Neil Hampson, MD, and the Heart of Hyperbaric Medicine at Virginia Mason Medical Center

July 2025

Neil Hampson, MD, made the cross country journey to Seattle and joined the team at Virginia Mason Medical Center (VMMC) in 1988. At the time, he was a young physician and eager to begin his budding career at a world-class medical center. What he didn’t know was that he would one day become a world leader in hyperbaric medicine and put VMMC on the map for this highly-specialized medical care.

“I went to Virginia Mason and it turns out that it was a very lucky thing that I did because it was the highlight of my career,” shared Dr. Hampson.

Hyperbaric medicine is a groundbreaking form of care that can be used to treat a variety of conditions—from severe carbon monoxide poisoning to a diver battling the bends, or a patient struggling with a wound that refuses to heal. Hyperbaric medicine involves patients breathing 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber. Increased oxygen delivery used in hyperbaric medicine promotes healing, reduces inflammation, and provides oxygen to compromised tissues.

The Center for Hyperbaric Medicine at VMMC began in 1969 as a smaller research lab that eventually expanded to include patient care. When Dr. Hampson joined the VMMC team, he was asked to step in and become the director of the program, given his experience at Duke University, another leader in hyperbaric medicine. Initially hesitant, he quickly stepped up to the challenge and exceeded all expectations.

“We started to grow in our patient volume and the chamber we were using was only eight-feet,” he explained. “When I got there, the team was using it to treat two people at a time for a two-hour treatment. The capacity was cozy, but we increased it to four people at a time to meet demand, and the program continued to grow.”

As demand surged, the team found themselves treating patients from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., five days a week, and half a day on Saturdays. Patients were even put on a waiting list.

Dr. Hampson and the team knew they could do better and set out to raise $4.5 million for a new, state-of-the-art hyperbaric chamber.

"I spoke at every event the VMFH Foundation had, participated in every bake sale imaginable, and even wrote a grant to the federal government," Dr. Hampson shared. Donations slowly came in, with a significant portion of the funds coming from generous supporters within the local community.

After successfully raising the funds, the new triple lock, 24-person chamber officially opened in 2005.

Today, the chamber is still thriving and serving patients across the Northwest as the only 24/7, 365 operating hyperbaric chamber across Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho and Alaska. By its 20th anniversary (celebrated in July 2025), more than 75,000 patient treatments had been conducted.

One of those patients was Paul Dziedzic of Issaquah, Wash. Facing complications from cancer radiation therapy and running out of options, he turned to hyperbaric treatment.

"The most important thing is that it made a real difference," Dziedzic said. "I felt welcomed and pampered by the staff." Dziedzic also emphasized the convenience of receiving treatment close to home, appreciating the short half-hour drive.

Despite its special place in the community and the hearts of countless patients, the hyperbaric chamber at VMMC remained unnamed for two decades.

The team felt there was no better way to celebrate 20 years of clinical excellence and patient care than to dedicate the chamber to its founder and original medical director, naming it "Neil Hampson." At a community celebration and dedication, a plaque was unveiled for all to admire as Dr. Hampson shared a few words with both those who came before and after him.

“If you look at the facility, the design that went into it is still state of the art 20 years later,” Dr. Hampson said.

The chamber and its name dedication serve as a tribute to his dedication to excellent patient care and advancing the field of hyperbaric medicine through nationally-recognized research. His leadership has inspired countless other physicians and team members.