Dr. Carlson is a radiation oncologist, certified by the American Board of Radiology. He received a Medical Doctorate degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. From 1999 to 2000, Dr. Carlson received advanced training in a Medical/Surgical rotating internship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio, followed by a four-year radiation oncology residency also at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

His main interest and goal as a physician at the Wenatchee Valley Cancer Treatment Center is to bring very high quality medicine to the more rural areas of Washington State. As a member of the Board of Directors at the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center and the Chairman of the Cancer Committee, he has been a staunch advocate for the affiliation of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance with the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center. He has also worked hard to obtain a status of accreditation from the American College of Surgeons for the Wenatchee Valley Cancer Treatment Center as an approved cancer program. Dr. Carlson is Co-director of Radiation Oncology, along with Dr. John Register.