Stephen Douglas Smith, MD

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Smith
Stephen Douglas Smith, MD

Stephen Douglas Smith, MD

  • Physician, Fred Hutch
  • Associate Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
  • Associate Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine

Hematology-Oncology

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“Every patient deserves thorough, up-to-date information, compassion and access to cutting-edge therapies through clinical trials.”

— Dr. Smith

Why did you decide to become an oncologist?

I settled on becoming a doctor while studying biology as an undergraduate. I was interested in applying science to directly help people, and I wanted to be part of the revolution in medicine related to advances in molecular biology. Oncology interests me because, more than any other field of medicine, it combines the essential skills of doctoring, the use of rapidly improving treatments and the opportunity to forge deep bonds with patients.

What is your approach to care?

Rapid advancements have turned hematologic cancers into very treatable conditions, but these diseases still require individualized care. My approach is to design a treatment plan tailored to your specific situation, which includes offering you the newest, most promising therapies. I also believe it’s essential to provide you with all the information you need to make the best treatment decisions for yourself. Sharing thorough, up-to-date information to support your decision-making is at the core of our relationship.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Hematologic malignancies, lymphoma and blood disorders

I am a medical oncologist who cares for patients with lymphoma and other blood disorders and a member of the American Society of Hematology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. My research focuses on developing and testing new drugs for hematologic malignancies. I’m especially interested in how the immune system works and how we can modify it when it goes awry — in particular, how we can use immunotherapies to treat blood-related cancers like lymphomas. I’m hopeful that, through research, we will find better ways to eradicate these diseases. And, for those diseases that we can’t cure, we should be able to control them with well-tolerated medicines over a person’s normal lifespan.

Diseases Treated

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Cutaneous Lymphoma

Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma

Follicular Lymphoma

Hodgkin Lymphoma

Low Grade Lymphoma

Lymphoma

MALT Lymphoma

Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Marginal Zone Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Waldenström Macroglobulinemia

Education, Experience and Certifications

Undergraduate Degree
Stanford University

Medical Degree
Keck School of Medicine of USC

Residency
Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center, Internal Medicine

Fellowship
Cleveland Clinic Foundation Program, Hematology and Oncology

Board Certification
Hematology, 2008, 2018, American Board of Internal Medicine

Stories

All news
Improving outcomes for mantle cell lymphoma
Improving outcomes for mantle cell lymphoma February 23, 2021
The cancer waiting game: When the recommended treatment is nothing
The cancer waiting game: When the recommended treatment is nothing For patients who choose ‘watch and wait,’ putting off treatment can be a relief — and a source of stress October 11, 2016

Clinical Trials

We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch physicians. Many of these trials at Fred Hutch have led to FDA-approved treatments and have improved standards of care globally. Together, you and your physician can decide if a study is right for you. 

Find a Clinical Trial Led by Dr. Smith

Publications

Many of our Fred Hutch physicians conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by other physicians and selected for publication to the United States National Library of Medicine, the largest medical library in the world. See scientific papers this Fred Hutch physician has written. 

View Dr. Smith's Publications

Your Care Team

At Fred Hutch, you receive care from a team of providers with extensive experience in your disease. Your team includes physicians, a patient care coordinator, a registered nurse, an advanced practice provider and others, based on your needs. You also have access to experts like registered dietitians, social workers, acupuncturists, psychiatrists and more who specialize in supporting people with cancer or blood disorders. 

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Insurance

Fred Hutch accepts most national private health insurance plans as well as Medicare. We also accept Medicaid for people from Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. We are working to ensure that everyone, no matter what their financial situation, has access to the care they need.

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