Dr. Lee’s academic journey began at Caltech, where he earned his undergraduate degree in bioengineering and contributed to several research projects in cancer biology, leading to high-impact co-authored publications. Dr. Lee spent nearly seven years as a Caltech researcher, was awarded a Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, and continued his research in collaboration with the Heath Group. After completing his undergraduate studies, Dr. Lee attended the University of Washington School of Medicine and was the first person in his immediate and extended family to pursue medicine.
After two years of pre-clinical and one year of clinical training in the regular MD program, Dr. Lee decided to switch to the school's Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) for an MD/PhD dual degree. This decision was driven by his desire to gain more scientific training and be better equipped to perform biomedical research long-term as part of his career.
Dr. Lee worked through his PhD training, researching ways to improve cancer immunotherapy by understanding the immunology driving (or hindering) it. His ultimate goal is to practice as a clinician while also participating in translational research to help innovate the management of difficult chronic diseases.
Having lived in Korea and many different parts of the US throughout his life, Dr. Lee developed a keen interest in sciences and how to realize tangible societal impact from scientific development. Dr. Lee’s approach to counseling is flexible and efficient, allowing him to adapt to student needs while ensuring his sessions are impactful. His personal experience as a first-generation medical student and his commitment to bridging science with its impact on the community make him an ideal guide for students ready to apply to medical school or MD/PhD programs.