Dr. I-Min Lee stands as a distinguished leader in epidemiological research and preventive medicine, holding dual professorships at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Born and educated in Malaysia, she earned her medical degree from the National University of Singapore before pursuing advanced training in the United States. At Harvard, she completed both her Master of Public Health and Doctor of Science degrees, establishing the foundation for her impactful career in population health. Her institutional affiliation with Brigham and Women's Hospital's Division of Preventive Medicine has provided a robust platform for translating research into clinical practice. Dr. Lee's international background and rigorous academic training have uniquely positioned her to address global health challenges through evidence-based approaches.
Dr. Lee's groundbreaking research has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of how physical activity influences health outcomes across diverse populations, with particular emphasis on women's health and chronic disease prevention. She pioneered the use of objective measures to assess physical activity and its relationship to mortality, overcoming longstanding limitations of self-reported data in epidemiological studies. Her leadership as Principal Investigator on multiple NIH-funded studies, including the influential Women's Health Study, has generated critical evidence informing national and international physical activity guidelines. The scientific report she helped author for the Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee served as the foundation for the 2008 US Department of Health and Human Services physical activity guidelines, the first comprehensive federal guidelines for Americans.
Beyond her research contributions, Dr. Lee has profoundly influenced global health policy through her service on numerous prestigious expert panels, including the 1996 Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health and subsequent recommendations from the American College of Sports Medicine and American Heart Association. Her expertise has been sought internationally by organizations including the World Health Organization, Health Canada, and the Singapore Ministry of Health, establishing her as a globally recognized authority on physical activity and health. Dr. Lee continues to lead innovative research examining the relationship between physical activity and cancer outcomes, extending her impactful work to new populations and health conditions. Her ongoing commitment to rigorous epidemiological methods ensures that her research will continue to shape preventive medicine strategies and public health recommendations for years to come.
