Dr. Emily Palmquist, MD

Media Releases

Get to know General Surgeon Dr. Emily Palmquist, who serves patients in Seattle, Washington.

Dr. Palmquist is a general surgeon specializing in breast surgical oncology. A part of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, she sees patients at the South Lake Union Clinic, UW Medical Center – Montlake, and UW Medical Center – Northwest.

“While we are seeing better treatment outcomes in breast cancer over time, we are also continuing to make sure patients’ self-reported cosmetic and emotional outcomes are improving. We want to provide not only the best cancer care, but also the best patient experience, and to do that, we need to get feedback from patients. They lived with this. We want to make the process the best for them and take everything they experienced into consideration” stated Dr. Palmquist. 

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center unites comprehensive care and advanced research to provide the latest cancer treatment options and accelerate discoveries that prevent, treat, and defeat cancer and infectious diseases worldwide.

An independent, nonprofit organization, Fred Hutch also serves as UW Medicine’s cancer program. This relationship allows for enhanced care coordination with one of the world’s leading integrated health systems.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and a lot of literature and data helps to formulate treatment plans. Dr. Palmquest wants to help patients be well informed so that they can make the best decisions for themselves.

“Patients have so many ways they can get information. I think our job as surgeons and physicians is to help patients have the right information so they can make good decisions. I want us to think about things as a team. I’m not here to tell patients what to do. It’s my job, with my training and experience, to help them digest what is going on and navigate the process in the best way for them” she said.

The doctor’s acclaimed career in medicine began after she earned her undergraduate degree from Boston College and her medical degree from the Tufts University School of Medicine. She then went on to perform her residency in general surgery at Tufts Medical Center, and her fellowship in breast surgical oncology at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

“I was a resident in general surgery, where I saw people with a variety of conditions, and I was very drawn to breast cancer patients. Breast cancer is incredibly common, and yet patients do very well overall. I really enjoy forming relationships with patients and being able to help them navigate through a stressful and scary time in their lives. It has been very rewarding” expressed Dr. Palmquist.

Board-certified in general surgery, she is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery (ABS). The ABS is an independent, non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded for the purpose of certifying surgeons who have met a defined standard of education, training, and knowledge.

Teaching medical students, Dr. Palmquest serves as an Associate Professor within the Department of Surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

General surgery is a surgical specialty that focuses on abdominal contents including the esophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, appendix and bile ducts, and often the thyroid gland. A general surgeon performs a wide range of abdominal surgeries for many forms of intestinal and abdominal wall neoplasms, gallbladder disease, gastric and pancreatic disease. They follow the patient through critical care and surgical recovery all the way to outpatient care. 

Recommended Articles

• 5 Ways to Stay Comfortable After a Gallbladder Surgery

  Gallbladder SurgeryGallbladder removal surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgeries. The procedure is also known as a cholecystectomy. Gallbladder surgery is usually performed to solve problems that are associated with gallstones. Gallstones are hardened deposits of the digestive fluid...

• How to Prepare for a Colonoscopy

  A colonoscopy is an examination that lets your health practitioner view the lining of your colon (large intestine). A thin and flexible tube known as a colonoscopy is used to thoroughly view the colon. A Colonoscopy is also applied when screening for precancerous or cancer growths inside the colon....

• What is the Central Venous Catheter?

  The central venous catheter is a type of a catheter that is normally placed in a vein of large size. It is also called the central venous line or central line. Central venous catheters can be fitted in veins found in the chest, groin, arms, and neck. This type of catheter is often used in the...

• What Is Hernia: Get the Facts

  A hernia is marked by a bulge in the groin or abdomen, which occurs when an organ protrudes through the muscle opening that keeps it in place. Hernias are a very common problem and can occur in men or women of all ages.For instance, in the case of an incisional hernia, the intestines may protrude...

• What are the Risks of an Appendectomy?

  Sometimes the appendix develops complications. When that happens, the patient usually experiences intense pain in the lower abdomen. This requires immediate medical attention to prevent the appendix from bursting. This whole emergency condition is known as appendicitis.Appendicitis refers to the...

• Stomach Ulcers: What are the Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment?

  Stomach ulcers are painful lesions that are found in the lining of your stomach or small intestine. They are the most visible sign of peptic ulcer disease. Your stomach and small intestine are lined by a layer of mucus-producing cells. The mucus produced by these cells protect the lining of your...