the healthcare system, what would it be?

The quick answer to improving the health care system is enhancing access to care, affordability and reducing disparities. However, a more impactful approach lies in prevention through early interventions at the community level. By focusing on education and building infrastructure, we can foster socioeconomic development in underserved communities, addressing health issues before they escalate and ultimately improving long-term health outcomes.

The post Dr. Nicolae Leca, M.D. appeared first on Seattle magazine.

What inspired you to become a doctor?

In elementary school, I read an article about Doctors without Borders, and that really sealed the deal for me. I wanted to do something that would have an impact at the individual level. As someone always drawn to science and in particular human physiology and pathology, medicine was a natural fit. As for plastic surgery, I fell in love with it on my first clinical rotation when I watched a cleft lip repair. Plastic surgery is the most wonderful meld of science and artistry. There is never one answer to a patient’s concerns, and the power lies in making individualized plans after listening carefully to a person’s goals.

What’s one thing about being a doctor that most people misunderstand?

It’s a calling, not a job. There is no such thing as 9-to-5 in my world. I have worked many holidays, answered calls at all times and lost many nights of sleep worried about a patient.

What’s something in medicine you believe will be totally different in 10 years?

I have seen the stigma of having cosmetic plastic surgery decrease significantly over the first half of my career. I think this trend will continue and that in 10 years, people will be open and proud to be taking care of themselves and making sure that the way they look outside matches the vitality they feel inside.

Have you ever had a patient diagnose themselves correctly?

With everything available on the internet and particularly on social media today, I find that patients come in much more informed and ready to ask insightful questions. This background knowledge lets me dive deeper with patients and help them to interpret their foundational knowledge to develop an individual surgical plan for them.

What’s one myth about health or medicine that you wish would go away?

That plastic surgery has to look “fake.” In my opinion, the best work is the work you can’t spot. Careful incision placement and manipulation of the tissues allows for a beautiful, finished project that helps a person look like a more rested and happier version of themselves rather than a mannequin. Results can be dramatic without looking “done” if natural anatomy is appreciated and protected.

What’s the most unusual case you’ve ever encountered?

I was doing a medical mission in Peru and there was a young girl who had been in a bad farm accident two years before. The orthopedic surgeons had fixed her bones and saved her leg, but the skin was badly burned and caused her a lot of pain. This would be straightforward with modern equipment in the States, but there I needed to be creative. I did a mini tummy tuck and took all of her healthy skin to completely resurface her lower leg. Now she is pain free.

What’s one piece of advice you wish every patient followed?

Follow the recovery plan! It’s tempting to try to get back to your usual activities sooner than advised, but the recommendations are meant to keep you out of trouble and maximize your results. Recovery is a good time to binge a series on Netflix or catch up on your reading list.

If you could change one thing about the healthcare system, what would it be?

I wish health care had greater transparency. There are so many aspects that are proprietary and don’t allow even the entities within health care visibility to cost, reimbursement and health metrics. Greater transparency would allow for more innovation.

The post Dr. Meghan Nadeau appeared first on Seattle magazine.

What inspired you to become a doctor?

The desire to help others and make a difference in this world. I believe everybody has a purpose in life, and I believe that all of us are equipped with talents and skills that we have a lifetime to explore, learn, nurture and share. I feel like being a doctor is like being a protector of the best gift that we are all blessed with: life.

What’s one thing about being a doctor that most people misunderstand?

Most people think of doctors as knowing everything medical-related and unable to commit mistakes. Many folks think that we should always know the right answer to every question, or know the right thing to do at all times, but doctors are human, too, and have our own strengths and weaknesses. It is such a daunting task to protect and prolong human lives. We do try our best to always do the right thing and give the right answers.

What’s something in medicine you believe will be totally different in 10 years?

Artificial intelligence is now taking over every aspect of our lives. It is doing the same in the medical field. Thus far, we’ve seen that artificial intelligence can definitely improve precision of disease diagnosis and intervention. However, I still believe that it can never replace the significance of human touch and interaction in the healing process.

Have you ever had a patient diagnose themselves correctly?

Yes. Patients are incredibly intelligent, and a lot of patients are also very much in tune with their bodies and their health. They do know when something is wrong. Nowadays, medical literature is available at everyone’s fingertips. Although we always warn people about the use of the internet to diagnose their medical problems, fairly simple diagnoses can be easily recognized.

What’s one myth about health or medicine that you wish would go away?

The one misconception about dementia that I hope people would stop believing is that it is part of the normal aging process. Age-related memory lapses do happen, but dementia is an encompassing term that is not only characterized by memory loss, but also has associated language, mood, behavioral and functional changes that compromise your ability to live independently. It is a manageable but progressive disease. Early detection and intervention may help improve your quality of life following your diagnosis.

What’s the most unusual case you’ve ever encountered?

Having done my medical education in a developing country like the Philippines, I have seen exotic parasitic infections such as elephantiasis, which is an infection with filarial worms that lodge in lymphatic vessels, causing severe swelling of lower extremities, and with chronicity causes skin thickening and hardening, like that of an elephant. In my practice in geriatrics here in the U.S., I have seen a patient with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) go blind in spite of having healthy eyes, due to the brain’s inability to process visual information.

What’s one piece of advice that you wish every patient followed?

I wish every patient would advocate for themselves. This means to take charge of their health. More than anyone else, you know your own body. Accurate diagnosis always starts with adequate description of symptoms. Good compliance improves outcomes. One should be an active participant in their health care plan. Prevention is always better than a cure, and health maintenance screenings and immunizations are key.

If you could change one thing about the health care system, what would it be?

The medical field is becoming more fragmented due to the emergence of more specialized care, technical limitations, a lack of focus on comprehensive care, complex payment systems that incentivize more specialty care, and differences in rules and regulations across health care systems. As a result, continuity of care is compromised. This can also lead to inefficiency, increased healthcare costs, poor patient satisfaction and physician burnout. Proper care coordination, interoperable electronic medical records, and policy changes and reforms that do not sacrifice patient privacy and promote improved communication and outcomes are important to address this concern.

The post Dr. Mary Ann Pefanco, M.D. appeared first on Seattle magazine.

What inspired you to become a doctor?

I started college interested in studying biology. It quickly became obvious that I would miss the human connection to what I was studying, so I made the decision to pursue medicine. Medicine offers the opportunity to apply basic science, along with physiology and anatomy, to help an individual person with a medical problem that may be impacting their daily life and create lasting and positive change. Every interaction with a patient presents a new opportunity for connection and healing.

What’s one thing about being a doctor that most people misunderstand?

We are patients too! I understand the frustration of hanging on the phone waiting to talk to a person to make an appointment, the complexity of managing your job and your family and your health, the fear when something is wrong and you don’t have an explanation. I approach patient care with this perspective of shared experience and shared humanity each day.

What’s something in medicine you believe will be totally different in 10 years?

Today, we spend hours on our appointment summaries and documenting patient care notes. I am very much looking forward to the day when I finish talking to a patient and an accurate and concise AI-generated summary is waiting for me to sign. The amount of time currently spent on documentation is a major contributor to physician burnout and attrition. The less time and energy we have to spend on the computer, the more we will have to care for our patients.

Have you ever had a patient diagnose themselves correctly?

All the time. So many of the patients who ultimately choose to have surgery suspect their diagnosis before they even meet me because of their own research. As a specialist in women’s health, and particularly in the surgical treatment of conditions like endometriosis (a disease where uterine-like tissue grows in other parts of the body) and fibroids (noncancerous growths in the uterus), I see so many patients who have put up with their symptoms for years, assuming, and often being told, that they just had to grit their teeth and get through, that there was nothing to be done for things like severe pain or heavy bleeding. More and more women are talking about this now, looking for explanations, asking their friends and seeking opinions outside of a doctor’s office. This openness has reduced stigma and allowed my patients to realize they can get help.

What’s one myth about health or medicine that you wish would go away?

The idea that vaccines cause autism. This dangerous perception persists despite mountains of evidence to the contrary. Vaccines save lives, prevent cancer and stop the spread of virulent disease.

What’s the most unusual case you’ve ever encountered?

As an endometriosis specialist, I’ve seen endometriosis in some truly strange place, including once in someone’s sinuses. The patient had nosebleeds every month during her periods, and an ear, nose and throat doctor biopsied endometrium from their nose.

What’s one piece of advice you wish every patient followed?

Your relationship with your doctor should be a partnership. That sometimes means you need to meet with a few people to find someone you’re comfortable with. If you aren’t communicating well, or aren’t being heard, or are uncomfortable in any way, moving on and finding someone else is not a reflection on you or your doctor. It’s just not the right fit.

If you could change one thing about the healthcare system, what would it be?

In an ideal world, a patient and a doctor would have an open discussion about symptoms, potential diagnoses and treatment options. They would then choose a plan of action based on the patient’s priorities and the physician’s best evidence-based recommendations. Today, with health care delivery, there can be limitations on what a patient can access. It may be difficult to get an appointment, some medications are covered by insurance and others are not, surgeries may be denied. I wish that patient care delivery could be a simple, collaborative, problem-solving endeavor rather than a complex negotiation with third-party payers.

The post Dr. Marisa Dahlman, M.D. appeared first on Seattle magazine.

What inspired you to become a doctor?

I grew up in a multigenerational family in India, with aunts and uncles who were physicians. It was amazing to watch them take care of people when they needed it most. When I was a child, my grandfather had gastric cancer, and that was my inspiration to pursue gastroenterology, or “become a tummy doctor,” as I said at the time. I knew from an early age I wanted to be a doctor, and my experiences through life have only affirmed that decision.

What’s one thing about being a doctor that most people misunderstand?

Sometimes patients think that if we can’t pinpoint a physical cause of an issue, we are saying that there’s nothing wrong. People often underestimate the relationship between mental health and physical health. Emotional stress and trauma can affect any organ system including the gut — our nerves are keeping our body and our mind in sync.

What’s something in medicine you believe will be totally different in 10 years?

Artificial intelligence will change how we practice medicine, how healthcare systems operate and how patients interface with health care. It has potential for a lot of positive changes. When AI makes parts of the healthcare system more efficient, doctors can have more time to spend with their patients.

Have you ever had a patient diagnose themselves correctly?

In general, the longer I’ve been in practice, I’ve seen that people are more in tune with their bodies than they realize. They can lead us down the right path and help facilitate the correct diagnosis, truly partnering with us to uncover what’s going on.

What’s one myth about health or medicine that you wish would go away?

The notion that there is one thing — a medication or a supplement or a test — that is the holy grail of health. Good health really comes down to what might sound old and boring, but is true: Eat more veggies, stay well hydrated, and get consistent high-quality sleep and regular exercise. Avoid alcohol and tobacco, and find ways to manage stress.

What’s the most unusual case you’ve ever encountered?

We see a lot of fascinating things in GI. One time I had a patient come in with abdominal symptoms and low B12. We decided to do a colonoscopy to investigate, and saw what looked like a long string of spaghetti going all the way into the small intestine. I took it out with a small lasso and sent it to pathology and it turned out to be a fish tapeworm from eating seafood.

What’s one piece of advice you wish every patient followed?

If you want to improve your health, eat more vegetables, even if you just eat one more serving a day than you do now. Any increase in vegetable intake is beneficial. And pay attention to hydration. Most of us are chronically dehydrated and need to make a conscious effort to hydrate. Sometimes people think they are hungry or craving something salty when actually their body wants water.

If you could change one thing about the health care system, what would it be?

We want to make the most of the time we have with our patients. More testing or more medication doesn’t always equate to better care. We want our patients to feel seen and heard, so that we can build a trusting relationship.

The post Dr. Gaurav Aggarwal, M.D appeared first on Seattle magazine.

What inspired you to become a doctor?

Before I studied molecular biology as a premed student, I was a journalist. I learned to investigate, interview, ask tough questions and connect with people. I guess you can say I really just wanted to be curious for a living.

What’s one thing about being a doctor that most people misunderstand?

Your doctor doesn’t have to know all the answers, but should know where to find them. I invest significant time into finding good, evidence-based workups and treatments, and I’ve found great specialists to help sort through tough situations.

What’s something in medicine you believe will be totally different in 10 years?

A decade ago, I didn’t imagine there would be an effective medication for obesity. GLP-1s have been transformative for some of my patients with this chronic disease. Breakthroughs like this do happen, which make me believe similar advancements are possible for the treatment of pervasive diseases such as cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s. I only hope that innovations will create more options that make treatments more affordable.

Have you ever had a patient diagnose themselves correctly?

All the time! Patients often have very accurate suspicions about their medical problem, but sometimes they don’t voice it. I frequently ask the patient, “What do you think is going on?” That question helps me understand the concern behind the symptoms. Patients are experts on themselves. And sometimes, the biggest concern doesn’t even come through until I’ve asked, “Is there anything else we should discuss?”

What’s one myth about health or medicine that you wish would go away?

There is a common perception that supplements or vitamins are magic cures or shortcuts to better health. But good health depends on many factors — sleep, healthy whole food, drinking water and exercise, to name a few. None of those things come in capsule form. I do a lot of goal setting with people. We talk about how most of us can’t climb a mountain in a day, and we set goals for how to gradually adopt healthier habits in their lifestyle.

What’s the most unusual case you’ve ever encountered?

After thousands of visits, I still have days I see things I’ve never seen before. And I have to stay open minded that the patient could have something not typical or common. Recently, I was teaching a medical student about some unusual skin manifestations of cancer, although I had never actually seen them. We talked about how a lot of the practice of medicine is about pattern recognition.

The next week, we saw a patient who had been seen twice with a fairly typical diagnosis of medication allergy. We suspected the rash was not due to allergy because it just looked different from hives or eczema. The workup we ordered led to an uncommon cancer diagnosis we had discussed just the previous week.

What’s one piece of advice you wish every patient followed?

Every time you go without sleep, every year that goes by without exercising, every fast-food meal is a loan you take out with your body as collateral. But borrowing from your health is like going to a loan shark. The payback is expensive and sometimes painful.

If you could change one thing about the healthcare system, what would it be?

More medical schools! When I see a really curious kid —the ones looking through drawers, asking questions, borrowing my stethoscope — I talk with them about being a doctor when they grow up. Some of these kids are my grand-patients, meaning I took care of one of their parents.

The post Dr. Wendy Coffman, M.D. appeared first on Seattle magazine.

Most people turn to family, friends, or coworkers — and sometimes even social media — for referrals, but here at Seattle magazine, in partnership with Castle Connolly, we aim to make the process easier.

For more than two decades, we’ve published a list of the region’s top doctors — none of whom paid to be included, and all of whom were nominated by their peers — to help make your search for the right medical professional an easy click away.

So, whether it’s a twisted ankle or a tummy ache, we’ve got your back — and the talented, trusted doctors on our list have got the rest of your body too.

View the entire list here.

The post Seattle Magazine’s 2025 Top Doctors List appeared first on Seattle magazine.