Dr. Rachel Issaka is a gastroenterologist and medical researcher with expertise in colorectal cancer prevention, quality improvement, and health equity. As an Assistant Professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington, she researches ways to improve colorectal cancer screening participation in order to decrease mortality, particularly in medically underserved populations. Her work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Dr. Issaka has contributed to national medical practice guidelines for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Dr. Issaka completed her gastroenterology fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco where she also earned a Master’s in clinical research. She completed her internal medicine residency at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where she served as chief resident and obtained her medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School.

“Equity in health outcomes, including colorectal cancer, cannot wait!” -Rachel Issaka