Celebrating the Class of 2023

UW Dermatology celebrated our exceptional Class of 2023 graduating residents and fellows at our annual dermatology graduation celebration on Thursday, June 29, 2023, at Ray’s Boathouse in Seattle.

This year marked the first graduation with Dr. Markus Boos as Program Director, the first in-person graduation since the pandemic, and the first presentation of UW Dermatology’s inaugural Fleckman Mentorship Award, in honor of Dr. Phil Fleckman.

Please join us in congratulating our 2023 graduates!

• Caitlin Crimp, MD
• Anna Tappel, MD
• Rachael Ward, MD, MPH
• Jason Ya, MD
• Martin Dittmer, MD, Dermatopathology Fellow
• Emily Duffy, MD, Pediatric Dermatology Fellow

Huge appreciation to UW Dermatology Co-Chief Residents Drs. Mariam Alam and Brian Connor for delivering wonderful speeches for our teaching award presentations and graduates. Special thank you's to Stephanie Timm, Manager of Dermatology Education & Training Programs, and Aimee Filippi, CME Programs Manager and Intranet Builder, for helping plan and execute this year’s celebration.

Click to view additional photos on Facebook.

2023 Teaching Awards

Congratulations to our 2023 Teaching Award recipients (voted on by residents)! 

John E. Olerud Teaching Award

The John E. Olerud Resident Teaching Award is given annually to a faculty member from the UW Division of Dermatology. ​Residents vote each year to select the faculty member that best​ exemplifies a teacher in the most ideal sense.

April Schachtel, MD, 2023 Recipient 
Clinical Assistant Professor
Division of Dermatology
Chief, VA Puget Sound Health Care System
Education Site Director of VA Dermatology

Resident Comments: 

• "Dr. Schachtel consistently goes above and beyond to facilitate resident learning and develop the next generation of excellent dermatologists. From gen derm clinic at the VA to her expertise in disease of the nail to her surgical teaching, she has been invaluable to my residency training."
• "Dr. Schachtel encourages trainees to build upon their areas of interest while patiently guiding them through new procedures, clinical experiences, or VA processes."
• "Dr. Schachtel is warm, detailed and specific while also creating a learning environment in which residents and medical students can excel without judgement. She exemplifies patient education with nearly every encounter. She makes learning fun with her enthusiasm, particularly for nail disorders. It is always a pleasure working with her."

Volunteer Teaching Award

Residents vote each year to select a volunteer faculty member who encourages resident learning and actively fosters resident education.

Dan Lantz, MD, 2023 Recipient 
Dermatopathology Northwest

Resident Comments: 

• “Dr. Lantz tirelessly gives every Thursday morning to us. Over the past few years, he has un-muddied the waters of dermatopathology for me. His love of dermpath is contagious and his eagerness to teach and foster community is palpable.”

• “Dr. Lantz is eager to teach every Thursday morning with a positive attitude and sense of humor.”

• “Dr. Lantz is dedicated to resident teaching in dermatopathology. He is always happy for questions, big or small and always happy to accommodate extra teaching sessions for residents. He truly wants every resident to succeed.”

1st Inaugural Fleckman Mentorship Award 

Phil Fleckman, MD, 2023 Recipient 

Our inaugural Fleckman Mentorship Award was posthumously awarded to Dr. Phil Fleckman (1946-2023). Dr. Fleckman was a professor of dermatology and medicine in the Division of Dermatology for 40 years.

Resident Comments: 

• "I feel so lucky to have trained with Dr. Fleckman. I will forever remember his kind manner with patients, his humility in diagnosis and his commitment to evidence-based medicine. I think of his adages and pearls often and miss seeing his smiling face at clinic and at journal club."
• "Dr. Fleckman was 100% present while teaching trainees and patients, and this essence (of attentiveness) is a fabric of the division."
• "Dr. Fleckman was the epitome of academic and teaching excellence. He was always kind and thoughtful and willing to take extra time for resident teaching when needed. He instilled confidence even when it was lacking on my part with decision-making in the clinical setting. I will never forget his impact on my resident education and will always feel grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him."