Christoph I. Lee, MD, MS, MBA

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Lee
Christoph I. Lee, MD, MS, MBA

Christoph I. Lee, MD, MS, MBA

  • Physician, Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine

Radiology

“I chose to work with patients who have cancer so that I could be their advocate during one of the most trying and vulnerable periods in their lives.”

— Dr. Lee

What makes practicing radiology meaningful for you?

Imaging is central to breast cancer screening, and the technology is constantly evolving. For example, in the last 15 years we’ve gone from using screen film mammography to digital and now 3-D mammography — and there are even more changes coming down the pipeline that can lead to improved screening and early detection of breast cancer. It’s exciting to be part of a field that’s progressing so quickly. What I also enjoy about this specialty is that I can use medical imaging to advocate for individual patients as well as large groups of people. One of my research programs amasses breast imaging data and outcomes from diverse populations so that we can provide better evidence to policymakers who set cancer screening guidelines.

What personal experiences have informed your approach to care?

I brought my father-in-law all the way from Montana to get treated at Fred Hutch, and I’m grateful for the way his physicians cared for him. When you’re on the side of being the health advocate for your family member, you realize just how vulnerable people can feel during the diagnostic stage, when they’re waiting to find out whether they have cancer, how aggressive it is and how much disease is present. Having a caring, empathetic physician who understands the latest science and treatments but also takes the time to thoroughly answer questions is critical. I take pride in being a patient listener, fielding any concerns that come up and providing patients and families with concrete data they can use to make decisions.

Provider Background

Specialty: Radiology

Area of clinical practice

Breast imaging

Breast cancer

I am a board-certified radiologist who specializes in using medical imaging to screen for, detect and manage breast cancer. My research is focused on emerging breast cancer screening technologies, health policy and population health outcomes. I have authored or co-authored more than 150 peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters about a variety of topics within radiology. 

I also serve as the director of the Northwest Screening and Cancer Outcomes Research Enterprise (NW-SCORE), a partnership between UW Medicine and community radiology and pathology practices. The goal of NW-SCORE is to compile breast imaging data into a resource that can influence breast cancer screening practices and policies.

Diseases Treated

Breast Cancer 

Languages

English

Education, Experience and Certifications

Medical Degree

Yale School of Medicine

Residency

Stanford University Medical Center, Diagnostic Radiology

Fellowship

Iris Cantor-UCLA Women's Health Center, Breast Imaging

Board Certification

Diagnostic Radiology, 2010, American Board of Radiology

Other

Masters, UCLA

Clinical Trials

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

Find a Clinical Trial Led by Dr. Lee

Publications

Many of our Fred Hutch doctors conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by other doctors 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 provider 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 doctors, a patient care coordinator, a registered nurse, an advanced practice provider and others, based on your needs. You also have access to experts like nutritionists, social workers, acupuncturists, psychiatrists and more who specialize in supporting people with cancer or blood disorders.

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.

For the Media

The Media Relations team at Fred Hutch is available to assist members of the news media who would like to arrange interviews with providers.

Email media@fredhutch.org or call 206.667.2210