Roy

Colven

MD

Appointments

Harborview Medical Center

Biography

Roy Colven, M.D., is a board certified dermatologist at the Dermatology Clinic at Harborview and a UW Professor of Dermatology and Medicine and an Adjunct Professor of Global Health. He has previously served as the Director of the UW Dermatology Residency Program (2006-2022), and the John E. Olerud Endowed Chair for Dermatology Training (2007-2023). Dr. Colven believes medical education starts with the patient. Understanding one's illness allows a patient to become a partner in his or her health care. Dr. Colven earned his M.D. at the UW. His clinical and research interests include general dermatology, systemic diseases and the skin, HIV and the skin, and skin of color. In his free time Dr. Colven enjoys his family, travel, rowing and cycling. 

Education & Training

MD, University of Washington, Seattle WA (1987)

Residency in Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA (1987-1990)

Residency in Dermatology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham NC (1993-1996)

Faculty Member, UW Department of Dermatology, Seattle, WA (1996-pres)

Honors

John E. Olerud Endowed Chair for Dermatology Training (2007-2023)

UW Derm John Olerud Distinguished Teaching Award (2008, 2018)

Past President, Seattle Dermatological Society

Fulbright Lecturer, Cape Town, South Africa (2004-2006)

Alpha Omega Alpha

Research Interests 

• General dermatology
• Systemic diseases and the skin
• HIV and the skin
• Skin of color

Clinical Interests ​​​

• HIV-related skin disease
• Telemedicine
• Medical education
• Internal medicine in dermatology
• Dermatology in diverse populations
• Global health dermatology
• Skin of color
• HIV-related dermatology
• Systemic disease-influenced dermatology
• Systemic therapies in dermatology
• Procedural dermatology
• Inpatient dermatology consultation
• SJS/TEN and other severe cutaneous adverse reactions
• Cost stewardship in clinical practice

Publications 

Selected Publications

Colven RM, Shim M-HM, Todd G.  Improvement in primary provider diagnostic acumen using a tele-dermatology network.  13th Annual American Telemedicine Association International Meeting and Exposition.  Telemed eHealth 2011 Jun;17(5):363-9.

Doorenbos AZ, Demiris G, Towle C, Kundu A, Revels L, Colven R, Norris TE, Buchwald D.  Developing the Native People for Cancer Control Telehealth Network.  Telemed J E Health. 2011 Jan-Feb;17(1):30-4.

Vary JC Jr, Colven R, Kirby P.  Hypertrophic scars from surgical staples mimicking folliculitis.  J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010;62:157-8.

Mann T, Colven R. A picture is worth more than a thousand words: enhancement of a pre-exam telephone consultation in dermatology with digital images. Acad Med;77:742-3, 2002.

Dank JP, Colven R. Protease-inhibitor-induced angiolipomatosis. J Am Acad Dermatol; 42:129-31, 2000.

Colven R, Harrington RD, Spach DH, Cohen CJ, Hooton TM. Rebound retroviral syndrome after cessation of suppressive antiretroviral therapy in three patients chronically infected with HIV. Ann Int Med; 133:430-34, 2000.