The Exec: New MD Anderson Chief Medical Executive Embraces Collaborative Leadership

Jeffrey Lee has more than three decades of experience working at the renowned cancer center.

The new chief medical executive of University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is committed to a collaborative approach—both inside and outside the organization.

Jeffrey Lee, MD, was appointed CME effective April 1. He has worked at MD Anderson for more than 30 years in multiple leadership roles, including chair of surgical oncology and vice president of medical and academic affairs for the MD Anderson Cancer Network.

"As a leader, I am comfortable working with leaders and teams across our institution," Lee says. "I am deeply curious and highly responsive; I am acutely aware that while these attributes can provide tremendous advantages to a leader, when overused or misapplied they can present challenges in focus, prioritization, or effectiveness."

Building relationships with other leaders and staff is one of Lee's top priorities.

"I'm deeply appreciative of and embrace the opportunity to lean on the expertise of leaders and teammates in their areas of expertise, including administration, finance, legal, HR, operations, academics, research, IT, and innovation," he says.

To boost interactions with faculty and other leaders, Lee has begun hosting "Morning Momentum" breakfast sessions in partnership with the organization's division chiefs.

"These informal gatherings provide an invaluable opportunity for me to connect with different divisions to share experiences, aspirations, and opportunities, and to talk about key issues affecting our faculty, patients, and institution," he says.

Lee embraces servant leadership, pushing the work and achievements of others to the forefront and embracing new ideas and new ways of doing things.

"While the strength of our institution's reputation continues to propel us forward, and while I am deeply committed to MD Anderson's mission, I remain curious and eager to learn from other institutions and organizations focused on improved health outcomes," he says.

Jeffrey Lee, MD, is chief medical executive at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Photo courtesy of University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Promoting physician leadership development

Lee says he wants to support MD Anderson's efforts in physician leadership development.

"Our physician leadership development program is comprised of formal leadership education and development through MD Anderson's Leadership Institute," he says. "The institute fosters leadership excellence and promotes professional development, propelling leaders to transform the institution's unique challenges into opportunities to further MD Anderson's mission."

The Leadership Institute takes a comprehensive approach to developing current leaders and creates trained talent pathways.

"The program integrates physicians and other care providers into joint programs and involves one-on-one coaching," Lee says. "The institute offers both personalized and team-based curricula, tailored to the growth needs of individuals at all career stages, whether they aspire to become leaders or are seeking personal and professional development within their current positions."

Leaders are also trained in emotional intelligence, oral communication, strategic thinking, and service orientation.

"We emphasize training in areas core to our culture at the institution, including the principles of high reliability, collaboration, ensuring a just culture, and psychological safety," Lee says.

Working with partners

Lee is also committed to working with other health systems and hospitals to boost quality, improve clinical outcomes, and advance research.

"We know that we cannot alone achieve our mission to end cancer," he says. "It requires collaboration locally, nationally, and globally to improve care, fuel groundbreaking research, and implement effective prevention and screening approaches."

"Through these relationships, we join in bi-directional learning to enhance capabilities, share knowledge, and expand access to better treat and prevent disease," Lee adds. "We currently partner with seven hospitals and health systems to serve the needs of patients across the country."

Lee says the health system looks for certain characteristics in its partners.

"MD Anderson seeks those with existing evidence of high-quality care delivery, existing quality infrastructure, and a focus on system-based care," he says. "We seek institutions that demonstrate cultural alignment with MD Anderson, focusing on key areas such as a commitment to continuous improvement, psychological safety, just culture, and high-reliability principles."

There is also an emphasis on measurement.

"From the onset, we work with collaborating organizations and institutions to establish key metrics for success and implement standard platforms supporting measurement," Lee says. "These include measures of quality in oncology care, including delivery of multidisciplinary care, continuity of care, nursing, general care, oncology standards of care, and patient satisfaction."