Skip to main content

Dr. Michael Y. Lee Dr. Michael Y. Lee

Michael Y. Lee, MD, MHA, recently was appointed as the Sidna Chockley Rizzo Distinguished Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The professorship was created with the initiation of a gift from Mr. Paul Rizzo and family in memory of his wife, who was a grateful patient.

As founding chair of the UNC Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 20 years ago, Dr. Lee has overseen the evolution of the department from a 16-bed inpatient program to a multidisciplinary team of specialists treating thousands of patients annually through the continuum of care in rehabilitation, including the UNC Inpatient Rehabilitation Center, Centers for Rehabilitation Care for outpatients, the UNC Hospitals Spine Center, multiple sub-acute rehabilitation facilities in the community, as well as the development of an outstanding, fully-accredited residency education program and world-class research initiatives.

Dr. Lee completed medical school at the University of Illinois in 1984, and his residency at Northwestern University, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. He also received his master’s degree in healthcare administration from the UNC School of Public Health in 2004. He is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine.