Lee C. Zhao MD, MS

Lee C. Zhao, MD, MS is a reconstructive urologist at NYU Langone Health. Prior to becoming a physician, he attended graduate school for biomedical engineering and volunteered in the Peace Corps. Combining his interest in fixing problems and his desire to help people led him to the field of urologic reconstructive surgery. At NYU Langone, he treats urethral strictures, ureteral obstruction, urinary fistulae, and complications of transgender surgery. He has pioneered the use of robotic surgery for urologic reconstruction, including repair of ureteral strictures using oral mucosa and posterior urethroplasty. As a component of his reconstructive urology practice, Dr. Zhao is co-director for transgender reconstructive surgery program at NYU Langone. He performs both primary and revision gender affirming surgery as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

In addition to clinical care, Dr. Zhao has authored numerous articles on trauma, urologic reconstruction, and surgical outcomes. As a member of the Trauma and Urologic Reconstructive Network of Surgeons (TURNS), he is actively involved in studying improvements in surgical outcomes and patient safety by participating in collaborative research. He is an author of the American Urologic Association guidelines on Male Urethral Stricture.