Richard T. Lee, M.D.

949-763-2204
Meet Richard T. Lee, M.D.
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Medical Director, Integrative Medicine Program, Department of Supportive Care Medicine
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Clinical Expertise
Supportive Care Medicine
Integrative Medicine
Gastrointestinal Cancer
Appointments
Clinical Professor, Supportive & Integrative Medicine
Clinical Teams
Supportive Care Medicine
We don’t always have to think about a prescription as the first option. There’s a lot of things that we can do through mind-body approaches that have very few side effects but really profound effects on how patients feel. When we help them feel better or sleep better, they’ll have a lot less stress and it improves their quality of life. - Richard T. Lee, M.D.
Richard T. Lee, M.D., is a second-generation physician who was inspired by seeing the positive impact that good health care can have on a community. His philosophy as an oncologist is all about treating the whole patient — centering care on who they are and what they need. His practice brings together the best of Western medicine with integrative therapies such as mind-body techniques and acupuncture backed by research findings.
 
Dr. Lee earned his medical degree at George Washington University, then pursued a residency in internal medicine at Stanford University. Next, a Fulbright Scholarship brought him to China Medical University in Taiwan, where he learned traditional medicine, focusing on acupuncture. At the University of Chicago, he was a fellow in oncology/hematology, including a stint as chief fellow, and in medical ethics, while also training in clinical research. This was followed by a palliative medicine fellowship at Northwestern University.
 
In his practice, Dr. Lee augments the latest in cancer care with options such as acupuncture, which has been shown to help alleviate pain, nausea and symptoms of nerve damage; meditation, shown to help with pain and insomnia; and yoga, also shown to help with insomnia.
 
In his role as medical director of the Integrative Medicine Program, he works closely with his colleagues in supportive care to ensure a unified program with a comprehensive approach. This includes everything from the mind-body techniques and acupuncture, to the basics of nutrition and physical activity, to specialists in treating pain, to support from psychologists and social workers.
 
In his research, Dr. Lee aims to push forward the field of integrative medicine by searching for new cancer drugs based on plants such as European mistletoe, mushrooms and other plants. He hopes to introduce clinical trials into mind-body approaches such as yoga, meditation, tai chi, acupuncture and massage, as well as evaluating the cancer-fighting potential of herbs and supplements, including ones he learns about through his patients.
 
Dr. Lee maintains board certifications in medical oncology, hospice and palliative medicine, and internal medicine. He has received multiple awards from the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Prior to joining City of Hope, he was on the faculty at Case Western Reserve University and MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Location
Education & Experience
Board Certifications

  • 2012, Hospice and Palliative Medicine

  • 2008, Hematology, American Board of Internal Medicine

  • 2008, Medical Oncology, American Board of Internal Medicine

  • 2004, Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine

Degrees

  • 2004-2005, Fulbright Scholar, China Medical University Hospital, Taiwan

  • 2001-2004, Internal Medicine, Clinical Residency, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA

Fellowship

  • 2008-2009, Clinical Fellowship, Palliative Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL

  • 2006-2008, Medical Ethics, Clinical Fellowship, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

  • 2005-2008, Hematology/Oncology, Clinical Fellowship (Chief Fellow), University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Professional Experience

  • 2022-present, Medical Director, Integrative Medicine Program, Department of Supportive Care Medicine, City of Hope, Duarte, CA

  • 2018-2022, Interim Medical Director, Palliative Care, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center

  • 2015-2022, Medical Director, Supportive & Integrative Oncology Program, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center

  • 2015-2022, Associate Professor, Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

  • 2014-2015, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX

  • 2009-2015, Medical Director, Integrative Medicine Program, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

  • 2009-2015, Assistant Professor, Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Awards & Memberships
Awards

  • 2018-2019, ASCO Leadership Development Program

  • 2015-present, Helen Moss Foundation-Schoff Family Professor of Integrative Oncology

  • 2014-2015, Faculty Leadership Academy, MD Anderson Cancer Center

  • 2010-2011, Heart of Leadership Program, MD Anderson Cancer Center

  • 2008-2009, Midwest Trainee Travel Award, Clinical Society for Clinical Research

  • 2008, ASCO Foundation Merit Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology

  • 2008, ASCO Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Awards, American Society of Clinical Oncology

  • 2001, Doris Deford Speck Award, George Washington University Medical Center

  • 1999, Lamport Award, George Washington University Medical Center

Memberships

  • 2017-present, Associate Member, Palliative Care Research Cooperative

  • 2017-present, Member, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine

  • 2005-2015, Associate Member, American Society of Hematology

  • 2007-present, Member, Society for Integrative Oncology

  • 2005-present, Member, American Society of Clinical Oncology

  • 2001-2015, Associate Member, American College of Physicians

Publications
  1. Rodgers-Melnick SN, Zanotti K, Lee RT, Hooper WB. Demographic and Clinical Predictors of Engaging in Tobacco Cessation Counseling at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Addict Behav (submitted 5/2021)
  2. Tang TY*, Daunov K*, Lee RT. Durable Response to Very Low Dose Sorafenib and Regorafenib in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Hepatocellular Carcinoma (submitted 4/2021)
  3. Moss G*, Wang G, Hobson S, Bristol B, Momotaz H, Li M, Lee RT. Testing the Theory of Reiki: Can Reiki Practitioners Detect Human Energy Fields? Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (in revision 2/2021)
  4. Opneja A*, Cioffi G, Alahmadi A*, Patil P, Jones N, Tang T*, Bajor DL, Saltzman JN, Mohamed M, Mangla A, Barnholtz-Sloan J, Lee RT. The Adoption of Single Agent Chemotherapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Impact of Facility Type, Insurance Status, and Income on Survival: Analysis of the National Cancer Database (NCDB) 2004-2014. Cancer Medicine (Accepted, in press 4/2021)
  5. Jurdi, NE, Nock N, Fu P, Cao S, Cotton JM, Ali N, Ravi R, Pinto R, Galloway E, Kolke S, Cooper B; Tomlinson B, Malek E, Lance C, Kolk MJ, Ferrari N, Lee RT, Lima M; Caimi PF. Physical Activity and Sleep Measures Using a Fitness Tracking Device during Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A Prospective Feasibility Study. Transplant Cell Ther. 2021 Feb 19:S2666-6367(21)00694-1 PMID:33827757
  6. Jiang C*, Larbi O*, Feyes D, Wang G, Momotaz H, Li M, Daunov K*, Daly B, Mazanec S, Rodgers- Melnick S, Rolfe S, Tamburro N, Hobson S, Lee RT. Comparing the Perspectives of Cancer Patients, Caregivers, and Providers on Supportive and Integrative Oncology Services. Support Care Cancer. 2021 Mar 19. PMID: 33740131
  7. Lee RT, Yang P, Alahmadi A*, McQuade J, Yuan E, Difeo A, Narla G, Kaseb A. Mistletoe Extract Viscum Fraxini-2 for Treatment of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Series. Case Rep Oncol 2021;14:224–231. PMID: 33776708
  8. Hlubocky FJ, Symington B, Gallagher C, Dragnev KH, Burke JB, Lee RT, El-Jawahri A, Popp B, Rosenberg A, Thompson M, Dizon D, Srivastava P, Patel M, Back AL, Daugherty CK, Kamal AH, McFarland DC, Dokucu M, Shanafelt T. The Impact of the COVID-19 Epidemic on Oncologist Burnout, Emotional Well-Being, & Moral Distress: Considerations for the Cancer Organization’s Ethical Response for Readiness, Resilience, & Mitigation. JCO Oncol Pract. 2021 Feb 8. PMID: 33555934
  9. Lee RT, Kwon N, Wu J, To C, To S, Szmulewitz R, Tchekmedyian R, Holmes H, Olopade OI, Stadler WM, Von Roenn J. Prevalence of potential medication interactions including herbs and supplements before, during, and after chemotherapy in breast and prostate cancer patients. Cancer. 2021 Feb 1. PMID: 33524183
  10. Larbi O*, Jiang C*, Bristol B, Wang G, Daunov K*, Hobson S, Daly B, Mazanec S, Feyes D, Rodgers-Melnick S , Momotaz H, Li M, Lee RT. Cancer Patients and Caregivers’ Interest and Willingness to Pay for Integrative Therapies. JCO Oncol Pract. 2021 Jan 22. PMID: 33492981
  11. Power-James C, Alvarez A*, Milbury K, Barbo A, Daunov K, Lopez G, Cohen L, Delgado-Guay M, Olopade OI, Lee RT. The influence of spirituality and religiosity on US oncologists’ personal use of and clinical practices regarding complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Integr Cancer Therap. Integr Cancer Ther Jan-Dec 2020;19 PMID: 32830556
  12. Lee RT, Amico A, Malaka D, Lewin R, Cummings SA, Verp M, Patrick-Miller L, Bradbury AR, and Olopade OI. Utilization of Complementary Alternative Medicine, Diet, and Exercise Among Women at High Risk for Developing Breast Cancer. Integr Cancer Therap. 2020 Jan-Dec;19:1-6 PMID:32448019
  13. Yang P, Jiang Y, Pan Y, Ding X, Rhea P, Ding J, Hawke DH, Felsher D, Narla G, Lu Z, and Lee RT. Mistletoe extract Fraxini inhibits the proliferation of liver cancer by down-regulating c-Myc expression. Scientific Reports. 2019 Apr 23;9(1):6428. PMID: 31015523
  14. Oh B, Yeung A, Klein P, Larkey L, Ee C, Zaslawski C, Knobf T, Payne P, Stener-Victorin E, Lee R, Choi W, Chun M, Bonucci M, Lang HD, Pavlakis N, Boyle F, Clarke S, Back M, Yang P, Wei Y, Guo X, Weng CD, Irwin MR, Elfiky AA, Rosenthal D. Accreditation Standard Guideline Initiative for Tai Chi and Qigong Instructors and Training Institutions. Medicines (Basel). 2018 Jun 8;5(2). PMID: 29890675
  15. Lee RT, Hemmerich J, Kwon N, Bylow K, Stadler W, Mohile S, Curlin F, Dale W. The relationship of anxiety about prostate cancer among patients with a biochemical cancer recurrence and the utilization of complementary and alternative medicines, diet and exercise. Family Medicine Community Health 5(2): 139-148, 7/2017.
  16. Lopez G, Liu W, McQuade J, Lee RT, Spelman AR, Fellman B, Li Y, Bruera E, Cohen L. Integrative Oncology Outpatient Consultations: Long-Term Effects on Patient-Reported Symptoms and Quality of Life. Journal of Cancer 8(9): 1640-1646, 6/2017. PMID: 28775783.
  17. Yang G, Lee RT, Zhang H, Gu W, Yang P. National survey of China’s oncologists’ knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practice patterns on complementary and alternative medicine. Oncotarget 8(8): 13440-13449, 2/2017. PMID: 28088780.
  18. Lopez G, McQuade J, Cohen L, Williams J, Spelman AR, Fellman B, Li Y, Bruera E, Lee RT. Integrative oncology physician consultations at a comprehensive cancer center: analysis of demographic, clinical and patient reported outcomes. Journal of Cancer 8(3): 395-402, 2/2017. e-Pub: 2/2017. PMID: 28261340.
  19. Garcia MK, Graham-Getty L, Haddad R, Li Y, McQuade J, Lee RT, Spano M, Cohen L. Systematic Review of Acupuncture to Control Hot Flashes in Cancer Patients. Cancer. 2015 Nov 15;121(22):3948-58. PMID: 26281028
  20. Lee RT, Ramchandran K, Sanft T, Von Roenn J. Implementation of Supportive Care and Best Supportive Care Interventions in Clinical Trials Enrolling Patients with Cancer. Ann Oncol 26(9):1838-45, 9/2015. e-Pub 4/2015. PMID: 25922064.
Ratings & Reviews
Ratings and reviews below are gathered from the Press Ganey Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CG CAHPS) survey. CG CAHPS is a standardized survey that is used to measure a patient's experience in the physician office setting. Ratings are an average of all responses to questions about a provider's care, with 5 stars being the highest.