Elizabeth Loggers, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
Dr. Loggers is a medical oncologist who treats patients with sarcoma, a rare cancer of the bones and soft tissue. While she is an expert in the care of all forms of sarcoma, her research interests focus in particular on intra-abdominal and retroperitoneal tumors, solitary fibrous tumors, and rare, aggressive forms of sarcoma such as malignant granular cell sarcoma and alveolar soft part sarcoma. In addition to identifying novel treatments for sarcoma, Dr. Loggers is an expert in managing treatment- and cancer-related symptoms and supporting patient’s quality of life throughout cancer treatment. Her research related to this includes improving models of health care delivery and patient communication, particularly for patients with advanced cancer, with the goal of optimizing the patient and family experience.
Other Appointments & Affiliations
Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of WashingtonAssociate Clinical Professor of Medicine
University of Washington
Medical Director, Supportive and Palliative Care
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Education
Medical Oncology Fellowship: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Boston, MA; 2006- 2009
Internship/Residency (Medicine): Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, 2003-2006
PhD (Health Services Research, Public Health): University of Minnesota; Twin Cities, MN; 2003
MD (Medicine): University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN; 2003
BA (History): Stanford University; Stanford, CA; 1994
Current Studies
Enhancing Connections – Palliative
An estimated 1.2 million U.S. parents with dependent children will be diagnosed with cancer in 2015. Up to one-third of these children will exceed clinical thresholds for distress or poor behavioral-emotional adjustment, due to the parent’s cancer diagnosis. Further, parental depressed mood can negatively affect the parent-child relationship and parenting quality. The Enhancing Connections Program (EC), developed by Frances Lewis, PhD, Professor of Nursing, was effective at improving parental mood, parenting skills, and enhancing the child’s behavioral-emotional adjustment in a multi-site randomized controlled trial (RCT). However EC was only tested in the setting of early stage cancers. The purpose of the proposed study is to test the feasibility and short-term impact of the newly developed Enhancing Connections Palliative Program (EC-P), designed for stage IV cancer patients and their children. Thirty-three patients with Stage IV cancer, their significant other (if present) and their child aged 5-17 will receive five5, standardized cancer education counseling sessions. Feasibility will be assessed by recruitment rate, acceptability, intervention completion and dosage/fidelity. Effect will be assessed via within-group and between-group analyses, and bereavement follow-up. Study results will directly inform a future NIH-funded, multi-site clinical RCTtrial.