Don S. Lee, MD, MPH

2005-2006

Internal Medicine Hospitalist, Ascension Columbia-St.Mary's Hospital Milwaukee; Physician Advisor, Ascension, Milwaukee, WI

Dr. Lee’s association with the Commonwealth Fund Fellowship began with his work as a research assistant in the office of Minority Faculty Development Program, while pursuing his post-baccalaureate pre-medical studies at the Harvard Extension School. Since then, Dr. Lee’s commitment to serving the needs of minority populations has been a consistent focus in his development as a physician. He has held several positions with the Wisconsin Medical Society and the American Medical Association. As a medical student, he served as the Co-Chair of the University of Wisconsin (UW) Medical Students for Minority Concerns, the largest UW medical student organization devoted to minority health issues. As a resident, he worked in an inner-city hospital in Milwaukee and saw first-hand the social and economic problems inner-city hospitals face while caring for the needs of poor and disadvantaged populations. Through his experience in health policy and organized medicine, Dr. Lee desires to focus his research on developing a cost-effective, efficient health care delivery system in an urban, underserved area with a particular emphasis on serving minority and disadvantaged populations.

Dr. Lee earned his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in 2002. He completed his internal medicine residency at Aurora Sinai Medical Center/Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee, WI in 2005. He completed the CFHU Fellowship, and received his M.P.H. from the Harvard School of Public Health in 2006.

2006

Developing a Policy White Paper on Critical Issues Currently Impacting Community Health Centers Funded by HRSA

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is committed to providing national leadership, program resources and services needed to improve access to culturally competent, quality health care, particularly to vulnerable populations. The objective of this project was to develop a policy white paper on critical issues affecting Community Health Centers (CHCs) funded by HRSA. This project was accomplished by compiling, synthesizing and analyzing policy-related issues initiated by HRSA- funded CHCs during performance reviews conducted by HRSA’s Office of Performance Review/Boston Regional Division (BRD) performance review teams during calendar year 2005. Literature review revealed many articles involving health policy issues pertaining to CHCs that aligned well with BRD performance review data from 2005. Performance review reports, data and trends were analyzed. In addition, interviews of members of the performance review teams provided additional, supplementary information to the reports.  Policy criteria were developed and utilized for the identification of critical policy issues. These issues included meeting the health care needs of immigrants and refugees in CHCs. Meetings with key HRSA personnel experienced in policy development were conducted to refine the most salient policy issues to address as well as possible HRSA recommendations. The results of this project were finalized in the form of a government white paper calling for HRSA to support health education and outreach coordinators for CHCs to reduce health disparities and improve access to culturally competent, quality health care for our immigrant and refugee populations.

Faculty Preceptor:

Gina Capra, Division Director, Office of Performance Review, Boston Regional Office, Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA)