From Puyallup to Ph.D.-M.D.
Forged in research, rooted in care: How Ryan Carlson became a physician-scientist.
After 13 years and three degrees, Ryan Carlson鈥檚 time at the 91探花 has drawn to a close 鈥� concluding the journey has defined not just his career path, but also his sense of purpose. Over that thirteen-year span, Ryan has earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in , a Ph.D. in , and has recently completed his M.D. The 聽is one of the most demanding and rare academic journeys in medicine, a path pursued by fewer than 3% of medical students nationwide according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
From Campus Curiosity to Global Impact
A Puyallup native whose 91探花roots run as deep as his dedication to science, Carlson has spent over a decade pursuing an ambitious path in medicine and genetics, becoming both a physician and a researcher.
As an undergraduate, Carlson majored in neuroscience and quickly found a home in lab work. He pivoted to genetics after a series of electives sparked new interest 鈥� and that shift would ultimately define his academic trajectory. 聽As a Ph.D. student, Carlson found himself in the lab of world-renowned whose lab aims to better understand the genetic predispositions to diseases like schizophrenia and cancer.聽 King however gave Carlson the opportunity to be at the forefront of the lab’s research into another topic, studying both the genetic causes of hearing disorders and their implications for real-world treatment.
鈥淚 could have been one piece of the larger cancer research team,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut Mary-Claire gave me the chance to lead the hearing loss portion 鈥� and that was incredibly motivating.鈥�
That work would take him far beyond the lab bench. Carlson traveled internationally to offer genetic testing to families in the Middle East, contributing to research that could one day lead to more targeted therapies for pediatric hearing loss 鈥� the most common sensory disorder among newborns.
鈥淚 think most people associate hearing loss with aging,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut pediatric hearing loss affects about 1 in 1,000 babies. The more I learned, the more fascinated I became. I wanted to be someone who not only studies this but treats it.鈥�
Blending Research With Real Lives
Carlson鈥檚 Ph.D. was atypically clinical, involving direct interaction with patients and families. It鈥檚 a model he wants to pursue: a physician-scientist who bridges the gap between bench science and bedside care.
鈥淏eing able to both understand the science and talk with people about what it means 鈥� that鈥檚 the most fulfilling part,鈥� he said.
The dual roles weren鈥檛 always easy to balance. But Carlson credits 鈥� and the community around it 鈥� with helping him grow in both skillsets. He still remembers the day he defended his dissertation as one of the most meaningful of his life.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e standing in front of your friends, family, colleagues 鈥� people who鈥檝e been wondering what you鈥檝e been working on for years 鈥� and you get to share it,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat was really powerful.鈥�
A Husky Legacy
Carlson鈥檚 ties to the 91探花run in the family. His father, an industrial engineering graduate, lived in the same residence hall () that Ryan would eventually call home. 鈥淒ad said It hadn鈥檛 changed much in 20 years,鈥� he laughed. 鈥淏ut it felt right.鈥�
Even as his degrees piled up, Carlson still made time for Husky traditions 鈥� including a celebratory fountain jump near the end of his undergraduate years. 鈥淲e were lucky 鈥� they had just cleaned it,鈥� he said.
Carlson is preparing for his next chapter 鈥� a residency in otolaryngology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston.
鈥淚 think this is a good time to branch out a little bit,鈥� Carlson said. 鈥淏ut 91探花will always be a huge part of my life.鈥�
He鈥檚 quick to point out that what meant the most during his time at the 91探花wasn鈥檛 just the degrees or research milestones, but the relationships. His roommates from his undergrad years remain Carlson鈥檚 closest friends even to this day. During those same undergraduate years, Ryan started seeing his long-time partner, Nicole Mattson鈥� and together, they completed medical school at the UW. Mattson just completed her residency at the 91探花as an . Carlson proposed on June 1, a storybook ending to wrap up his time as a Husky.
鈥� 91探花gave me so much 鈥� professionally and personally,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s hard to leave.鈥�
As he prepares for the move to Boston, Carlson鈥檚 planning for his next thirteen years. He plans to run his own research lab, teach, and help advance new therapies for hearing loss. And there鈥檚 a good chance that could be right back here in Washington state.
鈥淚鈥檇 love to come back to Seattle someday,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think you can take 91探花out of me.鈥�
