Dr. James A. Lee

Dr. James Lee is an internationally recognized endocrine surgeon who specializes in the care of patients with thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal disorders. Dr. Lee is the Chief of Endocrine Surgery and the Edwin K. and Anne C. Weisskopf Professor of Surgical Oncology at Columbia University and the Physician Director of the Endocrine Service Line at the NY Presbyterian Hospital. He serves as Co-Director of the multidisciplinary Columbia Thyroid Center, Parathyroid Center, and Adrenal Center. He has been rated as one of the Best Doctors in America and is one of the highest volume endocrine surgeons in the country. Dr. Lee received his medical degree from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, completed his residency in General Surgery at Columbia and went on to a fellowship in Endocrine Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Lee is actively involved in the leadership of Endocrine Surgery at the national and international level. He serves on the Executive Council of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons and Standing Faculty of the international Endocrine Surgery University. He co-created the inaugural Postgraduate Course in Endocrine Surgery at the American College of Surgeons and is a featured lecturer in the biannual Masters of Endocrine Surgery Course. He has authored over 100 articles and book chapters, including the AAES Parathyroidectomy Guidelines which sets the international standard for the care of patients with parathyroid disease. He is also the Co-Editor of Surgical Endocrinopathies and the Founding Figures which details state of the art care for patients with endocrine disorders as well as the rich history of discovery in the field. Dr. Lee has given over 100 invited lectures and visiting professorships at institutions around the world. He has travelled extensively to teach other endocrine surgeons advanced techniques such as minimally invasive thyroid and parathyroid surgery as well as laparoscopic retroperitoneal adrenalectomy. He has mentored dozens of clinical and research fellows over his career, many of whom are now leaders in their own institutions and abroad.Dr. Lee also serves as the Department of Surgery's Executive Vice Chair for Strategy. In this role, he helps define the vision and plan for fulfilling the department's mission of providing the highest quality surgical patient care, education, and research to as many people as possible.

Dr. Lee is highly rated in 15 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Parathyroid Hyperplasia, Familial Isolated Hyperparathyroidism, Osteitis Fibrosa, Neonatal Severe Hyperparathyroidism, and Thymectomy.