Dr. Lee joined the urology faculty in July, 2000 after completing a clinical and research fellowship in urologic oncology at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Her urology residency training was at the University of Michigan. Prior to this, she received her medical degree from the Albany Medical College of Union University, and her B.S. at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Dr. Lee's clinical practice focuses on the treatment of urologic cancers. She has had a wide surgical experience and performs innovative operations including the construction of bladder replacements after cystectomy; nerve-sparing prostatectomy; nerve grafts after removal of the neurovascular bundle during prostatectomy; and kidney-sparing surgery for small to medium tumors. She was trained in performing radical prostatectomy and in the use of sural nerve grafts under Dr. Peter Scardino at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, who is a pioneer of this technique. She has clinical appointments at the University Hospital and at the Veterans Administration Medical Center.
Dr. Lee has been interested in both basic science and clinical research for several years. Most of her work has investigated the use of tumor markers to help manage cancer patients more effectively. She is currently working with the Department of Immunology at the University of Michigan to develop new strategies to treat superficial and advanced bladder cancers. A Phase I/II clinical study is being planned to evaluate the benefits of vaccine therapy in these populations. She is also a co-investigator in an upcoming clinical trial that will determine whether p53 detected in urine samples can predict bladder cancer progression and/or recurrence.
