David Lee, M.D., receives Distinguished Alumni Award
Professor of ophthalmology
Susan and Richard Anderson Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology
McGovern Medical School
Houston, Texas
Fellowship: Glaucoma, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
Residency: Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Rochester, Minnesota
Internship: Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education
Medical school: Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
Postgraduate: MBA, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; M.S., ophthalmology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Undergraduate: Medical science, philosophy, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
Hometown: Pine Ridge, South Dakota
GLAUCOMA AUTHORITY AND COLLABORATIVE LEADER
David Lee, M.D. (OPH ’84), has held tenured professorships and prestigious endowed chairs at leading institutions, including the University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA), Penn State University and the Medical University of South Carolina.
As impressive as his titles are, colleagues say his collaborative spirit and genuine respect for others truly define his leadership. These qualities empower others to reach their full potential, expanding Dr. Lee’s impact on academic medicine.
Dr. Lee is a professor of ophthalmology and the Susan and Richard Anderson Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology at McGovern Medical School in the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. His contributions have significantly advanced the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma worldwide.
Dr. Lee is a highly sought-after specialist known for his ability to handle the most challenging diabetes and glaucoma cases with surgical precision, genuine compassion and warmth.
This clinical expertise is deeply rooted in his extensive research, which includes multiple National Eye Institute grants, including an R01 grant investigating the cellular biology and pharmacology of wound healing after glaucoma surgery. He has published pioneering research at the intersection of data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning, focusing on developing predictive models to assess the risk of progression in glaucoma, as well as other major eye diseases. This work has advanced personalized patient care and early intervention strategies.
His peer-reviewed articles, abstracts and other publications number in the hundreds, and he has served as an editorial board member for journals such as the Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. He has a passion for teaching, as evidenced by more than 200 invited lectures, 60 visiting professorships and countless mentoring relationships.
Dr. Lee also completed an executive MBA program at UCLA’s John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management and earned a Master of Science degree in ophthalmology from the University of Minnesota. His numerous awards include Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha memberships, the Roland P. Mackay Award from the American Academy of Neurology and multiple prestigious fellowships.
Dr. Lee is deeply committed to serving vulnerable communities; under his leadership the UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic provided more than 50,000 free eye exams to Native American reservations and underserved urban areas.
The Mayo Clinic Distinguished Alumni Award was established in 1981 by the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees to acknowledge and show appreciation for the exceptional contributions of Mayo alumni to the field of medicine, including medical practice, research, education, and administration. Individuals receiving this award are recognized nationally — and often internationally — in their fields. Read about the other 2025 recipients here.