"Fred Hutch Cancer Center" "Cures Start Here"

Michi M. Shinohara, MD

Provider

Michi M. Shinohara, MD

Co-Director, Cutaneous Lymphoma Clinic, Fred Hutch
Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Washington School of Medicine

Specialty:

Dermatology

South Lake Union Clinic

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“It’s meaningful to care for people in a longitudinal way, seeing them through all the different phases of their lives.”

— Dr. Shinohara

Why do you practice dermatology?

I have the unique opportunity to help patients alleviate skin symptoms associated with cancer treatment. These symptoms tend to be very visible and bothersome, like itching or peeling. Showing people how to take care of their skin while undergoing treatment can have a big impact on their quality of life. I also treat patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), a rare type of cancer that originates in white blood cells but affects the skin. There’s a lot of misinformation out there about this disease, so I find it rewarding to help patients understand what the condition is and how we can treat it. Most people live with CTCL for quite a long time, and I want to make sure those years are good years.

What personal experiences have shaped your approach to care?

I was treated for thyroid cancer at Fred Hutch, and that experience made me appreciate the fact that people can have very different ways of coping with illness. Personally, I valued being able to let go of the problem; while I still participated in making decisions, I chose not to be involved in all the details or to read every new study about my disease so that I could instead focus on living my life. As a physician, I strive to understand your motivations, identify what you see as an ideal outcome and respect your desires about how much information you want to know.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Hematologic malignancies, skin cancers, skin conditions related to cancer treatment, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, cancer-related skin complications

I am a physician who is triple-board-certified in internal medicine, dermatology and dermatopathology (the cellular causes of skin diseases). My clinical expertise includes the treatment of a variety of cancer-related skin complications. I see patients at the Dermatology Clinic at UWMC-Roosevelt, and I also serve as the co-director of Fred Hutch’s Cutaneous Lymphoma Clinic.

CTCL is often diagnosed only after substantial delay, and it can be challenging to treat. I am establishing a national registry for patients with CTCL so that we as a field can better understand the disease and develop novel treatment strategies. In addition to conducting clinical trials for CTCL, I also participate in collaborative studies with the United States Cutaneous Lymphoma Consortium.

Diseases Treated

Cutaneous Lymphoma

Languages

English

Education, Experience and Certifications

Medical Degree
University of Washington

Residency
University of Washington

Fellowship
University of Pennsylvania

Board Certification
Dermatology, 2009, American Board of Dermatology; Dermatopathology, 2011, American Board of Dermatology

Awards

Seattle Met's 2023 Top Doctors award
Dr. Shinohara has received this peer-nominated award for exceptional patient care for multiple years.

Seattle magazine's 2021 Top Doctors award
Dr. Shinohara has been recognized as a Top Doctor in this peer-nominated award multiple years in a row.

We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch physicians. Many of these trials at Fred Hutch have led to FDA-approved treatments and have improved standards of care globally. Together, you and your physician can decide if a study is right for you.

Find a Clinical Trial Led by Dr. Shinohara

Many of our Fred Hutch physicians conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by other physicians and selected for publication to the United States National Library of Medicine, the largest medical library in the world. See scientific papers this Fred Hutch physician has written.

View Dr. Shinohara's Publications

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At Fred Hutch, you receive care from a team of providers with extensive experience in your disease. Your team includes physicians, a patient care coordinator, a registered nurse, an advanced practice provider and others, based on your needs. You also have access to experts like registered dietitians, social workers, acupuncturists, psychiatrists and more who specialize in supporting people with cancer or blood disorders.

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