In Memoriam: Rob Sidbury, MD, MPH
Robert “Rob” Sidbury, MD, MPH, beloved faculty member, division leader, and international authority in pediatric dermatology, died unexpectedly at age 61 on July 11, 2025, while attending a dermatology meeting in Chicago.
A vital and vibrant member of the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital communities, Rob led with wisdom, warmth, and humility. As Chief of Dermatology at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Professor in the UW Department of Pediatrics, he elevated the field through clinical care, national leadership, and mentorship. He was also a Clinical Adjunct Professor in the UW Department of Dermatology. Rob was an elected member of the American Dermatological Association and served as President of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology.
Rob’s passing is a devastating loss to the Seattle pediatric and dermatology communities, his colleagues around the world, and the many patients and families whose lives he touched.
“Rob had a rare ability to blend humor, clarity, and warmth in a way that captivated audiences and inspired trust. He was a gifted speaker—engaging, insightful, and able to zero in on what truly mattered. It’s no surprise he was a sought-after advisor and voice in pediatric dermatology worldwide. More importantly, Rob cared deeply about every member of his team—students, residents, faculty—and worked tirelessly to ensure they had what they needed to succeed. His vision and leadership built a world-class pediatric dermatology program in Seattle—one that will continue to thrive, even as it grieves this loss.” –Paul Nghiem, MD, PhD, Chair of the UW Department of Dermatology
Early Career & Education
Born in Durham, North Carolina, Rob earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Duke University. He went on to hold positions as a research fellow at the Children’s Medical Research Institute in Sydney, Australia, an intern at the UC San Francisco Department of Medicine, and a post-doctoral research fellow at the UCSF Department of Dermatology. He completed a dermatology residency at Oregon Health Sciences University where he served as chief resident, followed by a fellowship in pediatric dermatology at Northwestern University.
Rob officially joined the UW Department of Pediatrics and what was then the UW Division of Dermatology in 2000 as an Acting Assistant Professor and physician at Seattle Children’s Hospital. In 2006, he relocated to Boston, joining the faculty at Harvard Medical School and practicing at Children’s Hospital Boston. A year later, he embarked on a clinical research fellowship through the Harvard Pediatric Health Services Research Fellowship program, concurrently serving as a pediatrician in the Department of Newborn Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. During this period, Rob also completed his Master of Public Health from Harvard University.
In 2009, Rob was recruited back to the West Coast, where he assumed the role of Associate Professor in the UW Department of Pediatrics and began his service as Chief of Dermatology for Seattle Children’s Hospital. Over the next 17 years, he would be instrumental in building one of the nation's premier pediatric dermatology divisions.
“I met Rob (also known to me as Sid) 19 years ago when I was a 2nd year dermatology resident and he had moved to Boston to get his MPH at Harvard. He convinced me to join him as he was rebuilding the pediatric dermatology division at Seattle Children’s Hospital. I will never regret following Rob to Seattle. He was not only the best boss, mentor and colleague, but he was one of the best people I will ever know. He truly cared about what mattered: people. Rob’s dedication to his patients was unwavering, as was his support for the many individuals he trained and mentored. He had a unique ability to connect with people, and he did so around the world. Rob was brilliant, thoughtful, compassionate, humble and funny.” —Heather Brandling-Bennett, MD, Associate Professor, UW Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Adjunct Professor, UW Department of Dermatology
Later in his career, Rob achieved the rank of Professor with tenure in the Department of Pediatrics in 2016. He also took on an additional role as an Adjunct Teaching Faculty member at Bastyr University in Kenmore, Wash.
“Rob left an indelible mark on the Department of Pediatrics, with his leadership in the Division of Dermatology for 25 years and being such a relied-upon colleague and mentor, touching the lives of leaders, students and patients alike. He was very proud that he was able to expand his small division in the last couple of years with outstanding new faculty. I will greatly miss his humor and willingness to engage, even working through the hardest of challenges. He will be dearly missed as a partner and a colleague.” —Leslie R. Walker, MD, Chair of the UW Department of Pediatrics
A National Leader in Pediatric Dermatology
As Chief of Pediatric Dermatology at Seattle Children’s, Rob combined clinical expertise—especially in atopic dermatitis, genodermatoses, and vascular anomalies—with a collaborative spirit that unified and strengthened his team. He contributed significantly to national guideline development, health policy, and clinical research.
Rob was deeply involved in professional organizations dedicated to advancing the field of dermatology. He served in leadership and advisory roles across more than eight national and international dermatology groups, and was named a "Top Doctor" in Seattle more than a dozen times. Most recently, he played a key role in shaping the 2024 American Dermatological Association (ADA) Annual Meeting in Seattle.
In recognition of his contributions to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), including service on several committees focused on improving dermatologic care, advancing research, and promoting policies that benefit both patients and practitioners, he received a Presidential Citation award in 2014 from the AAD.
During his career, Rob made lasting contributions to the Society for Pediatric Dermatology (SPD). He served as Annual Meeting Program Co-Chair for the 2014 meeting in Coeur d’Alene, Wash., held the role of Vice President of Finance & Administration from 2017 to 2021, and most recently served as President from 2022 to 2023. Rob was also a longtime member of the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA), where he championed pediatric dermatology research. At this year’s SPD meeting in Seattle, Rob will be posthumously honored with the prestigious Founder’s Award and a special tribute: “The Society for Pediatric Dermatology at 50: A View of Our Specialty Through the Life and Work of Dr. Robert Sidbury.”
Rob's research has significantly impacted the fields of pediatric dermatology, primarily in atopic dermatitis (eczema). He has been a lead investigator in numerous clinical trials for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in adolescents and children. His work contributed to developing guidelines of care for the management of AD, covering diagnosis, assessment, phototherapy, systemic treatment, and prevention of flares. He has also been involved in studies concerning the treatment of infantile hemangiomas, epidermolysis bullosa, and food allergies.
Beyond research projects, Rob has made significant impacts through his extensive editorial responsibilities, serving on the editorial boards of prominent dermatology journals and as a topic editor for the American Academy of Dermatology, Dermatology World, Pediatric Drugs, Pediatric Dermatology, and the Indian Journal of Pediatric Dermatology.
Mentor, Advocate, & Friend
Rob had a rare gift for mentorship. He believed in creating an environment where colleagues could grow and be authentic, supporting careers with kindness, clarity, and quiet confidence. Many of his former students credit him with shaping not only their clinical skills but also their approach to patient care and professional identity.
“One of the values that Rob embodies is mentorship, which includes counsel, support and sponsorship, but sometimes it manifests as simply helping someone learn to trust themself. Shortly after starting work at Children’s, I came out of the closet. Rob was the third person in the world that I told. He never wavered in his trust that I would learn to integrate this into my personal and professional lives. That eventually led to a grant to study the needs of queer kids in the dermatology setting; through this work we discovered that queer teens prefer to have a dermatologist who also identifies as queer."
"I have been able to be that doctor because Rob showed me that it was okay and made it safe for me to be who I am at work and specifically in the clinic. He was the best division chief anyone could ever ask for—changing my life for the better and that of our patients. I will never be able to pay back or pay forward what he has done for me, but I will spend the rest of my career trying to do so.” —Markus Boos, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics & Residency Program Co-Director, UW Dermatology
He helped countless individuals find their voice—not by molding them, but by helping them trust themselves. His legacy as a mentor lives on in the values and culture he cultivated among his team.
"Rob was an incredibly thoughtful person with a special gift for connecting with others. Always a gentleman, Rob had a way of making those around him feel welcome, valued, heard, and respected. While he was a gifted clinician and a leader in our field, the role Rob cherished most was being a father to Claire, whom he absolutely adored. He spoke of her often with love and joy and was so proud to be her dad. Rob made a lasting impact on everyone he met, and his kindness and grace will always be remembered." —Scott Isenhath, MD, Medical Director for Dermatology, Washington Permanente Medical Group; friend, colleague, and mentee of Rob's during medical school (2002-2003)
Legacy
Rob was a gifted clinician, steady leader, devoted educator, and compassionate advocate. His sudden passing leaves a void in our hearts and in the field. His influence, however, will endure through every patient, trainee, and colleague whose life he touched.
“There are not enough words to describe how grateful we are for Dr. Sidbury. He is, without a doubt, the best doctor my children have ever had. Beyond being incredibly knowledgeable and skilled in his field, what truly sets him apart is his heart. He treats my kids with such kindness, respect, and genuine care, and he has done so for years, since they were very little. Now that they are teenagers, he still takes the time to listen, explain, and support not just them, but us as parents too. He’s a rare and extraordinary kind of doctor and human being. Thank you, Dr. Sidbury!” —Amanda (Seattle Children’s Patient Testimonial)
Our thoughts are with his wife Sheila and his daughter Claire at this incredibly difficult time. We stand with them and with our wider community in mourning and gratitude.
