Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, UW Medicine, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) and Seattle Children’s are currently exploring a comprehensive collaboration aimed at bringing groundbreaking research to patient care for children and adults. The organizations announced plans this week to possibly restructure their partnership to further their 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 robust 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 with the goal of securing all necessary board and governmental approvals by early 2022.
For more information about the potential partnership, please visit the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center website or read the full press release announcement.
