In Memoriam: Ray Carlsen, MD (1935-2025)
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our former faculty colleague, Ray Carlsen, MD, on April 4, 2025. Dr. Carlsen was a man of quiet strength, whose life journey was marked by a commitment to care for others and give back to his community. He was a lifelong scholar, entrepreneur, and music enthusiast, but above all, he was a cherished friend and mentor to many.
His contributions to dermatopathology were profound, and his legacy lives on in the countless students and patients whose lives he touched.
Education & Early Career 
Dr. Carlsen was born in Denver, Colo. in 1935. He received a BA from Yale University, as well as an MD from the Yale University School of Medicine. He completed an internship in Surgical Service at Columbia Presbyterian in New York City, and dermatology residency at at Stanford Department of Dermatology.
He participated in several fellowships, including an NIH special postdoctoral fellowship to study electron microscopy for the University of Washington Department of Biological Structure.
Dr. Carlsen made significant contributions as both a clinician and educator throughout his distinguished career. In the early stages of his professional journey, he served as a Research Associate and subsequently as Chief Physician at the Seattle VA Medical Center. He later became an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine and served as a Consultant in Dermatopathology for the Division of Dermatology, where he dedicated himself to mentoring generations of young dermatologists, guiding them through the complexities and subtleties of dermatopathology.
“Ray Carlsen was an early member of the Dermatology Division faculty. He helped train many residents (including me). His teaching style was authoritative while soft spoken and self-effacing with a dry sense of humor. We enjoyed sharing our baseball stories. He was a pillar of the dermatology community and will be missed in so many ways.” —John Olerud, MD, Professor Emeritus & former Division Head
Dermatopathology Northwest & Volunteer Work
In 1999, Dr. Carlsen transitioned to private practice, co-founding Dermatopathology Northwest alongside fellow former University of Washington pathologists, Dan Lantz, MD, and Michael Piepkorn, MD. While the initial idea to establish a private dermatopathology practice originated primarily with Dr. Carlsen, Drs. Lantz and Piepkorn were closely involved from the outset, helping to develop the necessary resources to launch the dermatopathology lab as early as January 2000.
As Laboratory Director for nearly 30 years, Dr. Carlsen played a vital role in the accurate diagnosis of skin diseases at the microscopic level—providing essential insights that help both patients and their physicians determine the most effective course of treatment.
In the later chapters of his life, Dr. Carlsen gave generously of his time through volunteer work, remaining deeply connected to the academic community. As a volunteer faculty member in the UW Department of Dermatology, he taught residents the finer points of dermatopathology while continuing to provide diagnostic services for UW Medicine patients.
Carlsen Cello Foundation
A true renaissance man, Dr. Carlsen didn’t limit his talents to medicine. While still actively practicing dermatology, he founded the Carlsen Cello Foundation—a nonprofit born from his passion for music and commitment to supporting the next generation of artists.
The foundation provides quality cellos for talented young musicians from families of modest means. To date, it has loaned instruments to more than 100 students nationwide, helping them pursue their musical dreams with the tools they need to succeed.
Dr. Carlsen is survived by his wife, Dorothy Yang, MD, a highly respected member of our Seattle dermatology community.
He will be remembered as a man of humility, grace, and quiet dignity. His presence, mentorship, and expertise profoundly enriched our department, and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside him. His legacy will continue to inspire and guide future generations.
We extend our deepest sympathies to Dr. Carlsen’s family, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives he touched.
