Amy Lee, MD

Neurosciences Center, Neurosurgery, Craniofacial Center, Brain Tumor Program, Cranial Base, Endoscopic Strip Craniectomy, Spine Program, Cancer and Blood Disorders Center

On staff since August 2011

Children's Title: Division Chief, Neurosurgery; Fellowship Director; Pediatric Neurosurgery; Associate Residency Program Director, Pediatric Neurosurgery; Co-Director, Neurocritical Care Program; Co-Director, Neurosciences Center; Surgical Director, Pediatric Brain Tumor Program

Academic Title: Professor

Research Center: Center for Clinical and Translational Research

"Every day I consider it a privilege to work with children and their families with neurological disorders. Their strength and courage inspire me to do my best each day to deliver the best care possible in the clinic and in the operating room."

• Biography

  Dr. Amy Lee is an attending neurosurgeon at Seattle Children's Hospital. She is also a Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

  Dr. Lee received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary. She then received her M.D. from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She went on to complete a seven-year Neurological Surgery Residency at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine/Barnes Jewish Hospital. She spent six months as a specialist registrar in neurosurgery at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, Ireland. She then went on to complete her Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship at St. Louis Children's Hospital.

   

  • Related Resources

• Patient Testimonials

  • Sharee pasco Washington 02.22.21

    We will be ever so grateful for Dr. Amy Lee. It was back in 2016 that we met her. Our son was born 8 weeks early and needed a shunt placed and he was only 3 pounds and 7 ounces when she performed that surgery and i couldn't have asked for a smarter, kinder, knowledgeable person to perform his surgery that day. Just speaking with her gave me a sense of calmness about the situation and we knew she genuinely cared. To this day or son has multiple shunt revisions including 2 at a neighboring hospital when they couldn't perform surgeries and Dr. Lee is still the only one who can place the catheter in the brain somehow that it don't clog and every shunt surgery she has performed we have gotten at least a year outta them shunts. All the others that get placed for some odd reason last only 30 or days 45 days max. When we get to children's and confirm our suspicion I instantly start praying Dr. Amy Lee will perform his surgery. If your child is in her care they are in the best hands possible.

  • Jen Brier 12.08.17

    Dr. Lee is a thoughtful, careful, competent and brilliant Neurosurgeon. She internalized our daughters shunt, has met with us for countless clinic appointments to go over radiology imaging, and recently performed a shunt revision. She communicates clearly, she is patient to answer our sometimes rediculous questions, and she obviously cares for her patients. We would give Dr. Lee 5/5 stars!!

  • Jeb Seattle 03.11.17

    Dr. Lee is not only an accomplished neurosurgeon but a fabulous communicator. She and her team helped us navigate a very perplexing case with our daughter. They provided us with all of the information and expertise to make the right decision. Post op - Dr. Lee was very reassuring and could relate with our daughter on a level that provided her with comfort as well.

  • Marcy Everett WA 09.18.16

    Dr. Lee is an incredible person. Not just an incredible surgeon, but an incredible person. She was a key player in saving our son's life. Thank you, Dr. Lee.

  • Tammy Bellevue, WA 03.27.15

    Dr. Lee performed a surgery to remove a tumor in my daughter's spinal cord on 2/24/15. She's an excellent surgeon. The surgery was very successful and we think that she's not just a good doctor but a real life saver. She's also very caring and willing to listen to you. Our daughter was so lucky to have her as one of the surgeons.

  • Michelle Seattle, WA 03.16.13

    When my younger son complained of a lump on his head I thought he had just bumped it on the ceiling of the basement stairwell he is growing so fast. I was shocked when a CT scan showed a lesion in a bone in his skull, and he needed to have neurosurgery. However, because of Dr. Amy Lees surgical expertise, my boy was back to normal and back to school in a matter of days. Neurosurgery can never be considered "routine", yet because of her compassionate and skilled care, the only thing noticeably different about my son is his haircut. It is abundantly clear that she is completely devoted to her work, and for that, I am forever grateful.

  • Synthiea Seattle 02.24.12

    Dr. Amy Lee is an excellent surgeon as well as a very approachable person with a great sense of humor. She interacts really well with us, the parents, as well as our baby girl. It's great that our daughter can have such a nice, female neurosurgeon as a role model so early in her life.

  • Heather Seattle, WA 01.25.12

    Dr. Lee was part of my infant son's surgical team for CVR to treat his craniosynostosis. She was incredibly calm and kind and explained her role to us thoroughly. We felt so lucky to have such a great team. He recovered and healed remarkably well and all the doctors are pleased with his progress so far after such an intricate procedure. I'm glad Dr. Lee will be with us for the next surgery as well. You are in good hands if she is on your team. Thank you Dr. Lee!

  Recommend Amy Lee, MD

• Awards and Honors

  Award Name	Award Description	Awarded By	Award Date
  SEATTLE TOP DOCTOR - 2023		Seattle Magazine	2023 - 2023
  SEATTLE TOP DOCTOR - 2022			2022
  SEATTLE TOP DOCTOR - 2020		Seattle Met Magazine	2020 - 2020
  SEATTLE TOP DOCTOR - 2019		Seattle Met Magazine	2019 - 2019
  SEATTLE TOP DOCTOR - 2018		Seattle Met Magazine	2018 - 2018
  SEATTLE TOP DOCTOR - 2017		Seattle Met Magazine	2017 - 2017
  SEATTLE TOP DOCTOR - 2016		Seattle Met Magazine	2016 - 2016

• Publications

  Published Books, Videos, Software, etc.

  • Lee A, Wright NM
    Occiput, C1 and C2 Instrumentation
    Youmans Neurological Surgery 6th Edition, 2011

  Other Publications

  • Kobets AJ, Nauen D, Lee A, Cohen AR
    Unexpected Binding of Tozuleristide "Tumor Paint" to Cerebral Vascular Malformations: A Potentially Novel Application of Fluorescence-Guided Surgery.
    33826729 Neurosurgery, 2021 Jul 15 : 89(2)204-211
  • Ahammout C, Perez FA, Birgfeld CB, Koudstaal MJ, Ellenbogen RG, Lee A, Heike CL
    Evaluating the Utility of Routine Computed Tomography Scans after Cranial Vault Reconstruction for Children with Craniosynostosis.
    34181612 Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 2021 Jul 1 : 148(1)63e-70e
  • Ravindra VM, Awad AW, Baker CM, Lee A, Anderson RCE, Gociman B, Patel KB, Smyth MD, Birgfeld C, Pollack IF, Goldstein JA, Imahiyerobo T, Siddiqi FA, Kestle JRW, Synostosis Research Group (SynRG).
    Preoperative imaging patterns and intracranial findings in single-suture craniosynostosis: a study from the Synostosis Research Group.
    34171835 Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics, 2021 Jun 25 : 1-7
  • Dias MS, Wang M, Rizk EB, Bowman R, Partington MD, Blount JP, Rocque BG, Hopson B, Ettinger D, Lee A, Walker WO, National Spina Bifida Patient Registry Group.
    Tethered spinal cord among individuals with myelomeningocele: an analysis of the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry.
    33962385 Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics, 2021 May 7 : 1-7
  • Baker CM, Ravindra VM, Gociman B, Siddiqi FA, Goldstein JA, Smyth MD, Lee A, Anderson RCE, Patel KB, Birgfeld C, Pollack IF, Imahiyerobo T, Kestle JRW, Synostosis Research Group.
    Management of sagittal synostosis in the Synostosis Research Group: baseline data and early outcomes.
    33794498 Neurosurgical focus, 2021 April : 50(4)E3
  • Sen RD, Lee A, Browd SR, Ellenbogen RG, Hauptman JS
    Issues of consent and assent in pediatric neurosurgery.
    33068156 Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery, 2021 Jan. : 37(1)33-37
  • Adidharma W, Mercan E, Purnell C, Birgfeld CB, Lee A, Ellenbogen RG, Hopper RA
    Evolution of Cranioorbital Shape in Nonsyndromic, Muenke, and Saethre-Chotzen Bilateral Coronal Synostosis: A Case-Control Study of 2-Year Outcomes.
    33370058 Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 2021 Jan 1 : 147(1)148-159
  • Sobol DL, Lee A, Susarla SM
    Unusual Combined Orbital Roof and Orbital Floor Fractures in A Pediatric Patient.
    33425626 Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open, 2020 Dec. : 8(12)e3324 PMCID:PMC7787296
  • Bass DI, Lee A, Browd SR, Ellenbogen RG, Hauptman JS
    Medicolegal issues in abusive head trauma for the pediatric neurosurgeon.
    33130608 Neurosurgical focus, 2020 Nov. : 49(5)E23
  • Cho DY, Birgfeld CB, Lee A, Ellenbogen RG, Susarla SM
    A Comparison of Subgaleal Versus Subperiosteal Dissection in Open Cranial Vault Expansion for Sagittal Craniosynostosis.
    32711139 World neurosurgery, 2020 Nov. : 143108-113
  • Nassar AH, Mercan E, Massenburg BB, Lee A, Brown J, Skladman R, Guo Y, Hopper RA
    Timing of Ossification of the Anterior Skull Base in Syndromic Synostosis.
    32282683 The Journal of craniofacial surgery, 2020 July : 31(5)1256-1260
  • Pfeifauf KD, Said AM, Naidoo SD, Skolnick GB, Kestle JRW, Lee A, Birgfeld C, Anderson RCE, Gociman B, Siddiqi FA, Pollack IF, Goldstein JA, Tamber M, Imahiyerobo T, Smyth MD, Patel KB, Synostosis Research Group.
    Evaluation of the Patient-Practitioner Consultation on Surgical Treatment Options for Patients With Craniosynostosis.
    32634133 The Journal of craniofacial surgery, 2020 July : 31(5)1186-1190
  • Crotty EE, Leary SES, Geyer JR, Olson JM, Millard NE, Sato AA, Ermoian RP, Cole BL, Lockwood CM, Paulson VA, Browd SR, Ellenbogen RG, Hauptman JS, Lee A, Ojemann JG, Vitanza NA
    Children with DIPG and high-grade glioma treated with temozolomide, irinotecan, and bevacizumab: the Seattle Children's Hospital experience.
    32556862 Journal of neuro-oncology, 2020 July : 148(3)607-617
  • Cho DY, Evans KN, Weed MC, Lee A, Susarla SM
    Bilateral Squamosal Suture Craniosynostosis Presenting with Abducens Nerve Palsy and Severe Papilledema.
    32217173 World neurosurgery, 2020 June : 138344-348
  • De Vloo P, Huttunen TJ, Forte D, Jankovic I, Lee A, Hair M, Cawker S, Chugh D, Carr L, Crowe BHA, Pitt M, Aquilina K
    Intraoperative electrophysiology during single-level selective dorsal rhizotomy: technique, stimulation threshold, and response data in a series of 145 patients.
    32109863 Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics, 2020 Feb 28 : 1-10
  • Barkley AS, Susarla SM, Lee A
    Frontotemporal Dermal Sinus Tract with 2 Connected Intradiploic Dermoid Cysts: A Rare Case and Review of the Literature.
    30930322 World neurosurgery, 2019 July : 127350-353
  • Liu MT, Khechoyan DY, Susarla SM, Skladman R, Birgfeld CB, Gruss JS, Lee A, Ellenbogen RG, Pet MA, Hopper RA
    Evolution of Bandeau Shape, Orbital Morphology, and Craniofacial Twist after Fronto-Orbital Advancement for Isolated Unilateral Coronal Synostosis: A Case-Control Study of 2-Year Outcomes.
    31136486 Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 2019 June : 143(6)1703-1711
  • Tucker AM, Morgenstern P, Diaz D, Sedighim S, Shaul D, Sydorak R, Fedor M, Lee A, Hauptman J
    Neurosurgical management of Currarino syndrome: A case series and review of literature.
    31528408 Surgical neurology international, 2019 : 1070 PMCID:PMC6744743
  • Hopper RA, Lee A
    Discussion: Craniometric Analysis of Endoscopic Suturectomy for Bilateral Coronal Craniosynostosis.
    30589794 Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 2019 Jan. : 143(1)199-201
  • Kestle JRW, Lee A, Anderson RCE, Gociman B, Patel KB, Smyth MD, Birgfeld C, Pollack IF, Goldstein JA, Tamber M, Imahiyerobo T, Siddiqi FA, Synostosis Research Group.
    Variation in the management of isolated craniosynostosis: a survey of the Synostosis Research Group.
    30215587 Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics, 2018 Dec 1 : 22(6)627-631
  • Wang AC, Jones DTW, Abecassis IJ, Cole BL, Leary SES, Lockwood CM, Chavez L, Capper D, Korshunov A, Fallah A, Wang S, Ene C, Olson JM, Geyer JR, Holland EC, Lee A, Ellenbogen RG, Ojemann JG
    Desmoplastic Infantile Ganglioglioma/Astrocytoma (DIG/DIA) Are Distinct Entities with Frequent BRAFV600 Mutations.
    30006355 Molecular cancer research : MCR, 2018 Oct. : 16(10)1491-1498 PMCID:PMC7269191
  • Kerov V, Laird JG, Joiner ML, Knecht S, Soh D, Hagen J, Gardner SH, Gutierrez W, Yoshimatsu T, Bhattarai S, Puthussery T, Artemyev NO, Drack AV, Wong RO, Baker SA, Lee A
    α2δ-4 Is Required for the Molecular and Structural Organization of Rod and Cone Photoreceptor Synapses.
    29875267 The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2018 Jul 4 : 38(27)6145-6160 PMCID:PMC6031576
  • Bayart CB, Ishak GE, Finn LS, Lee A, Baran F, Sun A, Gupta D, Vitanza NA
    Pilocytic astrocytoma with leptomeningeal spread in a patient with incontinentia pigmenti presenting with unilateral nystagmus.
    29171168 Pediatric blood & cancer, 2018 March : 65(3)
  • Wang AC, Ibrahim GM, Poliakov AV, Wang PI, Fallah A, Mathern GW, Buckley RT, Collins K, Weil AG, Shurtleff HA, Warner MH, Perez FA, Shaw DW, Wright JN, Saneto RP, Novotny EJ, Lee A, Browd SR, Ojemann JG
    Corticospinal tract atrophy and motor fMRI predict motor preservation after functional cerebral hemispherectomy.
    29099351 Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics, 2018 Jan. : 21(1)81-89
  • Mundinger GS, Skladman R, Wenger T, Birgfeld CC, Gruss JS, Lee A, Ellenbogen R, Hopper RA
    Defining and Correcting Asymmetry in Isolated Unilateral Frontosphenoidal Synostosis: Differences in Orbital Shape, Facial Scoliosis, and Skullbase Twist Compared to Unilateral Coronal Synostosis.
    29065043 The Journal of craniofacial surgery, 2018 Jan. : 29(1)29-35
  • Lee A, Chen ML, Abeshaus S, Poliakov A, Ojemann JG
    Posterior fossa tumors and their impact on sleep and ventilatory control: A clinical perspective.
    23727229 Respiratory physiology & neurobiology, 2013 Nov 1 : 189(2)261-71
  • Ojemann JG, Partridge SC, Poliakov AV, Niazi TN, Shaw DW, Ishak GE, Lee A, Browd SR, Geyer JR, Ellenbogen RG
    Diffusion tensor imaging of the superior cerebellar peduncle identifies patients with posterior fossa syndrome.
    23817992 Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery, 2013 Nov. : 29(11)2071-7
  • Morton RP, Reynolds RM, Ramakrishna R, Levitt MR, Hopper RA, Lee A, Browd SR
    Low-dose head computed tomography in children: a single institutional experience in pediatric radiation risk reduction: clinical article.
    23971634 Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics, 2013 Oct. : 12(4)406-10
  • Titus J, Lee A, Kasasbeh A, Thio L, Stephenson J, Steger-May K, Limbrick D, Smyth M
    HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE BEFORE AND AFTER PEDIATRIC EPILEPSY SURGERY: THE INFLUENCE OF SEIZURE OUTCOME ON CHANGES IN PHYSICAL FUNCTIONING AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONING.
    Epilepsy Behavior, 2013 Jun 27 : (30)477-83
  • Reynolds MR, Ray WZ, Strom RG, Blackburn SL, Lee A, Park TS
    CLINICAL OUTCOMES AFTER SELECTIVE DORSAL RHIZOTOMY IN AN ADULT POPULATION
    World Neurosurgery, 2011 Jan. : 75(1)138-44
  • Lee A, Van Pelt AE, Smyth MD, Pilgram TK, Govier DP, Woo AS, Kane AA
    COMPARISION OF TREATMENT PRACTICES BETWEEN NEUROSURGEONS AND PLASTIC SURGEONS FOR INFANTS WITH DEFORMATIONAL PLAGIOCEPHALY
    J Neurosurg Pediatr, 2010 April : 5(4)368-74
  • Amy Lee, MD, Lee A, Yarbrough C, Limbrink D, Smyth M
    COMPARISON OF POSTERIOR FOSSA DECOMPRESSION WITH DURAPLASTY VERSUS OSSEOUS DECOMPRESSION IN CHILDREN WITH TYPE I CHIARI MALFORMATION
    

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• Research Funding

  Grant Title	Grantor	Amount	Award Date
  Functional Connectivity Imaging in Chiari Malformation	Nuerosurgical Special Opportunities Fune	$10,000	Jul 1, 2012 - Jun 30, 2014