Robert K. Lee, MD, is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He received his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, and completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the University of Chicago Hospitals, followed by a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Northwestern University, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC).
Prior to relocating to Austin, Dr. Lee was the Medical Director of Stroke and Neurological Services at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital in Chicago, where he also was an attending physician. He has served in numerous leadership positions including Chair of Stroke Accreditation.
Dr. Lee’s research focuses on stroke and spinal cord injury. He has published widely in the medical literature, and has presented his work at medical conferences throughout the United States. Dr. Lee has served in numerous medical teaching roles, instructing medical students and residents on various aspects of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
An active member of the community, Dr. Lee has been involved with a number of charitable organizations, including the American Heart Association, community stroke fairs, and as a volunteer for weekly wheelchair tennis drills. Dr. Lee is a member of the Association of Academic Physiatrists, American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and the American Medical Association. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Economics from Duke University. During his studies at Duke, Dr. Lee was an Honored Lord Rothermere Scholar at the University of Oxford, New College, in Oxford, United Kingdom.
Education:
Residency, 2007-2010
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Northwestern University
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC)
Chicago, IL
Internship – Internal Medicine, 2006-2007
University of Chicago Hospitals
Chicago, IL
Doctor of Medicine, 2004-2006
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Chicago, IL
Medical School, 2002-2004
University of Texas at Southwestern
Dallas, TX
Honored Lord Rothermere Scholar, 2001
University of Oxford, New College
Oxford, United Kingdom
Bachelor of Science, 1997-2001
Biology and Economics
Durham, NC
Clinical Appointments:
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Medical Director of Stroke Rehabilitation, Present
St. David's Medical Center
Austin, Texas
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Medical Director of Stroke Rehabilitation, 2010-2012
Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital
Chicago, IL
Licensure & Certification:
License – Texas
Licence - Illinois
Board Certified Physician Medicine & Rehabilitation (AAPMR)
Professional Organizations & Hospital Affiliations
Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP)
American Academy of Physical medicine & Rehabilitation (AAPMR)
American Medical Association (AMA)
Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital, Attending Physician - July 2010-Present
Mount Sinai Hospital, Consultant Physician - July 2010-Present
McNeal Hospital, Consultant Physician - December 2013-Present
Academic Appointments
Stroke and Recovery: Physician’s Role after Diagnosis
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Clinical Pathophysiology and Therapeutics II Course
2nd year medical students Chicago, IL Februry 2013
Morning Report
Schwab Rehabilitation Residency Program
2nd year PM&R residents Chicago, IL 2010
Schwab Resident Lecture Series
Organized and lectured on various stroke, electromyography, and pain topics
Chicago, IL 2010
Chairman’s Rounds
Presented topics: Pharmacological Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease,
Workman’s Compensation, Rehabilitation of Guillain-Barre Syndrome 2006-2009
Radiology of Wrist and Forearm
RIC Spine and Sports Lecture Series Chicago, IL September 2009
Femoroacetabular Impingement
RIC Spine and Sports Lecture Series Chicago, IL September 2009
Problem Based Learning
Instructed 4th year Northwestern medical students Chicago, IL September 2009
Musculoskeletal Examination
Instructed 4th year Northwestern medical students Chicago, IL July 2009
Neurogenic Bowel and Bladder
Summer Extern Series Chicago, IL June 2009
Complications of Spinal Cord Injuries
In-service given to nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists at Evanston Hospital Evanston, IL April 2009
Cervical Discogenic Pain and Radiculopathy
RIC Spine and Sports Lecture Series Chicago, IL March 2009
Facet Joints
RIC Spine and Sports Lecture Series Chicago, IL January 2008
Community Service
Go Red for Women Community Expo sponsored by American Heart Association
Invited Physician Panelist Chicago, IL 2012, 2013
Schwab Rehabilitation Community Stroke Fair
Organizer of annual event that includes free health screenings, educational presentations, support groups, stroke risk factor reduction counseling, and fundraiser
Chicago, IL 2011-present
Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA)
Volunteer for weekly wheelchair tennis drills - Evanston, IL 2009
Ravinia Center for the Performing Arts
Medical coverage for performers: Chicago Public Symphony Orchestra and the Steve Miller Band, Highland Park, IL 2007-2009
Annual Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Stroke Fair
Provided free stroke screenings for community - Chicago, IL 2007-2009
Rehab in Review
Contributing author - Chicago, IL 2006-2009
Chicago Public School District
Provided sports physicals for local football and soccer teams
Chicago, IL Summer 2008
Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Medical coverage - Chicago, IL October 2008
Chicago Distance Classic Half Marathon
Medical coverage - Chicago, IL July 2006
Rosemont Kids
Tutor and founder of after-school tutoring program for the children of a low income housing community. UT Southwestern medical students provided weekly tutoring services for approximately 40 children - Dallas, TX 2002-2004
Publications & Presentations
Journal Publications
Lavezzari, G., McCallum, J., Lee, R., and Roche, K.W. “Differential Binding of the AP-2 Adaptor Complex and PSD-95 to the C-terminus of the NMDA Receptor Subunit NR2B Regulates Surface Expression.” Neuropharmacology 45 729-737 2003.
Published Abstracts
Yu, J., Drabkin, K., and Lee, R. “Poster 544: Post-Partum Cerebral Angiopathy: A Case Report.” PM&R S376 2012.
Blazuk, J., Herzog, K, and Lee, R. “Poster 546: Anton Syndrome – Rare Complication of Cortical Blindness: A Case Report.” PM&R S377 2012.
Lee, R., Marciniak, C., and Harvey, R. “Poster 394: Generalized Weakness with Neuromuscular Junction Disorder and Urinary Incontinence Following Botulinum Toxin Type A Injections for Spasticity: Potentiation by Steroid Injection? A Case Report.” PM&R 1 S275-276 2009.
Carneiro, K., Press, J., Casey, E., and Lee, R. “Buttocks Pain-Recreational Basketball Player.” Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 41 S143-144 2009.
Presentations
“Stroke Rehabilitation.” Chicago Medical Society, Chicago, IL. June 4, 2012.
Lee, R., Marciniak, C., and Harvey, R. “Generalized Weakness with Neuromuscular Junction Disorder and Urinary Incontinence Following Botulinum Toxin Type A Injections for Spasticity: Potentiation by Steroid Injection? A Case Report.” Poster Presentation. American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 70th Annual Assembly, Austin, TX. Oct. 24, 2009.
Lee, R., Carneiro, K., Casey, E., and Press, J. “Buttocks Pain-Recreational Basketball Player.” Oral Case Presentation. American College of Sports Medicine 56th Annual Meeting. Seattle, WA. May 27, 2009.
Lee, R. and Roche, K.W. “The Postsynaptic Protein PSD-95 Stabilizes NMDA Receptors on the Plasma Membrane Independent of Surface Clustering.” Poster Presentation. National Institutes of Health Poster Day, Bethesda, MD. May 8, 2002.
Research Activities
Predicting Pressure Ulcer Development with Ultrasound in Spinal Cord InjuryRehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, ILPrincipal Investigator: David Chen, MD 2009
Multi-Joint Muscle Stretch Reflexes of the Upper Extremities in Stroke PatientsSensory Motor Performance Program (SMPP)Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, ILPrincipal Investigator: Eric Perreault, Ph.D. 2005-2006
Glutamate Receptor TraffickingNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Bethesda, MDAwarded National Institutes of Health Postbaccalaureate Research FellowshipPrincipal Investigator: Katherine Roche, Ph.D 2001-2002