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SKIN 
	

July 2020     Volume 4 Issue 4 
 

Copyright 2020 The National Society for Cutaneous Medicine 393 

DERMATOLOGIC HISTORY
 

Ken Hashimoto – A Pioneer in Dermatological Electron 
Microscopy 
Reem Kashlan, MPH1, Joshua M. Brady, BS1, Meena Moossavi, MD, MPH1 
 
1Wayne State University School of Medicine 
 

 
 
	
Ken Hashimoto was born in Niigata, Japan 
on June 19, 1931. Hashimoto, a Fulbright 
scholar, received his medical degree from 
Niigata University Medical School and 
dermatological training at the University of 
Maryland and Massachusetts General 
Hospital.1 Hashimoto subsequently 
established and was chair of the 
Dermatology program at Wright State 
University before coming to Wayne State 
University (WSU) in 1980.1,2 Hashimoto held 
his position as Professor and Chairman of 
WSU until his retirement in 2000, becoming 
the first and only Japanese national to head 
an American dermatological department at 
that time.1  
 
Hashimoto’s proficiency with the electron 
microscope and extensive knowledge of 
histochemistry was vital to the 
understanding of many diseases. One of the 
most important applications of his skills was 
an electron microscopy study outlining the 
specific dermatological histopathology of 
angiokeratoma corporis diffusum, also 
known as Fabry disease.2 He further utilized 
his skills to expand on many other 
dermatological pathologies such as Kaposi’s 
sarcoma and appendage tumors of the 
skin.1 Notably, Hashimoto was involved with 
the discovery of two rare dermatological  
 

 
diseases: transient bullous dermolysis of the 
newborn and congenital self-healing 
reticulohistiocytosis, also known as 
Hashimoto-Pritzker disease.1 
 

 
 
During his academic career, Hashimoto 
wrote 384 professional papers, 39 book 
chapters, and 8 books.3 As a professor and 
program director, Hashimoto excelled as a 
mentor, training 100 resident physicians and 
40 research fellows.3 He also focused his 
efforts on easing the transition of Japanese 
dermatology students coming to the United 



SKIN 
	

July 2020     Volume 4 Issue 4 
 

Copyright 2020 The National Society for Cutaneous Medicine 394 

States for postgraduate training.1 Prior to his 
retirement, Hashimoto created the Herman 
Pinkus Endowed Chair in 1999, which 
allowed the WSU Department of 
Dermatology to remain an independent 
department. In 2007, Ken Hashimoto and 
his wife established the Dr. Ken Hashimoto 
and Noriko Hashimoto Endowed Chair at 
WSU to promote research and ensure a 
lasting legacy of education.3 Hashimoto’s 
countless contributions left a lasting 
impression on the field of dermatology, 
where his academic achievements will 
continue to impact future generations of 
dermatologists.  
 
 
Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None 
 
Funding: None 
 
Corresponding Author: 
Reem Kashlan, MPH 
540 E. Canfield Ave, Detroit, MI, 48201 
Phone: 248-410-3289  
Email: reem.kaslan2@med.wayne.edu 
	

References: 
1. Crissey JT, Parish LC, Holubar K. Chapter 17: 

Recent Times. In: Historical Atlas of Dermatology 
and Dermatologists. Parthenon Pub. Group; 
2002:179-180. 

2. Hashimoto K, Gross BG, Lever WF. 
Angiokeratoma Corporis Diffusum (Fabry). 
Histochemical and Electron Microscopic Studies 
of the Skin. J Invest Dermatol. 1965;44:119-128. 
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14258908. 
Accessed September 25, 2019. 

3. Former Dermatology Department chair’s bequest 
creates endowed chair - School of Medicine 
News - Wayne State University. 
https://today.wayne.edu/medicine/news/2008/10/
08/former-dermatology-department-chairs-
bequest-creates-endowed-chair-25192. 
Published 10/08/2008.