NEW ORLEANS – After a national search, Dr. Steve Nelson, Dean of LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, has appointed Dr. Brian Lee Chairman of the Department of Dermatology.
After earning degrees in Chemistry and Biology at the University of New Orleans, Dr. Lee attended LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine. He published two articles in the prestigious Yearbook of Dermatology as a student. After graduating, Dr. Lee entered the Dermatology Residency Program at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, where he was named Chief Resident. He received the Peterkin Award for the most outstanding resident research project among LSU and Tulane residents and was awarded the Zola Cooper Award for the most outstanding clinicopathologic presentation.
Following residency, Dr. Lee joined the Dermatology faculty at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine. In addition to general dermatology, Dr. Lee developed an interest in dermatologic laser surgery and, through the acquisition of different laser systems, began treating patients, staffing a resident laser clinic and presenting a seven-hour laser didactic series to residents. He was also asked to direct the school’s dermatology education of medical students beginning with the major four-month course during their second year and the third-year dermatology electives.
In 1993, he became the youngest Service Chief ever selected at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in New Orleans, a position he still holds. The Dermatology Service is recognized as one of the most productive services in the system, and Dr. Lee has received the highest performance appraisal possible each year for the last 20 years. Dr. Lee introduced a Teledermatology Program at the VA, thought to be the first of its kind in the country. Today the program serves more than 3,000 patients per year providing timely access to care and less travel for patients.
In 2002, Dr. Lee accepted the position of Residency Program Director at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine. In addition to residency education and administrative roles, Dr. Lee has been an advocate of medical student mentorship. He is the first advisor of the Dermatology Interest Group and has spoken to every medical student interested in Dermatology. In 2014, Dr. Lee was appointed Interim Chairman following the sudden death of Dr. Lee Nesbitt.
Dr. Lee belongs to numerous organizations, societies, and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
The state’s most comprehensive health sciences university, LSU Health New Orleans includes a School of Medicine, the state’s only School of Dentistry, Louisiana’s only public School of Public Health, and Schools of Allied Health Professions, Nursing, and Graduate Studies. LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans educates Louisiana’s health care professionals and LSU Health New Orleans faculty take care of patients in public and private hospitals and clinics throughout the region. In the vanguard of biosciences research in a number of areas in a worldwide arena, the LSU Health New Orleans research enterprise generates jobs and enormous economic impact, reps said. LSU Health New Orleans faculty have made lifesaving discoveries and continue to work to prevent, advance treatment, or cure disease, they said.