Dr. Shadman Champions Cellular Therapy Access Through Leadership and Education in Washington State

Dr. Mazyar Shadman is a hematologist and oncologist specializing in lymphoid malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia(CLL) and lymphomas. He serves as the Medical Director for Cellular Immunotherapy and the Bezos Family Immunotherapy Clinic at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Additionally, he holds the Innovators Network Endowed Chair and is an Associate Professor in the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutch. He also serves as an Associate Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Shadman's research focuses on therapeutic CLL/Lymphoma as well as cellular immunotherapy (e.g., CAR-T therapy) for blood cancers.

Fostering Regional Collaboration Through Visionary Leadership in Cellular Therapy

Dr. Shadman’s contribution to Binaytara has been consistently outstanding and exudes relentless passion. He has been a speaker at the organization’s continuing education conferences for several years and is deeply committed to improving care, particularly access to cellular therapy and overall care for patients. He often emphasizes that while we can develop effective treatment regimens, without access to care, those regimens are not as impactful.

In addition to being an influential faculty member at our conferences, Dr. Shadman continues to play a key leadership role regionally. On August 15, 2025, Dr. Shadman will co-chair the upcoming Seattle Cellular Therapy Summit, a CME/ACPE-accredited event offering a comprehensive overview of emerging strategies in the management of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. He has been the co-chair of this conference for years and continues to foster collaboration among faculty members and healthcare professionals across the Pacific Northwest.

Dr. Shadman’s commitment to improving cancer care access and research was evident from the recently concluded Summit on Cancer Health Disparities (SCHD25), where he chaired a breakout session on Access to Cellular Therapy. This session featured talks from renowned clinical researchers, including an Associate Professor, Dr. Folashade Otegbeye, a Professor, Dr. Mohamed Sorror, and a Physician/Assistant Professor, Dr. Melinda Biernacki. The speakers and panelists from this session discussed the operational barriers, including referral delays, manufacturing timelines, and access disparities, that prevent eligible patients from receiving timely therapy, especially those from underserved populations.

Dr. Shadman Awarded for Excellence in Cancer Care Access and Education

In recognition of his long-standing excellence in teaching and his significant contributions to educational initiatives and improving access to education for healthcare providers, Dr. Shadman was honored with the Binaytara Distinguished Faculty of the Year Award at SCHD25. Upon receiving the news, he shared: “I appreciate this great honor, and I know many prominent physicians and investigators work with Binaytara. For me to receive this honor this year is truly special, and I am grateful for the consideration.”

Further reflecting on his role as a medical director for cellular Immunotherapy at Fred Hutch, Dr. Shadman remarked, “One of my top priorities is expanding access to CAR T-cell therapy and making our program more efficient and patient-friendly. Fred Hutch is one of the leading centers for CAR T, and while we have a strong clinical structure that has been a model for others, we are continually refining it to better serve patients. On the CLL research side, I am also working with the International Workshop on CLL (iwCLL) to help develop global treatment and diagnostic recommendations to provide guidance and improve access to novel therapies."

Learn with Us and Drive Meaningful Impact

Join Dr. Shadman in bringing cellular therapies to every patient, everywhere. All our conferences are multidisciplinary and are designed for physicians, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals committed to advancing cancer care. We strongly believe that targeted CME and cross-institutional collaboration are essential to expanding the reach and impact of novel cancer treatments. Learn more about upcoming conferences and initiatives at the Binaytara Education Academy.