Seattle Cancer Care Alliance names Marc Stewart as first medical director

The new medical director for the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance understands the differences inherent in bringing together the patient-care and research cultures of three collaborating institutions.

“There is a challenge to try to bring different cultures together,” says Dr. Marc Stewart. “What we want to do, of course, is preserve the approaches that have worked well for each care group.”

Stewart, 48, vice chair of the Department of Medicine, professor of medicine and cell biology and chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, will begin his new job Aug. 1.

Stewart brings with him more than seven years experience as a division director at U Mass and 10 years as director of bone marrow transplantation at the University of Virginia. He feels well prepared for his Alliance position, in which he will be bridging the worlds of patient care and treatment research.

“My background for research has been not only in laboratory and clinical studies for bone marrow transplantation, but also clinical research in medical oncology,” he says. “My research has been broad-based, so I have the ability to understand what physicians and physician-scientists need to accomplish in an academic practice to provide excellent patient care.”

Stewart says that “it may not be appropriate” to completely integrate the practice styles and approaches of each institution within the Alliance.

“The Hutchinson Center is the best clinical research transplant center in the world, and one doesn’t want to change aspects of that practice that would diminish that reputation,” he says. “Likewise, the medical oncologists at the UW and the pediatric oncologists at Children’s have developed a personal practice style that has delivered excellent patient care. So our goal will be to integrate the cultures in areas where it makes sense.”

Stewart says “the best possible care” will be his major goal as medical director.

“My focus will be to put the patient as ‘number one’ in priority and to see that resources are directed to support that philosophy,” he says. “Making certain that the structure and systems are capable of providing patients with the opportunity to participate in clinical research programs is an important part of excellence in patient care.

“One has to consider the ability of physicians and physician-scientists to accomplish their research missions - in some respects, simultaneously - and to accomplish both of these goals, I think, requires some artful organization and very specific resources and structure.”

Stewart received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1974 and his M.D. in 1977 from Indiana University and performed his internal medicine residency and oncology fellowship at Indiana University Hospital, followed by a hematology fellowship at the University of Virginia. He is board-certified in hematology and oncology.

Stewart, his wife Kathy and their four children will move to Seattle this summer. ¶

Clay Eals, FHCRC