Career

Mar 29, 2025, 14:44

Jeff Lee has been appointed as MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Chief Medical Executive

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has named Dr. Jeffrey E. Lee as its new chief medical executive (CME), effective April 1.

Dr. Jeffrey E. Lee has been appointed Chief Medical Executive of MD Anderson Cancer Center after previously serving in the role of CME ad interim. His appointment follows a 34-year tenure at the institution, during which he has held multiple leadership positions and contributed significantly to oncology.

Dr. Lee joined MD Anderson in 1991 as a surgical oncology fellow and later became a faculty member. He has held the endowed Irving and Nadine Mansfield and Robert David Levitt Cancer Research Chair since 2010. From 2010 to 2021, he served as chair of Surgical Oncology, and in 2019, he was named vice president for Cancer Network’s Medical and Academic Affairs. That same year, he received the MD Anderson Excellence in LEADership Award.

“Dr. Lee has demonstrated tremendous capability and talent as a trusted and respected leader. His work as interim chief medical executive and substantial contributions to MD Anderson are a testament to his commitment to excellence, and I am confident in his ability to help us navigate the opportunities before us as we work to achieve our mission to end cancer.” – said Peter WT Pisters, president of MD Anderson.”

In 2022, Dr. Lee was named vice president for Clinical Operations Strategy Execution and Preparedness/deputy chief operating officer, where he contributed to institutional initiatives in service line management and capacity planning. The following year, he became chief cancer network officer, overseeing the development of MD Anderson’s collaborative network, which includes national and international partnerships.

“The opportunity to lead our incredibly talented team of clinicians, scientists and staff is a distinct honor. Inspired by the needs of our patients and working under our shared mission, I’m committed to guiding our collective efforts to deliver powerful impact for our patients.” – Lee said.

On September 1, 2022, he was named vice president for Clinical Operations Strategy Execution and Preparedness/deputy chief operating officer (COO), where he contributed to the COO Leadership Team, led MD Anderson’s service line initiative, and co-led the institution’s upstream capacity management project.

Beyond MD Anderson, Dr. Lee is active in over 30 professional societies. He earned his medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine, where he also completed his surgical training and a research fellowship in tumor immunology. His research has focused on melanoma genetics, immune and inflammatory biomarkers, and antibody-based therapeutics. He has authored over 600 peer-reviewed publications and led a longstanding research program.