Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Joon Y. Lee, MD

  • Professor
  • Orland Bethel Professor in Spine Surgery

Dr. Joon Y. Lee specializes in cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine surgery in the greater Pittsburgh area. Dr. Lee graduated summa cum laude from University of California, Berkeley, and obtained his medical degree from Yale Medical School. He completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA. He completed his fellowship in spine surgery at the Rothman Institute-Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Lee performs spinal surgery using standard techniques and the latest cutting-edge surgical technologies. These include minimally invasive spine surgery, disc replacement, and microsurgical decompression. For certain spinal problems, these new techniques may allow faster recovery and eliminate the need for spinal fusion. 

Education & Training

  • MD, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
  • Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Fellowship: Thomas Jefferson University Medical College, Philadelphia, PA

Research Interests

Ferguson Laboratory for Orthopaedic and Spine Research

Dr. Lee has been involved in research at the National Institutes of Health, Yale Medical School Research Laboratories, and the Orthopaedic Research Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh. He has authored numerous articles and lectured extensively on topics such as cervical disc herniation, cervical myelopathy, cervical disc replacement, lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, lumbar disc replacement, spinal fusion, spine trauma, microsurgical decompression, and non-fusion technologies. More information is available by visiting the Ferguson Spine Lab Web site.