As you step into Virginia Mason Franciscan Health's expanding cancer service line, you'll find yourself at the forefront of a transformative healthcare initiative that's reshaping oncology care across the greater Tacoma metropolitan area. This is far more than joining an established practice – you'll be instrumental in building a comprehensive cancer program designed to serve a community of patients who currently travel hours for specialized care or go without it entirely.
Unlike traditional academic positions where research often takes precedence over patient care, or private practice settings where you're isolated from subspecialty support, this role offers the perfect balance of clinical autonomy with robust institutional backing.
Your practice will serve as a cornerstone in Virginia Mason Franciscan Health's ambitious plan to establish integrated hematology-oncology services across multiple strategic locations within a 20-minute radius of each other. With approximately 600 hematology-oncology referrals currently leaving the system monthly – representing 350+ patients seeking care elsewhere – you'll immediately step into a practice with substantial patient volume and community need. The service area encompasses South King County, Pierce County, and extends into the Olympic Peninsula, providing vital cancer care to patients who would otherwise face significant travel barriers to receive treatment.
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health's cancer service line operates under the executive medical direction of Dr. Joe Rosales, a hematologist-oncologist and colorectal surgeon based at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. This structure provides you with the autonomy of community practice while maintaining access to academic-level resources, tumor boards, clinical trials, and subspecialty consultation.
The organization's commitment to this expansion is evidenced by their aggressive recruitment timeline and substantial infrastructure investments across multiple facilities.
This position represents a unique opportunity to practice comprehensive hematology-oncology while building something meaningful from the ground up. You'll join during the crucial early stages of program development, allowing you to influence everything from clinic workflows to referral relationships, while serving patients who desperately need local access to expert cancer care.
The role offers the rare combination of immediate patient volume, institutional support, and the professional satisfaction of establishing a legacy practice that will serve your community for decades to come.