Sei Lee, MD

Professor in Residence-HCOMP

Sei Lee is an Professor in the Division of Geriatrics and Senior Scholar for the San Francisco VA Quality Scholars fellowship. His research focuses on improving the targeting of preventive interventions in older adults to maximize benefits and minimize harms. Dr. Lee attended medical school at the University of Illinois-Rockford, then moved to UCSF where he completed Primary Care Internal Medicine residency and a Geriatric Medicine fellowship. He also completed the VA Quality Scholars fellowship, receiving advanced training in methodologies related to healthcare quality from the San Francisco VA and obtained a Master’s degree in clinical research from UCSF.

Dr. Lee joined the Division of Geriatrics faculty in 2007. Dr. Lee’s research examines how a patient’s health status can help individualize preventive and treatment decisions, with a special focus on diabetes care for frail nursing home residents. Dr. Lee is an expert in clinical prediction and has published research on predicting mortality, functional decline, dementia and pneumonia. In his clinical work, Dr. Lee supervises and trains residents, fellows and medical students while providing care for internal medicine and palliative care patients at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

When not at work, he's usually trying to entertain his 3 kids. He enjoys commuting on his scooter, hiking and mountain biking.

Education
2019 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, University of California
Cert, 2005 - Medicine (Advance Training in Clinical Research), University of California, San Francisco
Honors and Awards
  • Outstanding Committee Service Award, American Geriatrics Society, 2014
  • Best Clinical-Decision Making Paper, American Geriatrics Society, 2012
  • Merck/AGS New Investigator Award, American Geriatrics Society, 2012
  • Beeson Scholar in Aging Research, National Institute on Aging and the American Federation of Aging Research, 2011
  • Ann Internal Med Top Grade Reviewer, UCSF, 2010
  • Hartford Foundation Center of Excellence Scholar, UCSF, 2010
  • J Gen Internal Med Distinguished Reviewer, UCSF, 2009
  • Hartford Foundation Outcomes Research Scholar, UCSF, 2008
  • Commencement Speaker, University of Illinois, 1999
  • King's College (London) Scholarship, University of Illinois, 1999
  • Alpha Omega Alpha, University of Illinois, 1997
Publications

  1. Avelino-Silva TJ, Lee SJ. Geriatricians: Maximizing Impact Now While Aiming for a Stronger Future. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2025. PMID: 40390519


  2. Avelino-Silva TJ, Lee SJ, Covinsky KE, Walter LC, Deardorff WJ, Boscardin J, Campora F, Szlejf C, Suemoto CK, Smith AK. External Validation of the Walter Index for Posthospitalization Mortality Prediction in Older Adults. JAMA network open 2025. PMID: 39841475


  3. Joo H, Avelino-Silva TJ, Diaz-Ramirez LG, Lee SJ, Whitlock EL. Delirium risk profiles in a population-based study of United States older adults undergoing common noncardiac surgeries. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2024. PMID: 39499033


  4. Jing B, Liu X, Graham LA, Dave CV, Li Y, Fung K, Liu CK, Abdel Magid HS, Growdon ME, Deardorff WJ, Boscardin WJ, Lee SJ, Steinman MA, Odden MC. Deprescribing of Antihypertensive Medications and Cognitive Function in Nursing Home Residents. JAMA internal medicine 2024. PMID: 39312220


  5. Cobert J, Mills H, Lee A, Gologorskaya O, Espejo E, Jeon SY, Boscardin J, Heintz TA, Kennedy C, Ashana D, Chapman AC, Raghunathan K, Smith AK, Lee S. Measuring Implicit Bias in Intensive Care Unit Notes Using Word Embedding Neural Network Models. Chest 2024. PMID: 38199323


  6. Deardorff WJ, Jeon SY, Barnes DE, Boscardin WJ, Langa KM, Covinsky KE, Mitchell SL, Lee SJ, Smith AK. Development and External Validation of Models to Predict Need for Nursing Home Level of Care in Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Dementia. JAMA internal medicine 2023. PMID: 38048097


  7. Lee AK, Lee SJ, Dublin S. Reply to: Disease latency and new-user versus prevalent-user cohort designs: Implications for pharmacoepidemiology in dementia. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2023. PMID: 38147504


  8. Deardorff WJ, Diaz-Ramirez LG, Boscardin WJ, Smith AK, Lee SJ. Around the EQUATOR with Clin-STAR: Prediction modeling opportunities and challenges in aging research. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2023. PMID: 38032070


  9. Deardorff WJ, Lu K, Jing B, Jeon SY, Boscardin WJ, Fung KZ, Lee SJ. Frequency of Screening for Colorectal Cancer by Predicted Life Expectancy Among Adults 76-85 Years. JAMA 2023. PMID: 37676665


  10. Lee AK, Lee SJ, Dublin S. Addressing the unique challenges in studies of long-term medication use and dementia risk. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2023. PMID: 37676467


  11. Deardorff WJ, Smith AK, Lee SJ. Improving Clinical Applicability of Mortality Prediction Models Among Persons With Dementia-Reply. JAMA internal medicine 2023. PMID: 36972064


  12. Perumal D, Lee SJ, Chen CL. Perioperative Risk Assessment and Avoiding Overuse of Anesthesia Care for Routine Cataract Surgery-Reply. JAMA internal medicine 2023. PMID: 36939671


  13. Tang AB, Diaz-Ramirez LG, Smith AK, Lee SJ, Whitlock EL. Preoperative Factors Predict Memory Decline After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting or Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in an Epidemiological Cohort of Older Adults. Journal of the American Heart Association 2022. PMID: 36583424


  14. Deardorff WJ, Barnes DE, Jeon SY, Boscardin WJ, Langa KM, Covinsky KE, Mitchell SL, Whitlock EL, Smith AK, Lee SJ. Development and External Validation of a Mortality Prediction Model for Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Dementia. JAMA internal medicine 2022. PMID: 36156062


  15. Steinman MA, Jing B, Shah SJ, Rizzo A, Lee SJ, Covinsky KE, Ritchie CS, Boscardin WJ. Development and validation of novel multimorbidity indices for older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2022. PMID: 36282202


  16. Perumal D, Dudley RA, Gan S, Boscardin WJ, Gill A, Gelb AW, Lee SJ, Chen CL. Anesthesia Care for Cataract Surgery in Medicare Beneficiaries. JAMA internal medicine 2022. PMID: 36190717


  17. Nguyen B, Deardorff WJ, Shi Y, Jing B, Lee AK, Lee SJ. Fingerstick glucose monitoring by cognitive impairment status in Veterans Affairs nursing home residents with diabetes. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2022. PMID: 35924668


  18. Lee AK, Diaz-Ramirez LG, Boscardin WJ, Smith AK, Lee SJ. A comprehensive prognostic tool for older adults: Predicting death, ADL disability, and walking disability simultaneously. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2022. PMID: 35792836


  19. Deardorff WJ, Jing B, Jeon SY, Boscardin WJ, Lee AK, Fung KZ, Lee SJ. Do functional status and Medicare claims data improve the predictive accuracy of an electronic health record mortality index? Findings from a national Veterans Affairs cohort. 2022. PMID: 35585537


  20. Lam K, Gan S, Nguyen B, Jing B, Lee SJ. Sliding scale insulin use in a national cohort study of nursing home residents with type 2 diabetes. 2022. PMID: 35357692


  21. Lederle LI, Steinman MA, Jing B, Nguyen B, Lee SJ. Glycemic treatment deintensification practices in nursing home residents with type 2 diabetes. 2022. PMID: 35318647


  22. Deardorff WJ, Lee SJ. Mild cognitive impairment as a clinical and research outcome: Ready for prime time? 2022. PMID: 35293612


  23. Deardorff WJ, Cenzer I, Nguyen B, Lee SJ. Time to Benefit of Bisphosphonate Therapy for the Prevention of Fractures Among Postmenopausal Women With Osteoporosis: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. 2021. PMID: 34807231


  24. Lee AK, Jing B, Jeon SY, Boscardin WJ, Lee SJ. Predicting Life Expectancy to Target Cancer Screening Using Electronic Health Record Clinical Data. Journal of general internal medicine 2021. PMID: 34327653


  25. Lee SJ, Smith AK, Diaz-Ramirez LG, Covinsky KE, Gan S, Chen CL, Boscardin WJ. A Novel Metric for Developing Easy-to-Use and Accurate Clinical Prediction Models: The Time-cost Information Criterion. Medical care 2021. PMID: 33528231


  26. Park LG, Elnaggar A, Lee SJ, Merek S, Hoffmann TJ, Von Oppenfeld J, Ignacio N, Whooley MA. Mobile Health Intervention Promoting Physical Activity in Adults Post Cardiac Rehabilitation: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Volume 5 of Issue 4. JMIR formative research 2021. PMID: 33861204


  27. Lam K, Lee SJ. Prediabetes-A Risk Factor Twice Removed. 2021. PMID: 33555307


  28. Diaz-Ramirez LG, Lee SJ, Smith AK, Gan S, Boscardin WJ. A Novel Method for Identifying a Parsimonious and Accurate Predictive Model for Multiple Clinical Outcomes. Computer methods and programs in biomedicine 2021. PMID: 33831724


  29. Chen CL, McLeod SD, Lietman TM, Shen H, Boscardin WJ, Peggy Chang HY, Whooley MA, Gelb AW, Lee SJ, Dudley RA. Preoperative medical testing and falls in Medicare beneficiaries awaiting cataract surgery. Ophthalmology 2020. PMID: 32926912


  30. Lee AK, Steinman MA, Lee SJ. Improving the American Diabetes Association Framework for individualizing treatment in older adults: evaluating life expectancy. Volume 8 of Issue 1. BMJ open diabetes research & care 2020. PMID: 32988850


  31. Kotwal AA, Lee SJ, Dale W, Boscardin WJ, Waite LJ, Smith AK. Integration of an Objective Cognitive Assessment Into a Prognostic Index for 5-Year Mortality Prediction. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2020. PMID: 32356919


  32. Elnaggar A, Ta Park V, Lee SJ, Bender M, Siegmund LA, Park LG. Patients' Use of Social Media for Diabetes Self-Care: Systematic Review. Journal of medical Internet research 2020. PMID: 32329745


  33. Lederle L, Jing B, Rodriguez A, Hunt LJ, Lee SJ. Glycemic Over- and Undertreatment in VA Nursing Home Residents with Type 2 Diabetes: a Retrospective Cohort Study. Journal of general internal medicine 2019. PMID: 31705477


  34. Barnes DE, Zhou J, Walker RL, Larson EB, Lee SJ, Boscardin WJ, Marcum ZA, Dublin S. Development and Validation of eRADAR: A Tool Using EHR Data to Detect Unrecognized Dementia. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2019. PMID: 31612463


  35. Aliberti MJR, Szlejf C, Covinsky KE, Lee SJ, Jacob-Filho W, Suemoto CK. Prognostic value of a rapid sarcopenia measure in acutely ill older adults. Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) 2019. PMID: 31526610


  36. Dudley N, Ritchie CS, Stijacic-Cenzer I, Lee SJ. Palliative Care Needs in Oncology, Cardiology, and Neurology Clinic Patients in the USA. Journal of general internal medicine 2019. PMID: 30734190


  37. Kotwal AA, Walter LC, Lee SJ, Dale W. Are We Choosing Wisely? Older Adults' Cancer Screening Intentions and Recalled Discussions with Physicians About Stopping. Journal of general internal medicine 2019. PMID: 31147981


  38. David D, Dalton J, Magny-Normilus C, Brain MM, Linster T, Lee SJ. The Quality of Family Relationships, Diabetes Self-Care, and Health Outcomes in Older Adults. Diabetes spectrum : a publication of the American Diabetes Association 2019. PMID: 31168284


  39. Stephens CE, Halifax E, David D, Bui N, Lee SJ, Shim J, Ritchie CS. "They Don't Trust Us": The Influence of Perceptions of Inadequate Nursing Home Care on Emergency Department Transfers and the Potential Role for Telehealth. Clinical nursing research 2019. PMID: 31007055


  40. Lee SJ. Frailty and mortality: 'Same-same but Different'. BMJ quality & safety 2019. PMID: 30606804


  41. Nicosia FM, Spar MJ, Steinman MA, Lee SJ, Brown RT. Making Function Part of the Conversation: Clinician Perspectives on Measuring Functional Status in Primary Care. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2018. PMID: 30506667


  42. Dudley N, Lee SJ, Stijacic-Cenzar I, Ritchie CS. Prevalence of Multimorbidity Among Older Adults with Advanced illness Visits to U.S. Subspecialty Clinics. Journal of pain and symptom management 2018. PMID: 29550359


  43. Lee SJ, Larson EB, Dublin S, Walker R, Marcum Z, Barnes D. A Cohort Study of Healthcare Utilization in Older Adults with Undiagnosed Dementia. Volume 33 of Issue 1. Journal of general internal medicine 2018. PMID: 28849435


  44. Stephens CE, Hunt LJ, Bui N, Halifax E, Ritchie CS, Lee SJ. Palliative Care Eligibility, Symptom Burden, and Quality-of-Life Ratings in Nursing Home Residents. Volume 178 of Issue 1. JAMA internal medicine 2018. PMID: 29159368


  45. Lee SJ, Kim CM. Individualizing Prevention for Older Adults. Volume 66 of Issue 2. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2017. PMID: 29155445


  46. Brown RT, Diaz-Ramirez LG, Boscardin WJ, Lee SJ, Steinman MA. Functional Impairment and Decline in Middle Age: A Cohort Study. Volume 167 of Issue 11. Annals of internal medicine 2017. PMID: 29132150


  47. Lee SJ. Glycemic Control and Functionality in Nursing Homes-More Than HbA1c-Reply. Volume 177 of Issue 6. JAMA internal medicine 2017. PMID: 28586810


  48. Steinman MA, Zullo AR, Lee Y, Daiello LA, Boscardin WJ, Dore DD, Gan S, Fung K, Lee SJ, Komaiko KD, Mor V. Association of ß-Blockers With Functional Outcomes, Death, and Rehospitalization in Older Nursing Home Residents After Acute Myocardial Infarction. Volume 177 of Issue 2. JAMA internal medicine 2017. PMID: 27942713


  49. Romo RD, Lee SJ. Changes in Social Function as a Trigger to Screen for Cognitive Impairment. Volume 31 of Issue 8. Journal of general internal medicine 2016. PMID: 27245052


  50. Barnhart C, McClymont K, Smith AK, Au-Yeung A, Lee SJ. "Everyone else gets ice cream here more often than I do--It burns me up"--Perspectives on Diabetes Care from Nursing Home Residents and their Doctors. Volume 16. BMC geriatrics 2016. PMID: 26813788


  51. Romo RD, Lee SJ, Miao Y, Boscardin WJ, Smith AK. Subjective, Objective, and Observed Long-term Survival: A Longitudinal Cohort Study. Volume 175 of Issue 12. JAMA internal medicine 2015. PMID: 26502331


  52. Stephens C, Halifax E, Bui N, Lee SJ, Harrington C, Shim J, Ritchie C. Provider Perspectives on the Influence of Family on Nursing Home Resident Transfers to the Emergency Department: Crises at the End of Life. Volume 2015. Current gerontology and geriatrics research 2015. PMID: 26379704


  53. Lee SJ, Stijacic-Cenzer I, Barnhart C, McClymont K, Steinman MA. Changing Patterns of Glucose-Lowering Medication Use in VA Nursing Home Residents With Diabetes, 2005 to 2011. Volume 16 of Issue 10. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association 2015. PMID: 26272298


  54. Tang V, Boscardin WJ, Stijacic-Cenzer I, Lee SJ. Time to benefit for colorectal cancer screening: survival meta-analysis of flexible sigmoidoscopy trials. Volume 350. BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 2015. PMID: 25881903


  55. Lee SJ, Jacobson MA, Johnston CB. Improving Diabetes Care for Hospice Patients. Volume 33 of Issue 6. The American journal of hospice & palliative care 2015. PMID: 25852204


  56. Chodos AH, Lee SJ. Journalists, district attorneys and researchers: why IRBs should get in the middle. Volume 16. BMC medical ethics 2015. PMID: 25889147


  57. Hsu A, Nakagawa S, Walter LC, Van Den Eeden SK, Brown JS, Thom DH, Lee SJ, Huang AJ. The burden of nocturia among middle-aged and older women. Volume 125 of Issue 1. Obstetrics and gynecology 2015. PMID: 25560101


  58. Hsu A, Conell-Price J, Stijacic Cenzer I, Eng C, Huang AJ, Rice-Trumble K, Lee SJ. Predictors of urinary incontinence in community-dwelling frail older adults with diabetes mellitus in a cross-sectional study. Volume 14. BMC geriatrics 2014. PMID: 25514968


  59. Lee SJ, Ritchie CS, Yaffe K, Stijacic Cenzer I, Barnes DE. A clinical index to predict progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. Volume 9 of Issue 12. PloS one 2014. PMID: 25486250


  60. McClymont KM, Lee SJ, Schonberg MA, Widera E, Miao Y, Smith AK. Usefulness and effect of online prognostic calculators. Volume 62 of Issue 12. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2014. PMID: 25516045


  61. Lee SJ, Boscardin WJ, Kirby KA, Covinsky KE. Individualizing life expectancy estimates for older adults using the Gompertz Law of Human Mortality. Volume 9 of Issue 9. PloS one 2014. PMID: 25265291


  62. Lee SJ. So much insulin, so much hypoglycemia. Volume 174 of Issue 5. JAMA internal medicine 2014. PMID: 24614940


  63. Lee SJ, Leipzig RM, Walter LC. Lag time to benefit for preventive therapies--reply. Volume 311 of Issue 15. JAMA 2014. PMID: 24737375


  64. Stephens CE, Sackett N, Govindarajan P, Lee SJ. Emergency department visits and hospitalizations by tube-fed nursing home residents with varying degrees of cognitive impairment: a national study. Volume 14. BMC geriatrics 2014. PMID: 24650076


  65. Barnes DE, Cenzer IS, Yaffe K, Ritchie CS, Lee SJ. A point-based tool to predict conversion from mild cognitive impairment to probable Alzheimer's disease. Volume 10 of Issue 6. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association 2014. PMID: 24495339


  66. Lee SJ, Leipzig RM, Walter LC. Incorporating lag time to benefit into prevention decisions for older adults. Volume 310 of Issue 24. JAMA 2013. PMID: 24322396


  67. Lee SJ, Karter AJ, Thai JN, Van Den Eeden SK, Huang ES. Glycemic control and urinary incontinence in women with diabetes mellitus. Volume 22 of Issue 12. Journal of women's health (2002) 2013. PMID: 24032999


  68. Stephens C, Sackett N, Pierce R, Schopfer D, Schmajuk G, Moy N, Bachhuber M, Wallhagen MI, Lee SJ. Transitional care challenges of rehospitalized veterans: listening to patients and providers. Volume 16 of Issue 5. Population health management 2013. PMID: 23560514


  69. Cruz M, Covinsky K, Widera EW, Stijacic-Cenzer I, Lee SJ. Predicting 10-year mortality for older adults. Volume 309 of Issue 9. JAMA 2013. PMID: 23462780


  70. Lee SJ, Boscardin WJ, Stijacic-Cenzer I, Conell-Price J, O'Brien S, Walter LC. Time lag to benefit after screening for breast and colorectal cancer: meta-analysis of survival data from the United States, Sweden, United Kingdom, and Denmark. BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 2013. PMID: 23299842


  71. Steinman MA, Lee SJ, John Boscardin W, Miao Y, Fung KZ, Moore KL, Schwartz JB. Patterns of multimorbidity in elderly veterans. Volume 60 of Issue 10. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2012. PMID: 23035702


  72. Yau CK, Eng C, Cenzer IS, Boscardin WJ, Rice-Trumble K, Lee SJ. Glycosylated hemoglobin and functional decline in community-dwelling nursing home-eligible elderly adults with diabetes mellitus. Volume 60 of Issue 7. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2012. PMID: 22702660


  73. Steinman MA, Lee SJ, Peterson CA, Fung KZ, Goldstein MK. A clinically guided approach for improving performance measurement for hypertension. Volume 50 of Issue 5. Medical care 2012. PMID: 22627680


  74. Yourman LC, Lee SJ, Schonberg MA, Widera EW, Smith AK. Prognostic indices for older adults: a systematic review. Volume 307 of Issue 2. JAMA 2012. PMID: 22235089


  75. Barnes DE, Lee SJ. Predicting Alzheimer's risk: why and how? Volume 3 of Issue 6. Alzheimer's research & therapy 2011. PMID: 22126363


  76. Lee SJ, Walter LC. Quality indicators for older adults: preventing unintended harms. Volume 306 of Issue 13. JAMA 2011. PMID: 21972311


  77. Lee SJ, Boscardin WJ, Stijacic Cenzer I, Huang ES, Rice-Trumble K, Eng C. The risks and benefits of implementing glycemic control guidelines in frail older adults with diabetes mellitus. Volume 59 of Issue 4. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2011. PMID: 21480838


  78. Lee SJ, Eng C. Goals of glycemic control in frail older patients with diabetes. Volume 305 of Issue 13. JAMA 2011. PMID: 21467289


  79. Lee SJ, Steinman MA, Tan EJ. Volunteering, driving status, and mortality in U.S. retirees. Volume 59 of Issue 2. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2011. PMID: 21314648


  80. Williams BA, McGuire J, Lindsay RG, Baillargeon J, Cenzer IS, Lee SJ, Kushel M. Coming home: health status and homelessness risk of older pre-release prisoners. Volume 25 of Issue 10. Journal of general internal medicine 2010. PMID: 20532651


  81. Jennings LA, Auerbach AD, Maselli J, Pekow PS, Lindenauer PK, Lee SJ. Missed opportunities for osteoporosis treatment in patients hospitalized for hip fracture. Volume 58 of Issue 4. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2010. PMID: 20398147


  82. Splaine ME, Ogrinc G, Gilman SC, Aron DC, Estrada CA, Rosenthal GE, Lee S, Dittus RS, Batalden PB. The Department of Veterans Affairs National Quality Scholars Fellowship Program: experience from 10 years of training quality scholars. Volume 84 of Issue 12. Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges 2009. PMID: 19940583


  83. Walter LC, Lindquist K, Nugent S, Schult T, Lee SJ, Casadei MA, Partin MR. Impact of age and comorbidity on colorectal cancer screening among older veterans. Volume 150 of Issue 7. Annals of internal medicine 2009. PMID: 19349631


  84. Kernisan LP, Lee SJ, Boscardin WJ, Landefeld CS, Dudley RA. Association between hospital-reported Leapfrog Safe Practices Scores and inpatient mortality. Volume 301 of Issue 13. JAMA 2009. PMID: 19336709


  85. Lee SJ, Sudore RL, Williams BA, Lindquist K, Chen HL, Covinsky KE. Functional limitations, socioeconomic status, and all-cause mortality in moderate alcohol drinkers. Volume 57 of Issue 6. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2009. PMID: 19473456


  86. Lee SJ, Go AS, Lindquist K, Bertenthal D, Covinsky KE. Chronic conditions and mortality among the oldest old. Volume 98 of Issue 7. American journal of public health 2008. PMID: 18511714


  87. Lee SJ, Moody-Ayers SY, Landefeld CS, Walter LC, Lindquist K, Segal MR, Covinsky KE. The relationship between self-rated health and mortality in older black and white Americans. Volume 55 of Issue 10. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2007. PMID: 17697102


  88. Lee SJ, Lindquist K, Segal MR, Covinsky KE. Development and validation of a prognostic index for 4-year mortality in older adults. Volume 295 of Issue 7. JAMA 2006. PMID: 16478903