Michael J. Wagner, MD
Located at
You’re going through life one way, and suddenly you’re stopped in your tracks with a medical diagnosis that requires all of your attention and some really big decisions. Knowing that, I chose to work in health care to help guide people facing the immense challenges of a life-altering diagnosis. It’s an exciting time to be a cancer doctor, as new targeted treatments and immunotherapies are revolutionizing the way cancer is treated. I’m here to help where I can as a physician and a researcher. During my training, I saw firsthand in oncology clinics that new discoveries were sorely needed. Ever since, I’ve wanted to use discoveries from the lab to develop new therapies to help those most in need.
As a member of your treatment team, I strive to partner with you. I provide clear information and innovative treatment options, empowering you to make decisions that best fit your goals. Treatments today are better tolerated and often more effective than therapies of the past. As we improve our understanding of the biology of cancer, I believe we’ll see new treatments that will, in time, make cancer a manageable disease. New discoveries continually lead to more treatment options, and combining options, such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy, will lead to more cures and a better quality of life.
Provider background
Specialty: Medical Oncology
I am a UW assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Medical Oncology. I also treat patients with various types of sarcoma. My clinical interests include research in bone and soft tissue sarcomas, targeted therapies for sarcomas and immunotherapies.
I’ve received multiple awards for my work studying sarcomas, especially vascular sarcomas. In addition to treating patients, I research the molecular drivers of sarcomas and use this knowledge to develop clinical trials, ultimately leading to new treatments for this rare group of diseases.
Diseases treated
Stories
For years, sarcoma treatment was formulaic: Patients would cycle through standard chemotherapies and, if those were ineffective, there were few other options. But the sarcoma landscape has changed dramatically, with a surge of innovative drugs and investigational approaches that are creating hope against sarcoma and extending survival for some patients.
Research
Clinical trials
We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by SCCA doctors. Many of these trials at SCCA have led to FDA-approved treatments and have improved standards of care globally. Together, you and your doctor can decide if a study is right for you.
Publications
Many of our SCCA 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 SCCA provider has written.
Press
SCCA providers are often asked to give their medical expertise for press and news publications. Read articles by or about this SCCA provider.
Your care team
Insurance
SCCA 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.
