Grace Kao Clinical Professor of Dermatology Office Phone: 202-741-2623 Email: Email Department: Dermatology

Education

• MD, National Taiwan University, 1967

Biography

Grace F. Kao, MD
 
 Dr. Grace Kao has been appointed as Clinical Professor of Dermatopathology in the Department of Dermatology at George Washington University Medical School,  She was the Professor of Pathology and Dermatology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine from 1993 thru 1997; and she became the Director of Dermatopathology in the Department of Pathoogy and Laboratory Medicine, at Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Healthcare System from 1999 thru 2011.  Dr. Kao was appointed as Clinical Professor of Dermatopathology and the Director of Dermatopathology Laboratory in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine from April 1, 2011 to June 30, 2015.

Dr. Kao  is board certified in pathology and dermatopathology by the American Board of Pathology & Dermatology.  She  completed her internship in Pathology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and affiliated hospitals in Bronx, New York; and residency / fellowship in Pathology at University of Washington in Seattle.  Dr. Kao was then appointed by the Adult Leukemia Center, Bone Marrow Transplantation Group, at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington as a special in-house pathologist with the Nobel prize laureate, the late Professor E. Donnall Thomas and his team. Her significant contributions were the early diagnosis of Graft-vs-Host-disease and detection of infectious and other skin diseases in patients with malignancies and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation recipients. 
 
In 1974, she was recruited by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC, and served as both civilian and US active military duty Navy medical officer, in the ranks from Leutenant Commander to Commander and finally promotedr to Captain,  for 16 years, with honorable discharge from military service in the rank of Navy Captain.  During her tenure in the military service, she rose to the position of Assistant Chairperson of Department of Dermatopathology and provided world-wide consultation services on difficult cases of Pathology and Dermatology . She was also appointed as a Clinical Professor in the Departments of Dermatology at the Georgetown and George Washington University in Washington, DC.
 
Dr. Kao joined the Departments of Pathology and Dermatology at University of Maryland.  She has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in reputable medical journals, including editorial comments on premalignant and malignant epithelial neoplasms of the skkin, and malignant transformation of keratinocytes by Human Papillomavirs (HPV).  
 
As a senior member and past Vice President of the International Society of Dermatopathology, Dr. Kao is a frequently-sought after faculty member.  She had been on the editorial boards for the major international and US journals in the fields of dermatopathology, pathology & dermaology. Her main interest is teaching and early detection of neoplastic skin diseases, including cutaneous adnexal neoplasms.
 

Research

Dr. Kao's main research interests are premalignant and malignant neoplasms of the skin, including malignant melanoma, other melanocytic tumors and adnexal tumors.  She is also interested in virus-induced and cutaneous lesions and pathogenesis and viral oncogenesis.  

Awards

Honors, Awards
 
2012                Network Goals Award, Veterans Affairs Capital HealthCare VISN 5, for Providing Out-standing Customer Service and Treatment to the Women Veterans in VISN5. Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical System.
1991                Certificate of Distinguished Service, USNavy, Medical Corps., for Distinguished Service from 1975 through 1991 at Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC
1981                Joint Military Service Commendation Medal, Department of Defense, For out-standing performance of duty while assigned as staff pathologist to the Departments of Gynecologic and Breast Pathology, AFIP, Washington, DC
1981                Letter of Commendation, USNavy Medical Corps AFIP, For outstanding perfor-mance as staff pathologist to the Departments of Gynecologic & Breast Pathology, AFIP, Washington, DC
 

Teaching

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Industry Relationships and Collaborations

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported a financial interest with the health care related companies listed below. These relations have been reported to the University and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts.

• None