About Lee Zhao

I am Lee C. Zhao, MD, MS, Professor of Urology and Plastic Surgery at NYU Langone Health in New York City. My practice focuses on complex and redo robotic and open reconstruction of the urinary tract, and gender-affirming surgery.

I am Co-Director of Gender-Affirming Surgery and Director of the Reconstructive Urology Fellowship.

Background and Training

Prior to medical school, I completed a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering and served with the Peace Corps. These experiences strengthened my foundation in technical problem-solving and collaborative service, which continue to guide my approach to surgical innovation and multidisciplinary care in reconstructive urology.

Surgical Expertise and Innovations

I specialize in minimally invasive robotic techniques for challenging genitourinary reconstruction cases. I was among the first to describe and refine robotic ureteroplasty using buccal mucosa grafts for long-segment ureteral strictures and robotic urethroplasty for posterior urethral stenosis. 

Procedures I commonly perform include:

• Robotic posterior urethroplasty for prostatic and membranous urethral defects
• Robotic reconstruction of ureteral strictures and injuries
• Repair of urinary fistulas and complications following trauma, radiation, pelvic surgery, or prior interventions

Research and Academic Contributions

I am an active member of two key collaborative networks advancing the field: the Trauma and Urologic Reconstructive Network of Surgeons (TURNS) and the Collaborative of Reconstructive Robotic Ureteral Surgery (CORRUS). These multi-institutional efforts have produced high-impact data on surgical outcomes and technique refinement.

I contributed as a co-author to the American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines on Male Urethral Stricture Disease and regularly present at national and international meetings.

My publications library brings together papers, book chapters, and guidelines, with links to the original sources and topic guides for reconstructive and gender-affirming surgery.

Leadership and Teaching

At NYU Langone, I am committed to training the next generation of surgeons through resident and fellow education, clinical mentorship, and research supervision. Educating colleagues in advanced reconstructive methods remains one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career.

The NYU Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship site describes the fellowship year, operative experience, and application process.

Education and Training

• MD — Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (2006)
• Urology Residency — McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University (2012)
• Fellowship in Reconstructive Urology — University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2013)
• MS in Biomedical Engineering (prior to medical school)

I welcome dialogue with colleagues regarding complex cases, research collaborations, referrals, or second opinions in reconstructive urology. Educational videos demonstrating techniques and case discussions are available on my YouTube channel (@lee_c_zhao) and this site.

UTSW fellowship case log

Urologic Trauma, Reconstruction and Prosthetics fellowship at UT Southwestern, July 2012 to June 2013. 554 logged cases from a de-identified source workbook. Categories follow the GURS case log taxonomy.

GURS reconstructive categories: urethral reconstruction 161, genitourinary prosthetics 113, genital reconstruction 94, abdominal and pelvic 34. Another 152 cases sit in Other.

Source: 2013 fellowship case log spreadsheet. Operative dates 5 July 2012 to 25 June 2013. GURS did not collect fellowship case logs then, so there is no submission record to check against.