Christopher K Bichakjian, MD
Chair
Department of Dermatology and Clinical Professor of Dermatology
Dermatology
1910 Taubman Center 1500 E. Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Available to mentor

Christopher K Bichakjian, MD
Clinical Professor
  • About
  • Recent Publications
  • About

    Dr. Christopher Bichakjian is a professor of dermatology and chair of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Michigan Medical School.

    Dr. Bichakjian is a foremost expert in the field of cutaneous surgery and oncology. He has a special interest in Merkel cell carcinoma and established one of the first multidisciplinary programs in the world for this rare skin cancer in 2006. He has presented over 100 national and international invited lectures and visiting professorships, and authored or co-authored nearly 90 peer-reviewed publications with a primary focus on cutaneous oncology.

    Dr. Bichakjian received his medical degree from Radboud University in The Netherlands. After relocating to the US, he completed residency in dermatology and a fellowship in micrographic surgery and cutaneous oncology at Michigan Medicine. He subsequently practiced Mohs surgery in private practice and served as adjunct faculty at Weill Medical College at Cornell University in New York City.

    In 2004, Dr. Bichakjian was recruited back to Ann Arbor to join the faculty in the Department of Dermatology at Michigan Medicine. He served as director of the UM Multidisciplinary Merkel Cell Carcinoma Program for more than a decade (2006-2017), In addition, he served as chief of the Division of Cutaneous Surgery and Oncology and as director of the Multidisciplinary Melanoma Program in the Rogel Cancer Center from 2017-2020.

    On a national level, Dr. Bichakjian has been heavily involved with the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) to improve and develop optimal staging and clinical practice guidelines in cutaneous oncology, for which he was awarded the AAD Presidential Citation Award in 2018. Dr. Bichakjian is past-president of the Michigan Dermatological Society and currently serves a nine-year term on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Dermatology.

    Recent Publications See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Melanoma: Cutaneous, Version 2.2024.
      Swetter SM, Johnson D, Albertini MR, Barker CA, Bateni S, Baumgartner J, Bhatia S, Bichakjian C, Boland G, Chandra S, Chmielowski B, DiMaio D, Dronca R, Fields RC, Fleming MD, Galan A, Guild S, Hyngstrom J, Karakousis G, Kendra K, Kiuru M, Lange JR, Lanning R, Logan T, Olson D, Olszanski AJ, Ott PA, Ross MI, Rothermel L, Salama AK, Sharma R, Skitzki J, Smith E, Tsai K, Wuthrick E, Xing Y, McMillian N, Espinosa S. J Natl Compr Canc Netw, 2024 Jul; 22 (5): 290 - 298. DOI:10.6004/jnccn.2024.0036
      PMID: 39019054
    • Presentation
      Updates in Melanoma and High-Risk SCC
      Bichakjian C. 2024 May 2;
    • Presentation
      Translating Evidence into Practice: Primary Cutaneous Melanoma Guidelines - Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Updates
      2024 Mar 8;
    • Presentation
      Keratinocyte carcinomas - Basal cell carcinomas: De-intensification of treatment
      Bichakjian C. 2023 Jul 4;
    • Presentation
      Dermatology and Mohs Micrographic Surgery at Michigan Medicine
      Bichakjian C. 2023 Jun 28;
    • Presentation
      Managing Melanoma Risk and Prognosis by Gene Expression Profiling and Nodal Staging
      2023 May 7;
    • Presentation
      Dermatology Day
      2023 Apr 22;
    • Presentation
      Controversies in Dermatology: Mohs Micrographic Surgery as a treatment for melanoma
      2023 Mar 19;
    Featured News & Stories Dermatology Residency Class of 2024 stands in front of "Congratulations" banner
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    University of Michigan Dermatology Outreach at AMEC 2023 SNMA.