- Diseases We Treat

Provider

Faculty

Catherine J. Lee, MD

Specialty:

Medical Oncology

Hematology

Physician, Fred Hutch
Associate Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
Affiliate Investigator, Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutch
Associate Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine

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About

Dr. Catherine J. Lee is a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist at Fred Hutch. She specializes in blood and marrow transplantation and cellular therapy and leads clinical trials to improve outcomes and long-term recovery.

Background

Dr. Lee is a physician and researcher specializing in autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for adults with malignant and benign (noncancerous) blood disorders. She provides both standard cellular therapy treatments and therapies being studied in clinical trials, caring for patients across the transplant and recovery continuum.

Her research portfolio includes designing clinical trials to address chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and other late effects of transplantation, implementing interventions to improve access to high-quality transplant and post-transplant care and optimizing the long-term health and quality of life of patients who have received stem cell transplantation or other immune-cellular therapies.

Dr. Lee has served as the local principal investigator for clinical trials involving CAR T-cell therapy, post-transplant maintenance strategies to prevent acute myeloid leukemia (AML) relapse, and novel conditioning regimens for myelodysplastic syndromes and AML. Her work focuses on improving both outcomes and survivorship for patients receiving transplant and cellular therapies.

Area of Clinical Practice
Adult blood and marrow transplantation, cellular therapy

“Our methods of transplantation for helping to cure patients of their blood disorders have improved remarkably, and we can offer lifesaving treatment to many more people than we could before.”

— Dr. Lee

What motivates or inspires you about your work?

Patients can have side effects after treatment that affect their quality of life as a complication of blood and marrow and cellular transplantations. My goal is to help prevent and alleviate these often-debilitating effects, including chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). I’m focused on understanding these effects, helping to intervene and preventing other long-term consequences of transplantation. I also want to improve health care for patients.

What do you hope it's like for a patient to work with you?

I hope my patients view me as a really dedicated doctor who is interested in understanding their concerns and who is willing to work with them to develop the best treatment plan that also has their priorities in mind.

I value my relationships with patients and providing personalized care, where we have a strong connection and are making decisions together.

Diseases Treated

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Research Interests

Graft-vs-Host Disease

Late effects, Survivorship and Quality of Life

Languages

English

Education and Experience

MCSI, University of Utah

Fellowship, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University

Visiting Fellow, Bone and Marrow Transplantation, Fred Hutch

Fellowship, Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Fellowship, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Residency, Internal Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital

MD, New York University School of Medicine

BA, Public Health, Johns Hopkins University

Board Certification

Hematology; Oncology, American Board of Internal Medicine

We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch physicians and researchers. Many of these trials at Fred Hutch have led to FDA-approved treatments and have improved standards of care globally. Together, you and your physician can decide if a study is right for you.

Find a Clinical Trial Led by Dr. Lee

Many of our Fred Hutch physicians and researchers conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by others in their field and selected for publication to the United States National Library of Medicine, the largest medical library in the world. See scientific papers this Fred Hutch physician has written.

View Dr. Lee's Publications

Your Care Team

At Fred Hutch, you receive care from a team of providers with extensive experience in your disease. Your team includes physicians, a patient care coordinator, a registered nurse, an advanced practice provider and others, based on your needs. You also have access to experts like registered dietitians, social workers, acupuncturists, psychiatrists and more who specialize in supporting people with cancer or blood disorders.

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Insurance

Fred Hutch accepts most national private health insurance plans as well as Medicare. We also accept Medicaid for people from Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. We are working to ensure that everyone, no matter what their financial situation, has access to the care they need.

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Contact Information

Email:

cjlee@fredhutch.org

Fax:

206.667.5899