We are delighted to showcase Dr. Raphael Lee, the Paul and Allene Russell Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago, as our next surgeon spotlight. A trailblazer in both surgery and biomedical engineering, Dr. Lee’s journey has included roles in Plastic Surgery, Dermatology, and Molecular Medicine. We had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Lee to discuss his upbringing, his perspectives on the integration of engineering and medicine, his attraction to plastic surgery, and what has kept him motivated throughout his career.
Upbringing and Formative Experiences
Dr. Lee was raised in Charleston, South Carolina. From a young age, he was surrounded by the world of medicine. “My family background had a lot of medicine in it,” he stated. Interestingly, rather than directly following their path, Dr. Lee found himself captivated by science and technology. This passion led him towards an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering at the University of South Carolina. However, he soon realized that engineering wasn’t his only calling. During his junior year, while taking an advanced course on the physics of lasers, he began contemplating the practical clinical applications of his studies. Reflecting on this period, he notes, “I was reading about how people applied engineering innovations to technology and thought, ‘Maybe I could do that.”
This intrigue led him to make a last-minute decision to apply to medical school. As a testament to his passion and aptitude, Dr. Lee was accepted into several prestigious medical programs. While applying, he specifically sought schools that provided opportunities to merge his love for engineering with medicine. Consequently, he chose to enroll into the nation’s first combined biomedical engineering and medical school program, a collaboration between Temple University and Drexel University. Following this, Dr. Lee further honed his skills by completing his general surgery residency at the University of Chicago and later, his plastic surgery residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
An Engineer’s Approach to Medicine
Now retired from his surgical practice, Dr. Lee reflects on how he always utilized an engineering mindset to approach clinical problems. For instance, Dr. Lee’s fundamental understanding of tension principles led him to create a novel surgical technique to lower the recurrence rate of ventral hernias in high-risk patients. Instead of the standard approach of transecting through all the abdominal wall layers, his approach preserved them, focusing on enhancing their strength.
He states “Out of 101 patients, only 7 saw the hernia return,” underscoring the clinical advantages of using engineering principles in medicine. Moreover, Dr. Lee believes the fusion of engineering and medicine is inevitable given the surge in technological innovations and the field’s shift towards personalized medicine.
Dr. Lee with Dr. Joe Murray who won the Nobel Prize as a plastic surgeon for performing the first successful kidney transplant.
How Surgical Care Influences Clinical practice
Dr. Lee’s career as a plastic surgeon significantly informed his research in biomedical engineering. Everyday challenges, such as treating tissue trauma from injuries like burns or electric shocks, didn’t just remain clinical problems but evolved into research questions. As he explained, “The research problems I investigate stem from the medical issues that plastic surgeons and other medical professionals face,” such as rescuing traumatized tissue.
Why Plastic Surgery and Motivations to stay in Academia.
With a unique engineering background, Dr. Lee naturally gravitated towards plastic surgery. He stated that “You can apply engineering to any aspect of surgery or medicine,” however, he also vividly recalls his passion for the operating room and recounted how immersed he’d become in his early years of practice: “Hours would pass, and before I knew it, 6, 7, 8, even 10 hours would have flown by.”
When asked about what fuels his ongoing academic pursuits and research, Dr. Lee pointed to the satisfaction derived from tangible successes and advancements. He emphasized the importance of clearly defining a problem, making significant progress with it, and cautioned young professionals against spreading themselves too thin. For Dr. Lee, success wasn’t merely about personal achievements; it was the gratification of knowing his efforts had a real, positive impact on people.
Advice for Those Seeking to Match into Plastic Surgery
Dr. Lee shared insightful perspectives on the competitive nature of the plastic surgery specialty and reflected on a time when other medical specialties like cardiology and oncology were the most sought-after. Highlighting the stark difference from his own experiences, he is always surprised when medical students arrive for interviews with 10 to 20 publications. However, Dr. Lee believes the sheer volume of publications is not the primary measure of value. The essence of a student’s work should lie in the quality of the research and its overall contributions.
Dr. Lee. Society of Black Academic Surgeons
For aspiring medical students aiming for a career in plastic surgery, Dr. Lee underscores two essential requirements: mentorship and passion. He urges medical students to seek out new mentorship opportunities and cherish existing ones. He also advises students to take a moment of self-reflection and determine if they truly have a passion for the specialty. “Passion is irreplaceable. You’ll never excel or be the best in any field unless you have a genuine love for it.”
In his parting wisdom, Dr. Lee advises aspiring plastic surgeons to immerse themselves in relevant experiences, nurture their passions, and consistently strive for excellence. In his words, “That’s the ticket.”
The Garnes Society would like to thank Dr. Lee for sharing his wealth of experience, knowledge, and insights. It was truly an honor and privilege to showcase him.