Catherine Liu, MD

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Liu
Catherine Liu, MD

Catherine Liu, MD

  • Director, Antimicrobial Stewardship and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Program; Associate Director, Infection Prevention, Fred Hutch
  • Director, Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Program, Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division/Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington School of Medicine

Infectious Disease

 Print

“I believe in establishing a partnership with my patients and a multidisciplinary team of providers to deliver the highest quality care. By listening to their concerns, understanding their values and priorities, I work together with my patients to develop an individualized care plan.”

— Dr. Liu

What brought you to specializing in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases?

Prior to joining Fred Hutch, Dr. Catherine Liu served as Medical Director of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control and the Infectious Diseases Management Program at the University of California, San Francisco. In addition to her administrative roles, she was an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and maintained an active teaching role as an attending physician on the Transplant/ Immunocompromised Host Infectious Diseases service and as a faculty member at the UCSF School of Medicine. "I chose medicine as a career because I wanted to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives through direct patient care and by contributing to scientific discovery," Dr. Liu says. Dr. Liu says she is incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to hear patients and families share their stories and care for them during one of their most difficult life experiences. "My goal is to improve patient outcomes and quality of life by prevention and treatment of infections through practical application of the medical literature and participation in clinical research studies," she says. Dr. Liu's clinical and research interests focus on improving outcomes among cancer patients through establishing an 1) antimicrobial stewardship program that aims to promote optimal selection, dose, and duration of antimicrobial therapy and, 2) outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) program for those patients with infections requiring IV antimicrobials who are transitioning care from the inpatient to outpatient setting. "In collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of advanced practice providers, pharmacists, and Infection Control, my goal is to prevent the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistant pathogens and reduce the risk of medication-related toxicity while ensuring patients receive the highest standard of care." Outside of work, Dr. Liu enjoys spending time with her family, exploring the Seattle area, cooking and traveling.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Infectious disease

I am a physician who specializes in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases that affect patients with weakened immune systems, particularly those with cancer and recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplants, also known as blood stem cell transplants. I see patients at the South Lake Union Clinic and Fred Hutch at UW Medical Center - Montlake.

Languages

English

Education, Experience and Certifications

Undergraduate Degree
Stanford University

Medical Degree
University of California, San Francisco

Residency
Massachusetts General Hospital

Fellowship
University of California, San Francisco

Board Certification
Infectious Disease, 2007, 2018, American Board of Internal Medicine

Other
Internship, Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital

Stories

All news
With respiratory infections rampant, experts urge masking and vaccination
With respiratory infections rampant, experts urge masking and vaccination Limited disease data makes it hard to accurately assess flu trends March 14, 2025
Infectious disease scientists look beyond the pandemic
Infectious disease scientists look beyond the pandemic A symposium about protecting people with weakened immune systems from microbial threats May 9, 2023
Cancer, COVID-19 and proceeding with caution
Cancer, COVID-19 and proceeding with caution Patients in treatment and those with compromised or suppressed immune systems eye the future — and pandemic’s wane — warily February 16, 2022

Clinical Trials

We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch physicians. Many of these trials at Fred Hutch have led to FDA-approved treatments and have improved standards of care globally. Together, you and your physician can decide if a study is right for you.

Find a Clinical Trial Led by Dr. Liu

Publications

Many of our Fred Hutch 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 Fred Hutch physician has written.

View Dr. Liu's Publications

Your Care Team

At Fred Hutch, you receive care from a team of providers with extensive experience in your disease. Your team includes physicians, a patient care coordinator, a registered nurse, an advanced practice provider and others, based on your needs. You also have access to experts like registered dietitians, social workers, acupuncturists, psychiatrists and more who specialize in supporting people with cancer or blood disorders. 

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Insurance

Fred Hutch 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.

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