Dr. Michael Piepkorn

Dr. Michael Piepkorn is an accomplished dermatologist, dermatopathologist, and medical researcher with a career spanning more than 5 decades. His work has focused on the diagnosis and study of skin diseases, with particular emphasis on melanoma and psoriasis. Based in Seattle, Washington, he currently practices at Dermatopathology Northwest, where he evaluates skin biopsy specimens and contributes to specialized melanoma care through the University of Washington’s pigmented lesion clinic. Throughout his professional career, Michael Piepkorn, MD, has combined clinical expertise with academic leadership. He is board-certified in pathology, dermatology, and dermatopathology, a rare combination that has allowed him to contribute broadly to patient care and medical research. He previously held academic appointments at both the University of Utah and the University of Washington. In 2000, he co-founded a skin pathology laboratory in Bellevue, Washington, helping expand access to advanced dermatopathology services. Michael Piepkorn PHD is particularly recognized for his contributions to melanoma research. As part of a research team, he helped identify the familial melanoma gene p16/CDKN2A, an important discovery that improved understanding of inherited melanoma risk. His research has influenced how physicians interpret melanocytic lesions and diagnose skin cancer. In acknowledgment of his expertise and contributions to dermatopathology, he received recognition from the American Society of Dermatopathology in 2004. Over the years, Michael has authored more than 170 original medical journal articles. His publications have explored topics such as melanoma staging, diagnostic reproducibility, second-opinion practices, digital pathology interpretation, and standardized reporting systems for melanocytic lesions. Through these studies, he has contributed to improving diagnostic consistency and advancing best practices in dermatopathology, helping physicians deliver more accurate patient evaluations. Education and mentorship have remained important aspects of Michael’s career. He has trained generations of dermatologists and dermatopathologists while mentoring researchers and physician scientists pursuing careers in medicine and laboratory research. He earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota in 1973 and completed his PhD at the University of Washington in 1980. He later completed residencies in pathology and dermatology at the University of Washington, where he also served on the faculty. Dr. Michael Piepkorn’s professional accomplishments have been recognized through several teaching honors, including distinguished teaching awards from the University of Washington Dermatology Residency Program. In 2011, the Michael Piepkorn Endowed Chair in Dermatology Research was established in his honor to support future dermatologic research. Outside of medicine, he enjoys landscaping, gardening, mountaineering, backpacking, and nature photography, reflecting a lifelong appreciation for exploration and the outdoors.