STEPHEN J. CARTER, M.D.

Stephen J. Carter, La Conner resident, died January 29, 2021 at the Skagit Regional Hospital of cardiac arrest.

He was born in Spokane in 1942 and graduated from Queen Anne High School in Seattle, University of Washington, and University of Washington School of Medicine.

After serving as a Naval Flight Surgeon in the U.S. Navy, he began his medical career at the UW and ultimately directed ultrasound at Veteran’s Hospital. He joined a private practice radiology group at United General Hospital in the late 1970’s.

Stephen returned to the UW and shifted his focus from clinical to research. He pursued grants with DARPA and DOD, in the fields of Ultrasound and High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) creating a portable ultrasound machine which eventually became Sonosite. He also did research in therapeutic uses of HIFU in the fields of bloodless surgery and kidney stones.

Dr. Carter retired from the University in 2012 as Associate Professor Emeritus. He was a happy scientist, a gentleman scholar, as well as a humble, sensitive, and caring physician. Stephen also enjoyed sailing, hiking, music and the outdoors in the NW.

He is survived by his wife Sarah, and dog Lily. Donations in remembrance of Dr. Carter may be made to the Rohrmann Endowment for the UW

Radiology Resident Educational Excellence or the Skagit Symphony. Arrangements are under the care of Kern Funeral Home of Mount Vernon.