BIO
Born on March 4, 1964, in New York City, Andrew Go Lee is currently the Chair of Ophthalmology at Houston Methodist Hospital. Along with his two siblings, Lee spent his childhood in Charleston, West Virginia, where he attended Catholic school. His parents were both physicians who believed that assimilation into American ways of life was essential, and as a result, Lee grew up in a fully Americanized household. He attended the University of Virginia for his undergraduate education and joined its Theta Chi fraternity, which allowed him to take full advantage of the rich social life he discovered in college. Lee had wanted to become a doctor since a young age, so after graduating college, he pursued medical school at the University of Virginia, residency at the Baylor Institute of Medicine, and a clinical fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. As he advanced in his medical career, Lee also served as Professor and Associate Professor at multiple institutions, where he found meaning in guiding young people along their own paths. Although he has received many tangible markers of his professional success, such as awards and prestigious positions, Lee remains most passionate about helping others, and helping others to help others. As such, he has garnered the nickname “real life Mr. Miyagi” and keeps a hefty book of handwritten notes from those he has influenced. Lee also finds meaning in establishing Asian-American representation in various societies and boards, both at a community and national level, such as the Neuro-Ophthalmology Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the Houston Symphony. He strongly believes that increasing visibility in these organizations is an important way to give back to his community. Outside of his career, Lee loves to travel, learn about history, and write books. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Houston and plans to perhaps write a science fiction novel once he retires.