Adjunct faculty typically have an academic or research appointment at another institution and contribute or collaborate with one or more School of Medicine faculty members or programs.

Yang Jae Lee, MD

Assistant Professor Adjunct in Psychiatry

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Titles

Assistant Professor Adjunct in Psychiatry

Positions outside Yale

Executive Director, Empower Through Health; Chairperson, Empower Through Health; Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington

Biography

Yang Jae Lee, MD (Jae Lee) is a psychiatrist and global mental health researcher focused on reducing mental illness stigma and strengthening community-based mental health care systems in low-resource settings. He holds an adjunct appointment at the Yale School of Medicine and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington.

Since 2015, he has worked in the Busoga region of Uganda, where he co-founded Empower Through Health, a 501(c)(3) organization that integrates healthcare delivery, research, and education. His research examines stigma reduction, pathways to care following mental health crises, and the integration of traditional and biomedical mental health systems, with a focus on community-based recovery and social reintegration.

Dr. Lee also directs the Global Health Experiential Fellowship, a predoctoral training program that pairs Ugandan and American students for immersive, community-based global health research.

Last Updated on March 08, 2026.

Education & Training

Resident Physician: Yale University (2025)

MD: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine (2021)

AB: Washington University in St. Louis, International and Area Studies: Development & Biology (2016)

Research

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Yang Jae Lee's published research.

Robert Rosenheck, MD
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View 11 Common Publications
Theddeus Iheanacho, MBBS, DTM&H
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View 2 Common Publications

Publications

2026

Measurement of Posthospital Recovery Infrastructure
Lee Y, Unützer J, Rosenheck R, Fortney J. Measurement of Posthospital Recovery Infrastructure. JAMA Psychiatry 2026, 83: 557-558. PMID: 41949828, DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2026.0440.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Law enforcement responses to mental illness in rural Uganda: A qualitative study of practices, challenges, and opportunities for training
Lee Y, Nakaziba K, Agwang G, Sweet E, Ragoonanan D, Steel C, Han M, Nkolo T, Namugaya R, Kazungu R, Rosenheck R, Tsai A. Law enforcement responses to mental illness in rural Uganda: A qualitative study of practices, challenges, and opportunities for training. PLOS Mental Health 2026, 3: e0000622. PMID: 42224182, PMCID: PMC13225393, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000622.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Experienced stigma related to common mental illness and alcohol use disorder in rural Uganda: A qualitative study
Lee Y, Miller B, Mbabazi R, Nakaweesi S, Cissy A, Ning S, Cossy K, Wagener T, Tsai M, Rauben K, Ssekalo I, Ashaba S, Rosenheck R, Tsai A. Experienced stigma related to common mental illness and alcohol use disorder in rural Uganda: A qualitative study. SSM - Mental Health 2026, 9: 100616. PMID: 42022575, PMCID: PMC13099072, DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2026.100616.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Scaling depression and PTSD care in primary care across LMICs: beyond feasibility to implementation and choice
Lee Y, Unützer J. Scaling depression and PTSD care in primary care across LMICs: beyond feasibility to implementation and choice. The Lancet Primary Care 2026, 2: 100126. DOI: 10.1016/j.lanprc.2026.100126.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Experiences of adults who survived suicide attempts in rural Uganda: Stigma, support systems and reintegration
Lee Y, Asasira M, Chang L, Scott B, Krause A, Nakamanya M, Chung V, Kazungu R, Ssekalo I, Rosenheck R, Raue P, Fortney J, Unützer J, Tsai A. Experiences of adults who survived suicide attempts in rural Uganda: Stigma, support systems and reintegration. Cambridge Prisms Global Mental Health 2026, 13: e55. PMID: 42051811, PMCID: PMC13112284, DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2026.10171.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research

2025

Mixed-methods evaluation of a Global South-North research fellowship in Uganda: Global health experiential fellowship (GHEF)
Lee Y, Kazungu R, Ssekalo I, Blackwell S, Nakaziba K, Monnig E, Mbabazi R, Muwereza P, Waiswa F, Ingabire H, Vega A, Brown A, Rohrbaugh R, Rosenheck R, Waiswa P, Kohrt B. Mixed-methods evaluation of a Global South-North research fellowship in Uganda: Global health experiential fellowship (GHEF). SSM - Mental Health 2025, 8: 100497. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2025.100497.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Beliefs about the causes and treatment of common mental illnesses and suicidality in rural Uganda
Lee Y, Mbabazi R, Jevremov O, Nakaweesi S, Brodey E, Wykoff J, Sivakumar R, Kazungu R, Ssekalo I, Rosenheck R, Tsai A. Beliefs about the causes and treatment of common mental illnesses and suicidality in rural Uganda. BJPsych Open 2025, 11: e146. PMID: 40624591, PMCID: PMC12247074, DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2025.10066.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Portrayals of alcohol use disorder treatment outcomes and their effects on stigma: Population-based, randomized survey experiment in rural Uganda
Lee Y, Jurinsky J, Baguma C, Ashaba S, Kakuhikire B, Namara E, Ahereza P, Kyokunda V, Satinsky E, Tsai A, Perkins J. Portrayals of alcohol use disorder treatment outcomes and their effects on stigma: Population-based, randomized survey experiment in rural Uganda. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2025, 274: 112718. PMID: 40483789, PMCID: PMC12896135, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112718.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Perspectives of traditional healers, faith healers, and biomedical providers about mental illness treatment: qualitative study from rural Uganda
Lee Y, Coleman M, Nakaziba K, Terfloth N, Coley C, Epparla A, Corbitt N, Kazungu R, Basiimwa J, Lafferty C, Cole K, Agwang G, Kathawala E, Nkolo T, Wogali W, Richard E, Rosenheck R, Tsai A. Perspectives of traditional healers, faith healers, and biomedical providers about mental illness treatment: qualitative study from rural Uganda. Cambridge Prisms Global Mental Health 2025, 12: e29. PMID: 40070774, PMCID: PMC11894403, DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2025.18.
Peer-Reviewed Original Research

2024

Community perspectives to inform the development of a radio program to destigmatize mental illness in rural Uganda: a qualitative study
Lee YJ, Fickling B, Goode M, et al. Community perspectives to inform the development of a radio program to destigmatize mental illness in rural Uganda: a qualitative study. Journal of Global Health Reports. 2024;8:e2024019. doi:10.29392/001c.120280
Peer-Reviewed Original Research

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ORCID
0000-0002-5127-0786

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

Honors

honor
Laughlin Fellowship
09/30/2024National AwardAmerican College of Psychiatrists
Details
honor
Diversity Leadership Fellowship
04/19/2024National AwardAmerican Psychiatric Association
honor
Emerging-Generation Award
01/12/2024National AwardThe American Society for Clinical Investigation
Details
honor
Thomas P. Detre Award in Translational Neuroscience Research
05/12/2023Yale School of Medicine AwardDepartment of Psychiatry
honor
Seymour L. Lustman Resident Research Award
05/12/2023Yale School of Medicine AwardDepartment of Psychiatry

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News

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Get In Touch

Contacts

yangjae.lee@yale.edu

Titles

Positions outside Yale

Biography

Education & Training

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Robert Rosenheck, MD

Theddeus Iheanacho, MBBS, DTM&H

Publications

2026

2025

2024

ORCID

Honors

Laughlin Fellowship

Diversity Leadership Fellowship

Emerging-Generation Award

Thomas P. Detre Award in Translational Neuroscience Research

Seymour L. Lustman Resident Research Award

News

Department of Psychiatry Honors Residents, Fellows, Faculty, Staff at 2025 Annual Commencement Ceremonies

Yale Psychiatrists Visit Rural Uganda to Address Mental Health Stigma

Lee Named 2025 Laughlin Fellow of The American College of Psychiatrists

Bookman, Lee, Nunes, Salahou Honored with APAF Fellowships

Contacts