Sang Won Lee

Sang Won Lee, MD, FACS, FACRS serves as Chief of Colon and Rectal Surgery and Costello Clinical Professor at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He holds leadership positions at Keck Hospital of USC, USC Norris Cancer Hospital, and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, specializing in minimally invasive colorectal procedures with over 2,500 laparoscopic surgeries performed. His academic appointment falls under the Department of Surgery within USC's medical school.

Dr. Lee's research focuses on advancing minimally invasive techniques for colorectal conditions, particularly through his pioneering work on Combined Endolaparoscopic Surgery (CELS) for complex polyp removal and innovative approaches to Crohn's disease and rectal strictures. His clinical interests span organ preservation for benign tumors, sphincter-saving cancer surgery, and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols to minimize pain and complications. He has significantly contributed to surgical innovation through his development of a wearable negative pressure dressing that reduces surgical site infections.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent focus on optimizing colorectal cancer treatment protocols, improving surgical outcomes through minimally invasive approaches, and addressing healthcare economics in robotic surgery. His work demonstrates strong emphasis on practical clinical applications with immediate patient impact, particularly in rectal cancer management, anastomotic complications, and innovative polyp removal techniques that preserve colon function.

His major scientific recognitions include:

• America's Top Doctors by Castle Connolly
• New York's Best Doctors by New York Magazine
• Top Doctor in Pasadena Magazine
• SuperDoctor designation (top 5% of physicians in NY/LA)

As Division Chief, Dr. Lee leads a comprehensive colorectal surgery team specializing across the full spectrum of colorectal diseases. He actively teaches advanced endoluminal techniques to surgical fellows nationally and has established protocols integrating minimally invasive approaches with Enhanced Recovery pathways. His practice philosophy emphasizes multidisciplinary collaboration and functional preservation to avoid permanent colostomies while accelerating patient recovery.

Dr. Lee maintains an active surgical innovation program centered around his CELS technique and negative pressure wound therapy systems, with ongoing research into optimizing rectal cancer treatment protocols and reducing surgical complications. His team continues to refine approaches for complex colorectal conditions while maintaining strong focus on patient-centered outcomes and functional preservation.