In sports, some of the most memorable moments are often times goals or celebrations but by some, the moments that are celebrated the most are the first steps back on the field after a long-term injury.
Injuries are the unfortunate and unexpected side of sports but when something happens that sidelines an athlete for an extended period of time, Dr. Cassandra Lee is there.
In sports, some of the most memorable moments are often times goals or celebrations but by some, the moments that are celebrated the most are the first steps back on the field after a long-term injury.
Injuries are the unfortunate and unexpected side of sports but when something happens that sidelines an athlete for an extended period of time, Dr. Cassandra Lee is there.
Dr. Lee is an Orthopedic Surgeon at UC Davis Health where she is also the Director of the Residency Program. She’s also an Associate Professor and recognized throughout the entirety of the UCDH family and greater Sacramento region.
Originally from California, her studies took her to the Northeast where she attended Boston University before she continued her education at Wake Forest University in North Carolina followed by the prestigious Washington University in Saint Louis. It’s an impressive tour at some of the country’s preeminent schools, but the chance to join a top tier program in her home state of California was an opportunity that she couldn’t pass up.
Dr. Lee is an Orthopedic Surgeon at UC Davis Health where she is also the Director of the Residency Program. She’s also an Associate Professor and recognized throughout the entirety of the UCDH family and greater Sacramento region.
Originally from California, her studies took her to the Northeast where she attended Boston University before she continued her education at Wake Forest University in North Carolina followed by the prestigious Washington University in Saint Louis. It’s an impressive tour at some of the country’s preeminent schools, but the chance to join a top tier program in her home state of California was an opportunity that she couldn’t pass up.
“I wanted to come home,” Dr. Lee said. “Sacramento was available, and UC Davis has such a big orthopedic name and a big history with [Dr. Mike] Chapman being here that I thought ‘how could I not try to take a job at one of the premier orthopedic places on the west coast’.”
Dr. Mike Chapman – is considered a founder of modern trauma surgery and his work at UCDH earned him a world-renown reputation.
Dr. Lee has been involved with the Indomitable Club for seven seasons. Alongside the entire Republic FC sports medicine staff, Dr. Lee has helped a number of Republic FC players get back onto the field following an injury. Each and every injury is different, and each injury requires a different path to recovery. But the feeling of helping a player return to the game they love is always the same – unbridled joy for the athlete.
“I wanted to come home,” Dr. Lee said. “Sacramento was available, and UC Davis has such a big orthopedic name and a big history with [Dr. Mike] Chapman being here that I thought ‘how could I not try to take a job at one of the premier orthopedic places on the west coast’.”
Dr. Mike Chapman – is considered a founder of modern trauma surgery and his work at UCDH earned him a world-renown reputation.
Dr. Lee has been involved with the Indomitable Club for seven seasons. Alongside the entire Republic FC sports medicine staff, Dr. Lee has helped a number of Republic FC players get back onto the field following an injury. Each and every injury is different, and each injury requires a different path to recovery. But the feeling of helping a player return to the game they love is always the same – unbridled joy for the athlete.
The work she does is exceptionally rewarding and fulfilling, but it wasn’t the easiest journey to get to where she is today. And in a male-dominated field, like the athletes who are grateful for the work Dr. Lee has done, she’s grateful for the mentors that have been there to support her.
The work she does is exceptionally rewarding and fulfilling, but it wasn’t the easiest journey to get to where she is today. And in a male-dominated field, like the athletes who are grateful for the work Dr. Lee has done, she’s grateful for the mentors that have been there to support her.
“The field is a stereotype field, big jocks that can wield a bunch of power tools – so I think that’s why there’s so few women in here,” Dr. Lee said. “But I think I’ve been so fortunate on my path to have mentors who would say ‘of course you can do this’. That started in medical school, I had an amazing mentor who gave me my first opportunity in a lab to take a project, learn what I could from it, and grow it – and that was the first time I believed ‘I could do this, this is amazing’."
“The field is a stereotype field, big jocks that can wield a bunch of power tools – so I think that’s why there’s so few women in here,” Dr. Lee said. “But I think I’ve been so fortunate on my path to have mentors who would say ‘of course you can do this’. That started in medical school, I had an amazing mentor who gave me my first opportunity in a lab to take a project, learn what I could from it, and grow it – and that was the first time I believed ‘I could do this, this is amazing’.”
Her parents are also an enormous pillar essential to her foundation and have instilled a fiery passion for helping others deep in her heart that still burns to this day.
“My parents still drive me, they sacrificed everything for me. Education was first and foremost, so that’s why it’s instilled upon me, it’s in my grain that education is important – that’s probably why I’m still in academia,” Dr. Lee explained.
With the support she’s received over the years, Dr. Lee has been a staple in the UCDH orthopedic group, but she wants to help others along the way towards reaching their medical dreams. Seeing more women in her field is something she’s adamant about pushing for and she has an unlimited amount of advice for those women who want nothing more than a profession in medicine.
“You can do whatever you set your mind to, there really is no limit. There really isn’t,” Dr. Lee said. “We want and need more women surgeons, we encourage that. You just have to know physics and know where things bend. You don’t have to hit it harder, hit it smarter.”
The women that she does work alongside all support one another and share advice for their needs in the medical field. Her group discuss a variety of topics where nothing is off limits.
Her parents are also an enormous pillar essential to her foundation and have instilled a fiery passion for helping others deep in her heart that still burns to this day.
“My parents still drive me, they sacrificed everything for me. Education was first and foremost, so that’s why it’s instilled upon me, it’s in my grain that education is important – that’s probably why I’m still in academia,” Dr. Lee explained.
With the support she’s received over the years, Dr. Lee has been a staple in the UCDH orthopedic group, but she wants to help others along the way towards reaching their medical dreams. Seeing more women in her field is something she’s adamant about pushing for and she has an unlimited amount of advice for those women who want nothing more than a profession in medicine.
“You can do whatever you set your mind to, there really is no limit. There really isn’t,” Dr. Lee said. “We want and need more women surgeons, we encourage that. You just have to know physics and know where things bend. You don’t have to hit it harder, hit it smarter.”
The women that she does work alongside all support one another and share advice for their needs in the medical field. Her group discuss a variety of topics where nothing is off limits.
“We discuss everything from how to negotiate maternity leave in a contract, how do you negotiate time for nursing, it’s literally everything across the board and nothing is off-limits – and I appreciate kind of forums that give us support but it’s certainly in the shadows,” she explained. “So, I get excited when some of these women come to light. They’re doing great work and they’re doing a lot of work but not necessarily recognized because we’re such minorities within the field of orthopedics.”
“We discuss everything from how to negotiate maternity leave in a contract, how do you negotiate time for nursing, it’s literally everything across the board and nothing is off-limits – and I appreciate kind of forums that give us support but it’s certainly in the shadows,” she explained. “So, I get excited when some of these women come to light. They’re doing great work and they’re doing a lot of work but not necessarily recognized because we’re such minorities within the field of orthopedics.”
Now more than ever, Dr. Lee knows the importance of celebrating not just the tremendous work of women but all minorities or groups of people often times overlooked. She believes it’s those stories that need to be told and those voices that need to be heard.
“This is a time where everyone’s voice matters and we all have to get through something like this together,” Dr. Lee explained. “Appreciate that we amplify and listen and celebrate all the hard work that’s out there, especially everything that is done behind the scenes. It may not necessarily be out front and center, people who are not used to the spotlight, those are the best people to amplify and celebrate.”
When players feel like they are in their darkest places – not being able to achieve the athletic feats their bodies are used to accomplishing – Dr. Lee helps lead them towards the light at the end of the recovery tunnel.
Now more than ever, Dr. Lee knows the importance of celebrating not just the tremendous work of women but all minorities or groups of people often times overlooked. She believes it’s those stories that need to be told and those voices that need to be heard.
“This is a time where everyone’s voice matters and we all have to get through something like this together,” Dr. Lee explained. “Appreciate that we amplify and listen and celebrate all the hard work that’s out there, especially everything that is done behind the scenes. It may not necessarily be out front and center, people who are not used to the spotlight, those are the best people to amplify and celebrate.”
When players feel like they are in their darkest places – not being able to achieve the athletic feats their bodies are used to accomplishing – Dr. Lee helps lead them towards the light at the end of the recovery tunnel.
