Paul T. Lee, MD

I am often asked, ‘How did you choose to be a gastroenterologist?’. Instead of choosing this field, I think, more accurately, it chose me. I grew up with a close family member with Crohn’s disease. At that time, there were fewer options to treat this chronic disease, and I saw how it affected not only her body but also her mind and spirit. This sparked my passion. Gastroenterology is a great field to not only treat diseases but also to prevent them. I find that incredible. I know that diseases can present in different ways because every human is unique. I seek to understand that uniqueness and use it as a tool to better one’s health. This bio-psycho-social aspect of medicine is crucial in diagnosing, maintaining and maximizing one’s GI health. “The field of medicine is constantly evolving. The social, cultural and economic pressures are shaping the landscape of health in good and bad ways. Regardless, what remains constant is: I love what I do. And if patients can appreciate that, it is the right start in establishing that special connection – the doctor-patient relationship.”