Nick Chen, M.D., Ph.D
Medical Director

Photo credit: Pro Image Photography/Ed Sozinho    Audio Listen in as Dr. Chen explains how the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center uses metronomic chemotherapy to target the cancer and the environment of the cancer.

Dr. Nick Chen strives to help his patients understand the full range of treatment options, not only for their disease, but for their overall quality of life.

"Cancer patients often suffer from decreased appetite, weight loss and a host of other mental and physical problems," Nick says. "Their nutritional, mental and emotional states affect their immunity and overall outcome. It is quite clear that the treatment of cancer must involve an integration of all of these areas to be successful."

When medical doctors work side by side with naturopathic oncologists, practitioners of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, and mind-body specialists, Nick adds, the communication between team members is prompt, continuous and complete.

"The patient is the winner when everybody works together in a seamless integration of treatment," he says.

Board certified in medical oncology and internal medicine with a Ph.D. in immunology, Nick has provided patient care and studied medicine on three continents. He served hematology fellowships at University Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium and Shanghai Medical University in China and earned his Ph.D. in immunology from the University of Iowa.

He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a fellowship in medical oncology at Moffitt Cancer Treatment Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida, one of the top comprehensive cancer centers in the nation.

Nick joined the integrative cancer treatment team at Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center in 2002.

He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Hematology and the American Medical Association.

"Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapies and other medical treatments address the cancer head-on, while science-based complementary therapies help ease the side effects and improve the outcome," Nick explains.

Mind-body support and patient empowerment are also vital, he says.

"We can use our thoughts and emotions to help the body heal faster. The more involved the patient is in his or her treatment program, the better the patient will feel mentally and emotionally. When one moves from victim to victor, it is much easier to visualize and achieve success."

Atis Barzdins, MD
Medical Oncologist

Dr. Atis Barzdins is thrilled to be working for a cancer center that serves an educated population with high expectations for quality care and a motivation to look "outside the box" for solutions.

"My job is to facilitate those solutions," he says.

Dr. Barzdins is a board-certified hematologist-oncologist who began working with the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center (SCTWC) in late December, 2010. He was attracted to Cancer Treatment Centers of America, the network of hospitals and medical facilities that includes SCTWC, because of its reputation as “an organization that looks for innovation".

Dr. Barzdins received his medical training in Latvia and the United States. He has been in practice since 2004, treating patients with cancer and blood disease, most recently at Advanced Hematology and Oncology Centers in Florida.

He received his medical doctorate in 1994 from Medical Academy of Latvia, graduating in the top 10th percentile of his class. He went on to complete internal medicine residencies in Latvia and New York, and a hematology-oncology fellowship at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University College of Surgeons and Physicians, in New York, NY.

His experience includes serving patients and local Indian reservations at Four Corners Oncology-Hematology in Durango, CO; and providing medical management at a hematology-oncology practice that was expanding to serve The Villages, a retirement community near Ocala, FL.

As one of four physicians at Advanced Hematology and Oncology Centers, he provided the largest proportion of inpatient consultations, regularly participated in tumor boards, and gained experience in the introduction of an electronic medical record system.

Fluent in three languages, Dr. Barzdins has authored and co-authored several articles and publications on oncology, chemotherapy and working in the American health care system.

His interests include travel, world history, sports activities, and playing and writing music.

"I continue to be fascinated by the unique challenges the field of oncology presents in terms of rapidly developing knowledge and the ability to intervene," he says. "Working alongside an integrated care team allows me to serve my patients with even more focus and compassion, taking time to address the emotional and psychological dimensions of their care, which I recognize as important to the overall success in their treatment."