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Lee
Stephanie J. Lee, MD, MPH
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Stephanie J. Lee, MD, MPH

Medical Oncology

  • Physician, Fred Hutch
  • Research Director, Long-Term Follow-Up, Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
  • David and Patricia Giuliani/Oliver Press Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, Fred Hutch
  • Member, Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center (IIRC), Fred Hutch
  • Affiliate Investigator, Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine
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About

Dr. Stephanie J. Lee is a board-certified hematologist and researcher at Fred Hutch, specializing in leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes and providing blood and marrow transplantation care. She researches transplant outcomes, long-term survivorship and ways to reduce complications like chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Background

Dr. Lee treats patients with leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and other diseases of the blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes. She cares for patients undergoing stem cell transplantation and supports them through long-term recovery and follow-up care.

She is the research director of Fred Hutch’s Long Term Follow-Up Program, which provides ongoing monitoring and care for more than 5,000 patients who have received blood or marrow transplant (BMT). This program focuses on survivorship issues and long-term outcomes after BMT.

Dr. Lee’s research centers on improving BMT outcomes and quality of life for survivors, with a particular focus on chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). She leads a nationwide research network that focuses on improving the understanding of chronic GVHD and the best ways to prevent, diagnose and treat it. Her work has helped identify genetic criteria that better match donors to patients, reducing the risk of GVHD and other transplant-related complications. She also studies survivorship and patient-reported outcomes to better understand the long-term effects of transplantation.

Dr. Lee is also active in national leadership, currently serving as president-elect of the American Society of Hematology.

Area of Clinical Practice
Leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes

“What’s most important in life is often what you can do for other people.”

— Dr. Lee

Why do you conduct research?

When I was a volunteer at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center — before I went to medical school — I met a pair of siblings who helped me decide to go into stem cell transplantation. A girl had donated her bone marrow to her older brother. And while the transplant had cured his leukemia, it was now attacking his body, the result of a condition called graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). At the time, there was little that could be done to stop it, and it was just so horribly sad. I kept thinking that this shouldn’t happen; a cure shouldn’t make people so sick. That boy’s experience has never been far from my mind. Today, I lead a national research network that seeks to better understand GVHD and create more effective therapies for it.

What do you enjoy about working at Fred Hutch and its partner organizations?

One of the best parts of my job is participating in team science, working with colleagues here and from all over the world, to improve the lives of stem cell transplant recipients. This is not a competitive atmosphere; rather, we support and push each other to do better. I’m really fortunate to be part of such a collaborative environment. I’m also thankful that I can divide my time between doing research and seeing patients. The relationships I’ve forged with patients and their family members over the years have been a very meaningful part of my life.

Diseases Treated

Blood Disorders 

Leukemia

Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Research Interests

Survivorship issues, quality-of-life and the impact of chronic graft-versus-host-disease

Past President, American Society of Hematology

Languages

English

Education and Experience

MPH, Harvard School of Public Health, 1996

Fellowship, Hematology-Oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Residency, Internal Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center

MD, Stanford University of Medicine, 1990

BS, University of Washington, 1984

Board Certification

Hematology, 1996, 2006, 2016, American Board of Internal Medicine

Awards

Seattle Magazine's 2025 Top Doctors Award
Dr. Lee has received this peer-nominated award for exceptional patient care.

Clinical Trials

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

Publications

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. 

Meet Other Providers

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.

More About Insurance

Stories

All news
Blood and Marrow Transplant Reunion returns to Fred Hutch
Blood and Marrow Transplant Reunion returns to Fred Hutch Hundreds gather in Seattle to celebrate life, science and cancer survivorship July 19, 2022
Advances in blood disorders research continue despite COVID-19
Advances in blood disorders research continue despite COVID-19 Expanding use of CAR T-cell therapies, gene editing lead to insights at virtual annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology December 10, 2020
ASH president Stephanie Lee, MD, MPH shares key insights
ASH president Stephanie Lee, MD, MPH shares key insights December 8, 2020

Contact Information

206.667.5160

206.667.1034