"Fred Hutch Cancer Center" "Cures Start Here"

Tomoko Akaike, MD

Provider

Tomoko Akaike, MD

Physician, Fred Hutch
Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Washington School of Medicine

Specialty:

Dermatology

Sloan Clinic

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“I believe in a collaborative approach to caring for people with skin cancer and other skin conditions. My priority is making sure you feel fully informed, supported and actively involved through every step of your care.”

— Dr. Akaike

What brought you to oncology and your specialty?

I chose to focus my career on caring for patients with skin cancer — especially rare types like Merkel cell carcinoma and cutaneous lymphoma — because these are conditions where specialized expertise can make a profound difference. Treatments and management strategies for these cancers are continually evolving, and because of their rarity, navigating them can be especially challenging for patients and their families. I want to help ease any burdens.

What do you hope it’s like for a patient to work with you? Any favorite memories to share?

I am committed to providing personalized treatment tailored to individual needs, because no two patients or conditions are exactly alike. My focus is not only on treating the disease, but also on supporting each person’s overall health and quality of life throughout the process.

One of my most favorite memories is receiving heartfelt messages from a patient and their family after a clinic visit. They shared that our conversation helped them feel well-informed and much more at ease about the next steps in their care. That feedback meant so much to me because my goal is always to treat each patient as I would my own family member. To me, that means listening carefully, answering questions honestly and recommending what I truly believe is best for them. Knowing that they left feeling reassured reminds me why I do what I do.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Merkel cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma (CTCL, CBCL), skin cancer

I am a physician who sees patients at the Sloan Clinic.

As a dermatologist, I specialize in the care of patients with skin cancer, including rare types such as Merkel cell carcinoma and cutaneous lymphoma. I also work with people who are experiencing skin problems associated with cancer treatment.

My research focuses on improving early detection and treatment of skin cancers.

Diseases Treated

Cutaneous Lymphoma

Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Languages

English
Japanese

Education, Experience and Certifications

Medical Degree
Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Residency
St. Luke's International Hospital

Fellowship
St. Luke's International Hospital, Clinical Fellow; University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Clinical Research Fellow, Nghiem Lab

Awards

Japanese Societies for Investigative Dermatology, Travel Grant Award, 2024

International Societies for Investigative Dermatology, Travel Grant Award, 2023

American Society of Clinical Oncology Conquer Cancer Merit Award, 2022

Nominated for 2021 Society for Investigative Dermatology, Future Leaders Retreat

American Academy of Dermatology, Everett C. Fox, MD Memorial Lecture Award and Grant, Residents and Fellows Symposium, 2019

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.

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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. Akaike's Publications

Your Care Team

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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