About Dr. Lee
Paul Lee, MD, MPH, MA, is a compassionate gastroenterologist at Digestive Disease Consultants of Orange County, with locations in Irvine, Huntington Beach, Tustin, and Foothill Ranch, California.
Many people ask Dr. Lee why he chose to be a gastroenterologist, and for him the answer is simple: Instead of choosing this field, he thinks, more accurately, it chose him. He grew up with a close family member with Crohn’s disease. At that time, there were fewer options to treat this chronic disease, and he saw how it affected not only her body but also her mind and spirit. This sparked his passion. Gastroenterology is a great field to not only treat diseases but also to prevent them, which he finds incredible.
To achieve his goal of becoming a gastroenterologist, Dr. Lee earned his Doctor of Medicine from the George Washington University Medical School, and then went on to earn his Master of Public Health from the University of California School of Public Health. He completed his residency at the University of Southern California, followed by a fellowship in gastroenterology/hematology. He is board-certified in gastroenterology/hepatology and internal medicine.
As part of his work, Dr. Lee knows that diseases can present in different ways because every human is unique. He seeks to understand that uniqueness and uses it as a tool to better his patients’ health. This bio-psycho-social aspect of medicine is crucial in diagnosing, maintaining, and maximizing one’s GI health.
Throughout this career, Dr. Lee has earned several awards, including the Physicians of Excellence Award, and the Orange County Register and Orange County Medical Association Award in 2015, 2016, and 2017. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and the American College of Physicians.
For Dr. Lee, his one constant in medicine is that he loves what he does. And if patients can appreciate that, it is the right start in establishing that special connection: the doctor-patient relationship.
Dr. Lee founded Digestive Disease Consultants of Orange County in 2008. He strives to be a compassionate physician and a loving father of three children, and a husband to his lovely wife.
His background in health food and nutrition broadens his perspective on medicine and treatment options. In addition to medicine, he regularly attends Redeemer Presbyterian Church, holds a black belt in tae kwon do, and enjoys travel, fine dining, and the arts.
