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Francis Lee, MD, PhD, FAAOS, MBA

Wayne O. Southwick Professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation
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Additional Titles

Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

with Tenure in Traditional Track

Professor in Department of Pathology, Secondary Appointment

Biological and Biomedical Science Program, YSM Postgraduate School

Wayne O. Southwick Endowed Professor in Orthopedics and Rehabilitation

Presidential Line Officer (Treasurer in 2023-Secretary in 2024-President-Elect in 2025-President in 2026), Executive Committee, Musculoskeletal Tumor Society

Contact Info

francis.lee@yale.edu

Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation

P.O. Box 208071

New Haven, CT 06520-8071

United States

About

Titles

Wayne O. Southwick Professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation

Professor, Biomedical Engineering; Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences; with Tenure in Traditional Track; Professor in Department of Pathology, Secondary Appointment; Biological and Biomedical Science Program, YSM Postgraduate School; Wayne O. Southwick Endowed Professor in Orthopedics and Rehabilitation

Positions outside Yale

Presidential Line Officer (Treasurer in 2023-Secretary in 2024-President-Elect in 2025-President in 2026), Executive Committee, Musculoskeletal Tumor Society

Biography

  1. Affiliation: Professor with Tenure, Unmodified Title; Wayne O. Southwick Professor; Orthopedic Surgeon and Scientist, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Yale University (2016-Present); Professor in Pathology, Secondary Appointment, Yale University (2017-Present); Professor in Biomedical Engineering, Secondary Appointment (2019-Present); Professor, Graduate School of Art and Science, Yale University (2019-Present); Professor with Tenure and Robert Carroll & Jane Chace Carroll Professor, Columbia University, New York (2012-2016); Orthopaedic Attending & Chief of Orthopaedic Oncology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center, New York (1999-2016)
  2. Clinical Practice Locations: Greenwich Hospital, Stamford Office, and Yale New Haven Hospital System
  3. Clinical Expertise: Sarcomas, Complex Musculoskeletal Reconstruction in Adults and Children; Musculoskeletal Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors (Benign Tumors and Cancers) & Complex Limb Reconstruction in Adults and Children; Pathological Fractures, Minimally Invasive Surgery for Metastatic Cancers to Bone (Breast, Prostate, Thyroid and Others); Failed Knee & Hip Implants; Osteomyelitis; Pediatric Orthopedics; Osteoid Osteoma, Enchondroma, Osteochondroma, Metabolic and Genetic Bone Diseases, Spine Tumors
  4. Research Interest: NIH R01-funded research programs in metastatic cancer-induced bone loss, fracture healing, regenerative orthopedics, and bone infection. Our lab is located in Tompkin 5 Orthopedic Research Laboratories.
  5. Administration: Vice Chair of Academic, Scientific, and Research Affairs (2016-2018; 2020-2023); Yale School of Medicine Admissions Committee; Yale University Saybrook College Advisor
  6. Education: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Written Question Task Force, Orthopaedic Research Society Mentorship Committee, New York Orthopaedic Pathology Review Course
  7. External Activities: NIH Skeletal Biology, Structure, and Regeneration (SBSR) Study Section Chair (2018-2020); Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Research Committee Chair (2017-2020); American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Research Development Committee Chair (2019-2022); Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) Research Grant Committee Vice Chair (2019-2020); OREF Research Grant Chair & OREF Board of Directors; Board of Trustees (2020-2023)
  8. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) Presidential Line (2022-2023 Treasurer; 2023- 2024: Secretary; 2024-2025 President-Elect; 2025-2026 President); International Society of Limb Salvage (ISOLS) Board Member 2024-Present
  9. Research Programs and Major Research Grants
    • NIH/NIAMS R01 AR081656-A1 (2024-202: PI: Francis Y. Lee, M.D.): Rescuing Impaired Fracture Healing by Molecular Targeting
    • NIH/NIAMS R01 AR 073607 (2019-2024; PI: Francis Y. Lee, M.D.): PTH to rescue impaired fracture healing.
    • NIH/NIAMS R01 (2015-2023; PI: Francis Y. Lee, M.D.): Infection and bone destruction; Eradication of bone destruction
    • NIH/NCI R01 (2015-2022; PI: Francis Y. Lee, M.D.): Interactions between metastatic cancers and bone; Bone loss
    • NIH/NIAMS R01 (2009-2019; PI: Francis Y. Lee, M.D.): Inflammation and bone loss; Osteoclastogenesis
    • NIH/NIBIB R01 (Completed; 2007-2018; PI: Francis Y. Lee, M.D.): Biomaterials interface biology
    • Musculoskeletal Transplantation Foundation (2013-2018): Enhanced Allograft Incorporation with Growth Factors
    • NIAMS Mentored K08 Award (2017-2022; Mentor for PI Dr. David Koveacevic): Shoulder Inflammation
  10. Department of Defense (Completed; 2010-2015; PI: Francis Y. Lee, M.D.): 3D printed scaffolds for bone and cartilage defects
  11. External Scholarly Activities: Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Executive Committee member and Research Committee Chair (2017-2020); National Institute of Health Skeletal Biology, Structure and Regeneration(SBSR) Study Section Permanent Member (2015-2020) and Study Section Chair (2018-2020); Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) Research Committee Chair (2018-2020); AAOS Tumor Program Committee (2016-2019); AAOS Research Development Committee Chair (2019-2022); Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) Research Grant Committee Vice Chair (2018-2020); Orthopaedic Research Society/International Society for Fracture Repair (ISFR) Board Member (2019-2021); Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) Research Grant Committee Chair (2020-Present); American Bone and Joint Surgery Member (2020-Present); AAOS Kappa Delta Award & OREF Clinical Research Award Selection Task Force Co-Chair
  12. Interactions with Undergraduate Students, YSM Medical Students, M.D.-Thesis Medical Students, M.D.-Ph.D. Candidate, Graduate Students, and Post-doctoral Fellows: Please send inquiries to francis.lee@yale.edu for research and clinical opportunities. Summer Research Fellow and One-Year YSM-sponsored Fellowships are provided.
  13. Mentoring and Supporting Junior Faculty, Fellows, and Residents: Assisting Career Development Awards or Grants. Academic Promotion Guidance; Primary Mentorship for NIAMS K08 Career Development Award for an Orthopaedic Surgeon at Yale Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation (2017-2022); Mentorship for OREF Residents & Faculty Award
  14. Yale University (2016 - Present): Yale University Saybrook College Fellow; Medical School Admissions Committee; Biological and Biomedical Science Program; Faculty, Yale university Art and Science Graduate School
  15. Columbia University, New York, and New York Presbyterian Hospital (1999 - 2016): Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery with Tenure (2012-2016), Robert Carroll and Jane Chace Carroll Professor (2014-2016), Associate Professor with Tenure (2009-2012), Associate Professor (2005-2009), Assistant Professor (1999-2005); Orthopedic Surgeon, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York; Columbia University Senate Budget Review Committee (2011-2015)

Appointments

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

MBA
Yale School of Management, Honorary MBA (2019)
Honorary Executive MBA
Yale School of Management (2018)
Non Degree Program
Hospital for Sick Chidren, Pediatric Orthopaedics Fellowship (1999)
Clinical Orthopedic Fellowship
Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto (1999)
Non Degree Program
Massachusetts General Hospital & Boston Children’s Hospital, Orthopaedic Oncology Fellowship (1998)
Clinical Orthopedic Fellowship
Harvard Medical School (Mass General Hospital & Boston Children's Hospital) (1998)
Non Degree Program
Rutgers Medical School, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency (1997)
Orthopaedic Residency
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (1997)
Non Degree Program
Mount Sinai Hospital, Bone Research Fellowship (1996)
Orthopedic Research Fellowship
Mount Sinai School of Medicine (1996)
PhD
Seoul National University College of Medicine, Orthopedic Basic Science (1992)
Orthopaedic Residency
Seoul National University Hospital (1992)
Non Degree Program
Seoul National University Hospital, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency (1992)
MD
Seoul National University College of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine (1986)
Premed & Doctor of Medicine
Seoul National University College of Medicine (1986)
Undergraduate Student
University of Maryland at U.S. 8th Army, Seoul, Korea (1982)

Research

Overview

Clinical Research

Bone Defect Reconstruction & Regeneration

Metastatic Cancers to Bone, Pathological Fractures, Minimally Invasive Reconstruction of Pathological Fractures, AORIF (Ablation - Osteoplasty - Reinforcement - Internal Fixation)

Translational Research

Tissue Engineering, Bone Regeneration, Fracture Healing (Diabetes, Chronic Smoking, Infection), Bone Inflammation, Bone Infection, Cancer-Induced Bone Loss

Please refer to NIH RePorter on Descriptions of NIH-funded Research Programs.

My research group is committed to engaging undergraduate students, Yale medical students for Thesis, M.D.-Ph.D. Students, other graduate students, and visiting fellows for research opportunities and career advancement. For inquires, please contact francis.lee@yale.edu. I am an Orthopaedic Surgeon in active clinical practice and a Scientist fostering research experience for future clinician scholars and clinically relevant translational research scientists. I focus on high impact orthopaedic research that is directly relevant to pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of Orthopaedic disorders.

Medical Research Interests

Bone and Bones; Bone Diseases, Infectious; Bone Marrow; Fracture Fixation; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Oncology Service, Hospital; Orthopedics; Osteoarthritis; Osteoblasts; Osteoclasts; Stem Cells; Tissue Engineering

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Francis Lee's published research.

Publications

Featured Publications

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Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

Activities

  • activity

    Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation

    02/01/2019 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsChair
  • activity

    Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons

    07/01/2020 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsMember
  • activity

    Musculoskeletal Tumor Society

    12/02/2022 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsPresident-elect
  • activity

    ISOLS Board

    2024 - PresentAdvisory BoardsBoard Member
  • activity

    MSTS

    10/01/2022 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsPresident-elect
View full list of activities

Honors

  • honor

    Best Paper Award, 3rd Place

    10/08/2021National AwardMusculoskeletal Tumor Society
  • honor

    Best Poster Award, 2nd Place; Osteolytic Metastatic Cancers

    10/07/2016National AwardMusculoskeletal Tumor Society
  • honor

    Kappa Delta Ann Doner Vaughn Award (2016)

    03/03/2016National AwardAmerican Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
  • honor

    Best Paper Award, Second Place

    05/15/2014International AwardEuropean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society
  • honor

    J. Neff Awad

    01/01/2014National AwardMusculoskeletal Transplantation Foundation
View full list of honors

Clinical Care

Overview

Francis Y. Lee, MD, PhD, is an orthopaedic surgeon with extensive expertise treating both adults and children. Committed to providing care of the highest quality, Dr. Lee works with a range of musculoskeletal problems, from fractures and limb deformities to musculoskeletal tumors and infections. He is an expert in complex musculoskeletal reconstruction.

A professor in the Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Lee has a secondary appointment in the Department of Pathology. He holds the rare distinction of being both an orthopaedic surgeon and a musculoskeletal scientist scholar working with National Institutes of Health (NIH) research programs. Dr. Lee conducts extensive research into such areas as fracture healing and bone metastasis. Dr. Lee has been a pioneer in developing minimally invasive Ablation-Osteoplasty-Reinforcement-Internal Fixation (AORIF) that is specially designed for patients with cancer that has spread to bone. This paradigm-shifting ambulatory procedure provides local cancer control, decreases pain, and improves ambulatory function.

Dr. Lee says he especially enjoys interacting with patients and their families. He draws upon his research background to approach each case with a sense of discovery and innovation. “I will provide care for you and your family as if I were treating my own family members and friends,” he says.

Dr. Lee also serves as a Presidential Line Officer (2022-2023: Treasurer; 2023-2034: Secretary; 2024-2025: President-Elect; 2025-2026: President) for the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, a premier professional organization for musculoskeletal tumor surgeons.

Clinical Specialties

Musculoskeletal Oncology; Sarcoma; Pediatric Orthopedics; Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation

Fact Sheets

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Board Certifications

  • Orthopaedic Surgery

    Certification Organization
    AB of Orthopaedic Surgery
    Latest Certification Date
    2022
    Original Certification Date
    2001

Yale Medicine News

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Contacts

Email
Appointment Number
Mailing Address

Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation

P.O. Box 208071

New Haven, CT 06520-8071

United States

Administrative Support

Locations

  • Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation

    Academic Office

    47 College Street

    New Haven, CT 06510

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