Dr. Teng C. Lee, a cardiothoracic surgeon, is one of the few specialists fully trained in both minimally invasive and traditional surgical techniques for treating complex thoracic aortic disease, in which weakness, tears or other problems with the heart's main artery can be life-threatening. He performs procedures that include heart transplantation, arrhythmia surgery, coronary artery bypass, endovascular surgery and minimally invasive valve surgeries.
In his research, Lee has investigated using minimally invasive techniques to treat aortic arch aneurysms (bulges in the wall where the aorta bends). Recently, he collaborated with biomedical engineers to study how different stent graft devices in the aortic arch may impact blood flow. Over the last few years, he also collaborated on research examining how to improve treatment and outcomes for acute type A aortic dissection, a serious condition in which the aorta's inner layer tears.
Originally from Singapore, Lee earned his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He completed a residency in general surgery at Case Western Reserve University, where he was the Dudley P. Allen Scholar, and also completed a residency in cardiothoracic surgery at Duke University. He subsequently completed a fellowship in endovascular and interventional radiology at Lund University in Malmö, Sweden, as well as a fellowship in advanced aortic surgery, heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at Duke University.
Prior to joining UCSF, Teng was co-director of the University of Florida Health Aortic Disease Center. Previous to his work there, he had founded the University of Maryland Center for Aortic Disease and started its highly successful program in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (reaching the aorta through blood vessels instead of open heart surgery).
Lee is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He belongs to the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery, European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery and Sabiston Surgical Society.
