Local dermatologist stepping down after 30 years of practice
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IDAHO FALLS – Kay Bishop is feeling some ambivalence as she prepares for a new phase of life.
The 68-year-old Rigby woman is retiring from High Valley Dermatology after 30 years of practice. Her last day of employment is Feb. 28, after which she’ll head to Monterey, California, to work at a VA clinic affiliated with Stanford University.
Bishop tells EastIdahoNews.com she has “mixed emotions” about the change.
“I love the community and the people I’ve seen here. We’ve got some great patients, great nurses. We have a good business,” Bishop says. “A lot of these people are not just patients but good friends.”
Noting her age, Bishop says now is the time to step down and pursue other things.
Dr. Stetson Albertson will be replacing her at the clinic. Bishop speaks highly of him and says the clinic “is in good hands” with his expertise.
Bishop began her career after completing her residency in Palo Alto. She jumped at the chance to catch up with old friends and continue seeing patients part-time while teaching at the university. She anticipates working in California for about four years before returning home to Rigby.
“I really had planned on just retiring and taking some time to clean my house and do some traveling. But I think I might have two or three more good years that I can do this. It will be fun to work with the residents and the students,” says Bishop.
Bishop founded Dermatology of Eastern Idaho in 1994, which she sold to High Valley Dermatology in 2023. Over the years, she’s worked with patients of all ages and treated a variety of skin conditions. For the last several years, she’s devoted most of her time to surgeries dealing with cancer.
Bishop’s interest in the medical field started in high school when she worked as a phlebotomist in Idaho Falls. She has fond memories of working with Keila Poulsen in the hematology (blood physiology) lab, who retired from Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in 2024 after a 55-year career.
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“She’s the one who got me interested in medicine in the first place,” Bishop recalls.
She specialized in hematology at the University of Washington medical school. An elective course during her last rotation prompted her to change her focus to dermatology.
“Somebody told me … you can tell a lot about what’s going on inside the body by looking at the skin. That interested me,” says Bishop.
George Odland, the former chair of dermatology at the University of Washington, introduced her and other students to skin conditions among hospital patients. Bishop “fell in love” with it and never looked back.
One of Bishop’s favorite things about dermatology is the opportunity to work with patients of all ages.
After decades of practicing at her own clinic in Rigby, she started looking for someone who could take it over. The reputation of High Valley Dermatology impressed her enough to sell it to them and stay on board for several more years.
Interacting with patients and employees has been a worthwhile venture for Bishop. It’s that association she’ll miss most.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be in California … but I plan on coming back to Idaho because it’s my home, and I love the people here. I’m leaving with mixed emotions, but I’m also excited about what I’m going to be doing.”
Brandy Puetz, the office manager at High Valley Dermatology, says Bishop “has left a lasting impact on the healthcare landscape in eastern Idaho” and will be sorely missed by patients and staff.
“Her patients have always felt valued, respected, and well-cared for,” Puetz says. “She has built a legacy of leadership and care that will be remembered by all whose lives she touched.”
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