Zachary Lee, M.D.

Professional Background

Dr. Zachary Lee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Palliative Medicine at the University of Kansas Health System. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas in Lawrence and received his medical degree from Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia in 2016. He went on to complete his residency in Internal Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in 2019, followed by a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following his fellowship, Dr. Lee returned to the Kansas City area, where he served as the Palliative Medicine specialist for Olathe Health from 2020 to 2023. He joined the University of Kansas Department of Palliative Medicine following the integration of Olathe Health into the University of Kansas Health System.

Dr. Lee has a special interest in medical ethics and holds a Certificate in Bioethics and Medical Humanities from the Montefiore-Einstein program. He currently serves as Chair of the KUMC-Olathe Ethics Committee and is a member of the University of Kansas Hospital Ethics Committee.

His clinical practice is centered on inpatient palliative care consultation, with a particular emphasis on supporting patients and families as they navigate complex medical decisions in the context of serious illness. Drawing on his training in bioethics and medical humanities, Dr. Lee brings a thoughtful, ethically grounded approach to care, ensuring that decision-making aligns with each patient's values, goals, and cultural context. His work integrates clinical expertise with a strong commitment to patient autonomy, dignity, and compassionate communication.

• BS, Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
• MD, Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Philadelphia, PA
• Residency, Internal Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
• Clinical Fellowship, Palliative Medicine and Hospice, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY

• KS License, KSBHA

• KU Ethics Committee, KU Hospital Ethics Committee, Member, 2024 - Present
• KU-Olathe Ethics Committee, Olathe Ethics Committee, Chair, 2024 - Present
• Olathe Physician Services Transition Committee, Member, 2024 - Present
• AAHPM, Member, 2020 - Present
• KU-Olathe Ethics Committee, Member, 2020 - 2024
• Olathe Health Cancer Committee, Member, 2020 - Present
• American College of Physicians, Member, 2019 - Present

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