Dr. Kenneth Lee
Associate professor of physical medicine and chief of Spinal Cord Injury division
Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center
Medical College of Wisconsin
Dr. Kenneth Lee, associate professor of physical medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin and chief of the Spinal Cord Injury division at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, is an inspiration to the community and to his patients.
He is dedicated to his patients’ rehabilitation both inside and outside of the clinic, and strives to build strong doctor-patient relationships through camaraderie and deep, personal connections.
Lee is a doctor, a veteran and a teammate to his patients. He can relate to his patients and the struggles they’ve experienced with the difficulties of rehabilitation firsthand.
As a commander of a Wisconsin National Guard medical battalion in Iraq, Lee was seriously injured in a car bombing that resulted in a traumatic brain injury and multiple shrapnel injuries. He also experienced the aftershocks of post-traumatic stress disorder following the attack.
Through his own experiences, Lee has developed new ways to help others.
In March, Lee was honored with the AMVETS Silver Helmet Award for excellence and outstanding contributions in the fields of Americanism, defense, congressional, civil service and rehabilitation. Previous winners of the award include Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy and Pope John Paul II.
Lee, together with two other veterans, helped establish the Milwaukee Eagles Wheelchair Lacrosse team, and also serves as medical director for the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and the president of the board of Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association.
Through sports, Lee provides disabled veterans a positive outlet and creates an encouraging community to help them heal.