Dr. Pittier has been in practice for twelve years at Tacoma Valley Radiation Oncology Centers, located at St. Joseph Medical Pavillion at 1802 South Yakima Ste 103 in Tacoma, WA. She is a Radiation Oncologist who specializes in breast, gynecologic, lung, and Head and Neck cancers.
As a young woman, Dr. Pittier was inspired to pursue a career in medicine and ultimately radiation oncology, as a result of having multiple family members battle cancer. This has given her a unique perspective on fighting for cure, as well as embracing palliative care when needed. She notes that cancer does not simply affect the individual, but it touches everyone around them. She feels her involvement in treating and curing cancer is only part of treating the whole individual. She also works with each patient to help them gain personal control of risk factors to prevent recurrence and/or development of new cancers. She uses an evidence based approach on lifestyle which includes plant based nutrition, exercise, and stress reduction. Cancer care also necessitate helping patients and families transition through end of life care. Radiation is an important palliative technique which can help ease pain and improve quality of life, for as long as possible.
Dr. Pittier attended Occidental College, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology. She furthered her academics by attending medical school at Trinity College, before completing an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Washington. She completed her training by completing a second residency in Radiation Oncology. Today, she is a member of the American Society of Radiation Oncology Biology and Physics, American Radiologic Society and the American Medical Association. Dr. Pittier first became board certified in Internal Medicine through the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). She maintains board certification in Radiation Oncology through the American Board of Radiology.
Dr. Pittier is active in the community and participates in outreach directed at helping prevent cancers through lifestyle modification. In addition to providing CME for physicians on techniques in radiation and cancer nutrition, she has provided education for Survivorship groups, Vegetarians of Washington, as well as individual health groups (as a guest lecture and in podcast format). She started her own Survivorship course focusing on optimal nutrition, exercise and risk mitigation. In addition, she sits on the Quality Committee board for Carol Milgard Breast Center, she co-chairs the Breast Center of Excellence, and is involved in multiple Cancer committees for the hospital she works with.
Dr. Pittier employs state of the art techniques for her patients. She routinely utilizes brachytherapy, a form of radiation used to cure cervical cancer, uterine cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. She has additional certification in Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, used for brain tumors, metastasis, movement disorders and pain syndromes. She embraces precision state of the art techniques in radiation such as stereotactic radiosurgery, intensity modulated radiation therapy and image guidance.
In a community with many highly trained cancer specialists, the motto of Tacoma Valley Radiation Oncology Centers is "Cancer isn't a choice. Where to get treated is." They treat patients at five facilities, including Tacoma, Puyallup, Gig Harbor, and Olympia, and Silverdale, WA. Each location is certified by the American College of Radiation Oncology.
On a personal note, Dr. Pittier enjoys spending time with her family together they, camp, hike, ski and volunteer for Gig Harbor Wildlife Rescue.
For more information, visit www.tacomaradiation.com.
