Dr. Michael Piepkorn
Clinical Professor of Dermatology
Washington
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Summary
Dr. Michael Piepkorn is a clinical dermatologist, dermatopathologist, and researcher with a career spanning more than 5 decades. His expertise centers on the study of skin pathology and the diagnosis of melanoma and psoriasis. He divides his professional time between Dermatopathology Northwest in Seattle, where he evaluates a wide range of skin biopsies, and a pigmented lesion and melanoma clinic at the University of Washington Roosevelt Outpatient Facility.
With board certifications in pathology, dermatology, and dermatopathology, Michael Piepkorn, MD, has established a respected record of academic service at both the University of Utah and the University of Washington. Early in his career, he co-founded a skin pathology laboratory in Bellevue, Washington. His research contributions include identifying the major familial melanoma gene, p16/CDKN2A, a discovery that significantly shaped modern melanoma genetics.
Michael Piepkorn, PhD, has authored more than 170 peer-reviewed journal articles, covering diagnostic accuracy in melanoma, reproducibility of staging methods, and practices surrounding second opinions in skin cancer evaluation. His work also explores how pathologists interpret melanocytic lesions and how diagnostic terminology evolves. For his contributions to melanoma research and dermatopathology, he received a prestigious award from the American Society of Dermatopathology in 2004.
Throughout his career, he has also played an essential role in mentoring new generations of dermatologists and dermatopathologists. His guidance has supported trainees pursuing both clinical practice and basic scientific research, encouraging evidence-based approaches and collaborative progress in melanoma studies. His commitment to education is reflected in multiple teaching awards from the University of Washington and in the establishment of the Michael Piepkorn Endowed Chair in Dermatology Research in 2011.
Dr. Piepkorn earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota in 1973 and completed his PhD at the University of Washington in 1980, where he later held joint faculty appointments in Dermatology and Pathology. His undergraduate studies were at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. Outside of medicine, he enjoys landscaping, gardening, backpacking, mountaineering, and photographing natural environments. His outdoor pursuits reflect a deep appreciation for nature and its complexity, as well as a lifelong dedication to staying active and connected to the world beyond the laboratory.
