Dr. Daehyun Lee Blog

Thoughts of Cardio-Oncology Physician-Scientist in the United States, Originally from South Korea.

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I am a Korean Medical Graduate (Inha University) with Graduate Medical Training at University of South Florida as Physician-Scientist Track Program for Internal Medicine and Cardiology. I specialize in General Cardiology and Cardio-Oncology. I am a Physician-Scientist with interest in cardio-oncology translational medicine.

  • Why I Decided to Come to the United States- Before

    International medical graduates often ask me about my decision to come to the US, so I’d like to share why I chose to pursue a medical career in the United States. This decision profoundly shaped my professional and personal life.

    I will write first about why I wanted to come to the US before coming to residency. A follow-up blog will come up about what I think the benefits of coming to the US after living here for 8 years.

    Pursuing the Physician-Scientist Dream

    My primary motivation was my aspiration to become a physician-scientist. During medical school in South Korea, a summer research experience in a wet lab captivated me (with Dr. Sunghyouk Park)—formulating a hypothesis, designing experiments, analyzing data, and publishing findings showed me the powerful intersection of medicine and scientific discovery.

    The United States uniquely offers support for physician-scientists, robust research infrastructure, prestigious academic institutions, and ample funding opportunities (recalling what I thought at that time was a good reason). I just thought that the US provided the opportunity to pursue my dream.

    The Appeal of Practicing Medicine in the U.S.

    There are many different appeal to practicing medicine in the US. I recognized these benefits during my clinical clerkship at the University of Southern California in my sixth year of medical school, I was struck by the genuine happiness of the physicians. This was in contrast to many Korean physicians who were burnt out and tired all the time.

    I noticed physicians deeply enjoying their interactions with patients, mutual respect between patients and physicians, and a strong collegiality among colleagues. The supportive environment were remarkably attractive to me.

    This is why I strongly recommend medical students from South Korea (and world-wide) to undertake clinical rotations in the U.S, if possible. These experiences provide invaluable insights into American healthcare and culture that simply can’t be understood from just reading/ seeing.

    Personal Connection to America

    I spent parts of my childhood and teenage years in New Jersey (1999-2001) filled with warm, happy memories and friendships. This early exposure created a sense of familiarity and comfort that influenced my decision to return later in life.

    Family and Quality of Life- ie Work-Life Balance

    Although unmarried at the time of my decision, I considered long-term implications for my future family. The educational and professional opportunities for my future children, combined with a better work-life balance for physicians compared to the demanding (aka impossible) schedules often seen in South Korea, made the U.S. an attractive place for both career and family life.

    Recognizing the Challenges

    Of course, choosing to relocate internationally comes with significant trade-offs, including separation from family, lifelong friends, and familiar cultural environments. These sacrifices should not be understated. Also, LANGUAGE, CULTURAL BARRIERS

    However, residency programs where international medical graduates commonly match often exist within culturally diverse communities (NYC, Chicago etc.). Here, you’ll find peers who have walked similar paths, and senior colleagues who are international graduates themselves. These individuals will become invaluable support networks and lifelong friends.

    While cultural differences exist, they aren’t prohibitive to coming to the US—especially within the richly diverse medical communities throughout the United States. You’ll often find people from your own cultural background to ease your transition and provide mentorship.

    Final Thoughts

    Choosing to practice medicine and pursue research in the United States is deeply personal decision. I cannot recommend everyone to come to the US (despite the current political challenges in Korea). For me, the professional opportunities, supportive medical culture, personal connection, and family-friendly environment outweighed the challenges associated with relocation and cultural adjustment.

    If you’re considering a similar path, I encourage you to gain firsthand experience within the U.S. healthcare system through clinical rotations. These experiences can provide clarity and help you determine if this journey aligns with your career aspirations.

    Do I regret coming to the US, after 8 years? Not at all. Coming to the US changed my life. I finished training, got an amazing job/ working opportunities, married happily with two beautiful children, supportive friends and colleagues. I do miss my parents, grandparents, friends, Korean food. However, I cannot imagine myself going back to South Korea to live/ work.

  • Recommendation for Physician-Scientists (& Scientists)

    A physician-scientist is defined by a commitment to the following five principles:

    1. Meticulous Observation:
      Engage in detailed and careful observation, whether through direct clinical patient care or careful analysis of published literature.
    2. Hypothesis Generation:
      Formulate clear, insightful, and clinically relevant hypotheses based on the questions arising from these observations.
    3. Rigorous Methodology:
      Design logical, methodologically sound experimental approaches—including, but not limited to, in vitro studies, in vivo animal models, and clinical trials—to thoroughly investigate the proposed hypotheses.
    4. Establishment of Causality:
      Execute studies capable of clearly demonstrating causal relationships between variables, interventions, and outcomes.
    5. Reproducibility of Findings:
      Ensure the validity and robustness of findings by demonstrating reproducibility, thereby confirming that results can be consistently replicated by others.

    The above recommendations are made by my dear mentor, Dr. Seongseok Yun, from Moffitt Cancer Center. He told me this was the advice he received when he graduated from his mentor. I guess this is like the Master Shifu’s secret to being a physician-scientist. It sure is more easy said than done.

  • Introduction- Journey as a junior physician-scientist in cardio-oncology

    I’m Dr. Dae Hyun Lee, a cardio-oncology physician-scientist currently based at the University of South Florida, and soon to join the University of Pennsylvania as an Assistant Professor of Medicine in Cardiology.

    My journey into medicine and research began in South Korea, where I earned my medical degree from Inha University in 2012. From the earliest days of medical school, I was drawn to the role of a physician-scientist—someone who not only cares for patients but also seeks to answer pressing clinical questions through research. With this vision in mind, I set out to pursue opportunities that would allow me to bridge medicine and science on a global stage.

    After graduating, I joined Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Internal Medicine and Nephrology. My time there—from 2012 to 2013—was formative: I became deeply involved and engaged in cardiovascular biology research, confirming my desire to pursue academic clinical training in the United States.

    Between 2014 and 2017, I returned to Korea to fulfill my mandatory public health service as a physician. During that time, I completed the USMLE examinations, received my ECFMG certification, and prepared for the next phase of my career- physician trainee in the US. In 2017, I matched into the Internal Medicine Residency Program at the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine.

    At USF, I was fortunate to be selected for the ABIM Physician-Scientist Research Pathway, which provided dedicated research time during my internal medicine and cardiology training. From early in residency, I found interest in cardio-oncology— because of the mentorship from Dr. Michael Fradley and the unique clinical and research exposure at Moffitt Cancer Center, a nationally recognized NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center. Throughout my trainee period, I became immersed in various therapies for cancer and their cardiovascular implications, shaping the foundation of my current clinical and academic interest.

    After completing seven years in the physician-scientist track, I now serve as Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at USF and Moffitt Cancer Center. In July 2025, I will be joining the University of Pennsylvania, where I aim to further my research and clinical work in cardio-oncology, clonal hematopoiesis, and cancer therapy-related cardiovascular disease.

    My Plan for Blog:

    This blog is a reflection of the path I’ve taken—and a resource for those navigating similar ones. My goals are to:

    • Support and mentor international trainees, especially medical graduates from South Korea, who are pursuing physician-scientist careers in the U.S.
    • Build a platform for patient education and public engagement, particularly around cardiovascular health in the context of cancer treatment

    Whether you’re a medical student, resident, fellow, physician, I hope this space serves as a helpful and honest guide to the challenges and rewards of this unique career path.

    Thank you for visiting—and I look forward to growing this platform together.

    — Dae Hyun Lee, MD