About Lee:
I am the Senior Medical Director of Optum Kansas City, a Care Delivery Organization dedicated to improving the health of patients and populations by assisting medical professionals in providing the best care possible through preventive care and early disease recognition and treatment.
I received my medical degree from the University of Minnesota, did my residency in family medicine in Texas, and my aerospace medicine training in the USAF at Brooks AFB, San Antonio.
After serving in the USAF as a family physician, flight surgeon, and combat medicine instructor, I practiced medicine in Seattle for 20 years. I have served as Chief Medical Officer for over 26 years, most recently at the University of Kansas Health System and am currently a clinical faculty member at the KU School of Medicine. I recently served for three years as the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Governor Kelly’s cabinet, additionally as the senior state health official leading the Kansas Covid-19 pandemic response. I have served on numerous boards of charitable and humanitarian organizations, including Heart to Heart International, based in Lenexa, Kansas.
I recently completed my military service as a US Army colonel, which included five years of service as the State Surgeon of Kansas. In 2018 I returned from a Middle East US Army deployment where I was the 35th Infantry Division Surgeon overseeing the medical care of over 12,000 US soldiers encompassing three named operations - Freedom Sentinel, Spartan Shield, and Inherent Resolve. I have been awarded two Meritorious Service Medals and, in 2022, the Truman Foundation Philip Pistilli Silver Veterans Medal for military and civilian accomplishments. In 2023, I was selected for the US Armed Forces Legion of Merit medal, to be awarded later in 2023.
I have an MHS degree in health planning and systems analysis from the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, and an MBA degree from the University of Washington Graduate School of Business. I have two grown children and two grandsons. Originally from Iowa, my interests include reading, cooking, canning and pickling, technical mountain climbing, and collecting Alaska Native art. I am pleased to participate in the Prom Court to help promote the KC Shepherds Center and the important work the Center does.
