John Y.K. Lee, MD, MSCE - Brain Surgeon

11/09/2025

Learning new skills on track reminds me of being a new faculty member in neurosurgery.

In residency, you learn how to do basic neurosurgery. As a teenager, you learn how to drive a car with basic skills (including stick shift/manual). However, it is not until you are an attending faculty that you really learn how to operate. You are practicing and refining your craft. Similarly, it is only on the track that I am truly learning how to drive.

Repetition, instruction and video analysis seem to be keys to getting better.

When I started this year, my lap time was 1:48. On the thirteenth track day, my lap time was 1:34. I can't wait until next season.

10/06/2025

This is my teenage patient with an excellent result after acoustic neuroma surgery. Dr. Bigelow and I were able to save her hearing and of course her facial function. She has totally normal hearing and complete resection. Hear her story.

10/05/2025

Retrosigmoid resection of acoustic neuroma can provide complete removal with preservation of hearing and facial function. Listen to my teenager's story.

I have started a new series "Profiles in Patient Courage". I operate on many patients. Despite their fears, they allow me to open their skull and peer into...

09/07/2025

Meningiomas can grow during pregnancy. These tumors are three times more common in women than men, and they express estrogen and progesterone receptors. Listen to my patients story

08/03/2025

Seeking rest, relaxation and BALANCE by hiking in Banff, Canada. Ready to return refreshed and truly at balance.

06/07/2025

Meet one of our three graduating residents - Maria Punchak, MD. She is setting an exciting international and global direction in Neurosurgery.

Listen to her full interview on YouTube!

We have three Chief Residents graduating in June 2025 who have now spent seven years at the University of Pennsylvania training. In this episode, we meet Dr...

04/12/2025

I got a chance to visit Andrew Whittam. I visited him three years ago and again in 2024. He is converting jaguars and land rovers to electric - a modern take on a classic vehicle. Fantastic technology!

In this episode, I visit a friend Andrew Whittam at his engineering shop in 2022 and then again in 2025. Technology continues to improve and Andrew's conver...

04/06/2025

Back to another profile in patient courage! This time we have a dental student who is having difficulty walking and taking her tests. An astute orthopedic surgeon finally realizes this is not an orthopedic problem but rather a neurologic problem. She has an epidermoid cyst compressing her brainstem.

Profiles in Patient Courage is my attempt to provide patients a way to tell their own story about their condition. When I do brain surgery, I want patients ...

04/05/2025

I have never been on the track before, but I found analogies between Acoustic Neuroma Association surgery and track driving. Learn the line (anatomy), study with mentors, concentrate.

Next time I go, I am bringing the gopro and the DJI! Will get more video.

I have noticed that many people are interested in the lives of neurosurgeons. I got a chance to take my Honda Civic Type R FK8 on the race track - NJMP Thun...