Mitchell Garrison, MD

Some people are driven by the need to succeed. Others are driven by the need to serve. Dr. Mitchell Garrison is of the latter. He openly admits that his experiences as a youth working with impoverished people in Tiajuana, Mexico and on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona are what led him to the medical field. He wants to help people with significant needs.

After graduating with a bachelor of science degree in biology from Boston University, he immediately entered medical school, also at Boston University. It's sometimes hard for a doctor to explain why he chose a particular path in the medical field, but Dr. Garrison doesn't seem to have much trouble. He pursued an oncology practice because he wants to help people, "to care for the whole person," as he put it.

After leaving medical school, Dr. Garrison completed his internship and residency at the Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis, Washington, followed by fellowship training at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. While in Texas Dr. Garrison worked with the Southwest Oncology Group as a principal investigator, conducting many Phase I, II, and III clinical studies. He also sat on the Board of Governors for the Southwest Oncology Group and was an Institutional Review Board member.

After his years in Texas, Dr. Garrison and his family made a great leap to the Northwest and landed in Wenatchee, Washington, where he now practices at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Network Member institution, Wenatchee Valley Medical Center. Dr. Garrison always strives to practice state-of-the-art medicine and believes that by working with SCCA he and his patients have access to breaking technology and current trials. "This affiliation allows me to stay in contact with the thought leaders and innovators of oncology medicine."

In addition to his work and research at Wenatchee Valley Medical Center, Dr. Garrison has started a blog, "Cancer Care with Dr. Garrison," as way to discuss important cancer related news and insights that will be particularly useful to people living in North Central Washington as well as our cancer center's patients and loved ones.

When not helping his "complicated, but wonderful" patients, Dr. Garrison is with his wife Amy and their three children, Ashley, Casey, and Stevie. Amy recently opened a Jazzercise franchise in Wenatchee and is the lead instructor. "My family is the most important thing in my life." Both Ashley and Stevie have had to undergo open heart surgery to help correct congenital heart defects and Stevie has Down syndrome. Despite a seemingly full plate, Dr. Garrison still finds some time to ride bikes or snowboard with his children or, should he have a moment to himself, enjoy a round of golf and explore his new hobby, kayaking.