Raymond C. Lee, MD

Raymond C. Lee, M.D., ABTS, is an adult cardiothoracic surgeon (all adult cardiac and general thoracic) including complex aortic replacement, artificial heart and lung assist devices, complex valve repair, surgical management of heart failure, septal myectomy, minimally invasive heart surgery and ECMO. He is certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgeons and the American Board of Surgeons. Throughout college and medical school, he was recognized and honored as not only an outstanding student but also as the most outstanding teacher to medical students.

Dr. Lee was inspired to pursue medicine after experiencing a career ending knee injury in ice hockey. Hockey was a sport for him that taught him diligence, hand eye coordination, and determination. As a competitive ice hockey player, his injury left his young teen life in ruins. It was a pivotal conversation with his father that changed his life forever. His father asked him, “When you look back at your life what would you like to be remembered for?” It was at that point that Dr. Lee realized it was his own physicians’ dedication to his well-being after this injury that started to improve his quality of life. He then realized that he wanted to dedicate himself to improving the quality of life for others as well.

All the perseverance that went into becoming a nationally ranked high school hockey player now was channeled into his education. He was awarded the Most Outstanding Senior Award in Biomedical Engineering and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Syracuse University. In his medical studies, he was honored as a student, a teacher, a surgeon, in emergency medicine and in his innovative ground breaking studies in using ultrasound as a diagnostic tool. Today he also is a speaker and consultant in his field and has published numerous medical research findings and studies.

Dr. Lee understands how intimidating major heart surgery can be for his patients. In his practice, he loves being there for a patient and their family to guide them through the process. He believes that the care and trust that is built between the physician and the patient is life changing. Having the opportunity to help people in one of their greatest times of need is a major part of why Dr. Lee chose to become a cardiothoracic surgeon. His desire to help others extends beyond his office. He now has the additional goal to begin mission work so that he can give back to under served regions of the world.