Dr. Michael Piepkorn is a highly experienced clinical dermatologist, dermatopathologist, and researcher with over five decades in the medical field. Throughout his career, he has held academic positions and conducted medical research for over 20 years, focusing primarily on melanoma skin cancer and psoriasis. Dermatopathology, a subspecialty of both dermatology and pathology, involves studying skin diseases at the tissue level, and Michael Piepkorn has contributed extensively to this field.

Michael Piepkorn, MD, practices at Dermatopathology Northwest in Seattle, Washington, where he diagnoses diseases based on skin biopsies. He also works at the University of Washington’s Roosevelt outpatient facility, where he staffs a pigmented lesion and melanoma clinic and provides clinical care to patients. He is board-certified in pathology, dermatology, and dermatopathology. He has held academic dermatology positions at the University of Utah and the University of Washington. In 2000, he co-founded a skin pathology laboratory in Bellevue, Washington, a key resource in advancing research and diagnostics. Michael Piepkorn PHD is widely recognized for his research on melanoma skin cancer. He was part of the team identifying the familial melanoma gene known as p16 or CDKN2A. In recognition of his significant contributions to the field of melanoma research and diagnosis, the American Society of Dermatopathology awarded him in 2004.

Throughout his career, He has published more than 170 journal articles, many considered significant in dermatology. His work has covered various aspects of skin diseases and their diagnosis, including publications such as “Pathologists’ Diagnosis of Invasive Melanoma and Melanocytic Proliferations: Observer Accuracy and Reproducibility Study,” “Assessment of Second-Opinion Strategies for Diagnoses of Cutaneous Melanocytic Lesions,” “Concordance and Reproducibility of Melanoma Staging According to the 7th vs 8th Edition of the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual.” His research has influenced the way melanoma is diagnosed and managed globally.

Dr. Michael Piepkorn has also been instrumental in training future dermatologists and dermatopathologists. He has mentored generations of clinicians and researchers, contributing to developing the next generation of physician-scientists. He received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota in 1973 and earned his PhD from the University of Washington in 1980. He completed residencies in both pathology and dermatology at the University of Washington. He held a joint faculty appointment in both the Department of Dermatology and the Department of Pathology in the 1990s.

Michael Piepkorn’s work has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Clinical Faculty Distinguished Teaching Award from the University of Washington Residency Program in 2009 and 2018. In 2011, the Michael Piepkorn, MD, Endowed Chair in Dermatology Research was established at the University of Washington to honor his contributions and support ongoing dermatologic research.

He has been a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology since 1981 and is a member of the Society for Investigative Dermatology. Outside of his medical career, he enjoys landscaping, gardening, and spending time in nature. He is an avid mountaineer and nature photographer and has climbed hundreds of mountains across the United States and internationally. His love for the outdoors reflects his deep respect for the natural world and his desire to stay active, engaged, and connected to the world beyond his professional work.