"Fred Hutch Cancer Center" "Cures Start Here"

Stephanie J. Lee, MD, MPH

Provider

Stephanie J. Lee, MD, MPH

Research Director, Long-Term Follow-Up, Fred Hutch
Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
David and Patricia Giuliani/Oliver Press Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, Fred Hutch
Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine

Specialty:

Medical Oncology

South Lake Union Clinic

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“What’s most important in life is often what you can do for other people.”

— Dr. Lee

Why do you conduct research?

When I was a volunteer at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center — before I went to medical school — I met a pair of siblings who helped me decide to go into stem cell transplantation. A girl had donated her bone marrow to her older brother. And while the transplant had cured his leukemia, it was now attacking his body, the result of a condition called graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). At the time, there was little that could be done to stop it, and it was just so horribly sad. I kept thinking that this shouldn’t happen; a cure shouldn’t make people so sick. That boy’s experience has never been far from my mind. Today, I lead a national research network that seeks to better understand GVHD and create more effective therapies for it.

What do you enjoy about working at Fred Hutch and its partner organizations?

One of the best parts of my job is participating in team science, working with colleagues here and from all over the world, to improve the lives of stem cell transplant recipients. This is not a competitive atmosphere; rather, we support and push each other to do better. I’m really fortunate to be part of such a collaborative environment. I’m also thankful that I can divide my time between doing research and seeing patients. The relationships I’ve forged with patients and their family members over the years have been a very meaningful part of my life.

Provider Background

Area of Clinical Practice
Leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes

I specialize in providing blood and bone marrow transplants for patients with leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and other diseases of the blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes. At the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, I serve as the research director of the Long-Term Follow-Up Program, which provides monitoring and care for patients who have had stem cell transplants.

Through research, I focus on improving transplant outcomes, supporting survivorship and mitigating the impact of chronic GVHD, a life-threatening condition that affects approximately four in 10 transplant recipients. My research has been instrumental in identifying genetic criteria that can better match donors with patients who need transplants, lowering their risk of developing complications like GVHD. In 2018, I was honored to receive the David and Patricia Giuliani/Oliver Press Endowed Chair in Cancer Research. In addition to patient care and research, I am also active in leadership, serving as president-elect of the American Society of Hematology.

Diseases Treated

Blood Disorders

Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Languages

English

Education, Experience and Certifications

Undergraduate Degree
University of Washington

Medical Degree
Stanford University

Residency
Stanford University Medical Center, Internal Medicine

Fellowship
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Hematology-Oncology

Board Certification
Hematology, 1996, 2006, 2016, American Board of Internal Medicine

Other
MPH, Harvard School of Public Health

Stories

All news

Blood and Marrow Transplant Reunion returns to Fred Hutch

Blood and Marrow Transplant Reunion returns to Fred Hutch Hundreds gather in Seattle to celebrate life, science and cancer survivorship July 19, 2022

Advances in blood disorders research continue despite COVID-19

Advances in blood disorders research continue despite COVID-19 Expanding use of CAR T-cell therapies, gene editing lead to insights at virtual annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology December 10, 2020

ASH president Stephanie Lee, MD, MPH shares key insights

ASH president Stephanie Lee, MD, MPH shares key insights December 9, 2020

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

Find a Clinical Trial Led by Dr. Lee

Many of our Fred Hutch physicians conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by other physicians 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 physician has written.

View Dr. Lee's Publications

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At Fred Hutch, you receive care from a team of providers with extensive experience in your disease. Your team includes physicians, a patient care coordinator, a registered nurse, an advanced practice provider and others, based on your needs. You also have access to experts like registered dietitians, social workers, acupuncturists, psychiatrists and more who specialize in supporting people with cancer or blood disorders.

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