2023 Graduate Spotlight: Caitlin Crimp, MD
From improving the lives of our patients to research breakthroughs, every resident and fellow who has joined the Division of Dermatology has left an indelible mark on our program through their talent, curiosity, and dedication to exceptional care.
As the Class of 2023 prepare to graduate and enter the next phase of their career, we asked our grads to reflect our their experience at UW Dermatology and their post-graduation plans.
Congratulations Dr. Caitlin Crimp!
Caitlin Crimp, MD
2022-23 Co-Chief Resident
Hometown: Coeur d Alene, Idaho
Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine
Internship: Internal Medicine, University of Washington
What is next for you after graduation?
I will be joining the faculty at UW with clinics at both Fred Hutch Cancer Center and the Roosevelt Dermatology Center, as well as attending on the UW inpatient service. I am so excited to be staying in the UW Derm family and working alongside such incredible colleagues and mentors. But first, I will be traveling for a couple of months and taking a delayed honeymoon to Portugal.
What are your career goals?
I will be applying for a dermatopathology fellowship this summer and hope to continue building clinical expertise in the field of cutaneous lymphoma, both areas that I would like to focus on in my future career as an academic dermatologist.
What did you enjoy most about the training experience at UW Dermatology?
No surprise here, but the people. From the administrative staff, clinic staff, co-residents, attendings, program leadership, I have gained invaluable knowledge, but more importantly, created memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
What accomplishments in residency are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the narrative medicine curriculum that Dr. Alam and I have been building under the guidance of Drs. Kalus and Shinohara. It has been such a privilege to hear patients’ stories without the time constraints or formalities of a medical visit, and to watch the connections built among our resident cohort through their very honest and vulnerable participation.
Who were your mentors and how did they support you?
Dr. Shinohara has been an invaluable mentor as she has not only guided my career interests in dermatopathology and cutaneous lymphoma, but also celebrated my achievements, supported me through challenging personal struggles, and been a leading example of prioritizing wellness. Dr. Kalus has also provided incredible expertise and support in the development of our narrative medicine project, not to mention being an exceptional clinical teacher and mentor. I also want to recognize the incredible amount of effort that our faculty put into teaching residents and other trainees daily in clinic, and this more informal mentorship does not go unnoticed.
What advice would you share with incoming dermatology residents?
Do not feel like you must learn it all the first time. The amount of knowledge can be overwhelming, and we will all continue learning from our patients in our future careers. But also, take advantage of this time to learn as much as you can from our incredible teachers, because it will go by faster than you can imagine!
Fun aspect of training or a favorite memory from residency?
I have so many fond memories of just the day-to-day...getting pick-me-up snacks from Laura Reddoch at Roosevelt, sharing the best middle of the night stories from call, laughing at ourselves in clinic, but my favorite memories would have to be the ones spent celebrating with co-residents, particularly the diaper Pictionary at the baby showers. I will forever think of Dr. Ward’s drawing of werewolf Lupin when I hear neonatal lupus.
