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Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD

Accepting New Patients

(143 Ratings)

Specializes in: General Surgery and Colon & Rectal Surgery

Temple University School of Medicine

Professional interests include: pilonidal cyst, fistula, colorectal cancer, and more.

1400 E. Palomar Street Floor 2
Chula Vista, CA 91913

(619) 397-3140

Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD is a general surgeon in Chula Vista, CA specializing in general surgery and colon & rectal surgery. She graduated from Temple University School of Medicine. Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD is affiliated with Sharp HealthCare and Sharp Memorial Hospital.

Office Locations

Sharp Memorial Hospital

1400 E. Palomar Street Floor 2
Chula Vista, CA 91913

(619) 397-3140

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Sharp Memorial Hospital

8010 Frost Street Suite 224
San Diego, CA 92123

(858) 939-8350

(858) 939-8399

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Some issues Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD can help you with:

Biopsy

A biopsy is a procedure performed to remove a small sample of cells for testing. The cells are examined in a laboratory to check for disease, or sometimes to see how badly a known disease is affecting them. Biopsy can be performed on any part of the body.

Although biopsy is most often associated with cancer, it can also be used to check for other diseases, such as infections. A biopsy sample can be scraped, cut, collected with a needle, taken with a machine that punches out a tiny piece, or removed with the tiny tools in an endoscope.

In most cases, a biopsy is a simple outpatient procedure. Depending on the procedure, patients may need to stop taking certain medications beforehand, such as blood thinners. It is important for patients to tell doctors if they are pregnant, as certain biopsies require the use of x-rays to guide the needle to the right location. There is usually very little pain associated with a biopsy. Patients will have to wait a few days to hear the results.

Gallbladder Removal Surgery (Cholecystectomy)

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ on the right side of the upper abdomen, underneath the liver. Its purpose is to store bile, which is used to digest fat. Occasionally, the gallbladder can develop mineral stones, called gallstones. If they are large enough, gallstones can block the ducts in the gallbladder and cause swelling and infection. Gallstones can be treated with lifestyle changes and medication, but sometimes this is not enough. In these cases, it is best to remove the gallbladder before it can cause more serious problems. The surgical removal of the gallbladder is called a cholecystectomy.

Today, most gallbladder surgeries are done laparoscopically. Four tiny incisions are made in the abdomen, and small tools are inserted through these tiny incisions to perform the surgery. Because the incisions are much smaller, recovery time is much faster with this type of surgery. Patients are usually discharged from the hospital the same day. Sometimes, open surgery is used to remove a gallbladder. In this type of surgery, a cut about six inches long is made in the upper right abdomen. After the gallbladder is removed, it is sutured or stapled closed. With open surgery, patients usually stay in the hospital for two to three days to recover before they are discharged.

Gallbladder removal, like any surgery, carries some risks, such as bleeding, infection, or the development of blood clots. Doctors will tell patients how to minimize their risk for complications. After surgery, patients are advised to avoid strenuous activity for several days. They should not soak in a bath until their sutures or staples have been removed. Patients should wash hands before touching the area around the incision. It will take a couple of days until patients feel like themselves again and a few weeks until their scar has healed and faded.

Robotic Surgery

Robotic surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery, using a tiny opening to get inside the body instead of making a large cut. It uses small tools attached to a thin robotic arm, which is controlled by the surgeon. Robotic surgery may be referred to by the specific kind of robot that is used. The most advanced robot currently in use is called the da Vinci, and surgery using it is sometimes called da Vinci surgery.

There are many benefits to robotic surgery, both for the patient and the surgeon. Robotic surgery allows for more precise movements and increased control during very delicate surgical procedures. This makes performing surgery accurately much easier for surgeons and reduces fatigue. The smaller 'hand' of the robot can enter the body via a much smaller opening, which reduces the risk of infection and scarring and leads to a faster recovery. The robotic hands also contain tiny moveable cameras among their tools, giving surgeons a much closer view of the procedure than would be possible with traditional surgery.

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

“At Sharp, Dr. Pamela Lee, chair of the Department of Surgery at Sharp Memorial, has gone so far in the digital direction that she only half jokingly insists that her favorite feature on the new da...”—"San Diego's biggest medical provider is all in on robot-assisted surgery", The San Diego Union-Tribune, May 2024

“On Friday, the robot was utilized by Dr. Pamela Lee, chair of the Department of Surgery, and Dr. Afshin Bahador, a gynecological oncologist.”—"Sharp Memorial Hospital among first in the world to use new robot for surgeries", Fox 5 San Diego, April 2024

“"The ability to feel the tissue and control more aspects of the operation from the console was revolutionary," said Dr. Pamela Lee, Chair of the Department of Surgery at Sharp Memorial Hospital.”—"Sharp Memorial Hospital is among the first in the world to use new surgical robot", NBC 7 San Diego, April 2024

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD treated as a general surgeon in Chula Vista, CA during 2012 were hospital care, inpatient care, emergency care and minimally invasive procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	133
emergency care	44
gastrointestinal procedures	43
hospital care	113
inpatient care	113
minimally invasive procedures	43

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD treated as a general surgeon in Chula Vista, CA during 2013 were hospital care, inpatient care, emergency care and minimally invasive procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	151
emergency care	72
gastrointestinal procedures	54
hospital care	117
inpatient care	117
minimally invasive procedures	54

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD.

**Gender**
Male	95
Female	133

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	187
Black	0
Hispanic	24
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	86
From 75 to 84	71
85 and over	39
Less than 65	32

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD in 2013

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	43
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	25
Chronic Kidney Disease	19
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	27
Dementia	12
Cancer	18

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD treated as a general surgeon in Chula Vista, CA during 2014 were minimally invasive procedures, gastrointestinal procedures, hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	204
emergency care	54
gastrointestinal procedures	73
hospital care	56
inpatient care	56
minimally invasive procedures	73
preventive care	11

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD.

**Gender**
Male	95
Female	146

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	200
Black	0
Hispanic	24
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	109
From 75 to 84	67
85 and over	33
Less than 65	32

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD in 2014

Hypertension	53
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	19
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	26
Dementia	9
Cancer	23

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD treated as a general surgeon in Chula Vista, CA during 2015 were minimally invasive procedures, gastrointestinal procedures, hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	159
emergency care	40
gastrointestinal procedures	65
hospital care	57
inpatient care	57
minimally invasive procedures	65
preventive care	12

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD.

**Gender**
Male	128
Female	250

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	310
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	162
From 75 to 84	110
85 and over	60
Less than 65	46

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD in 2015

Hypertension	59
High Cholesterol	48
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	16
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	25
Dementia	11
Cancer	23

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD treated as a general surgeon in Chula Vista, CA during 2016 were hospital care, inpatient care, minimally invasive procedures and gastrointestinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	51
gastrointestinal procedures	26
hospital care	38
inpatient care	38
minimally invasive procedures	26

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD.

**Gender**
Male	26
Female	48

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	44
Black	0
Hispanic	13
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	25
From 75 to 84	26
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD in 2016

Hypertension	72
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	20
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	43
Asthma	19
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	16
Heart Failure	24
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	36
Dementia	0
Cancer	24

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD treated as a general surgeon in Chula Vista, CA during 2017 were minimally invasive procedures, gastrointestinal procedures, hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	41
gastrointestinal procedures	20
hospital care	17
inpatient care	17
minimally invasive procedures	20

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD.

**Gender**
Male	19
Female	44

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	43
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	24
From 75 to 84	18
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD in 2017

Hypertension	67
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	43
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	24
Dementia	0
Cancer	17

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD treated as a general surgeon in Chula Vista, CA during 2018 were hospital care, inpatient care, minimally invasive procedures and gastrointestinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	66
gastrointestinal procedures	30
hospital care	44
inpatient care	44
minimally invasive procedures	30

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD.

**Gender**
Male	21
Female	60

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	57
Black	0
Hispanic	13
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	37
From 75 to 84	23
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD in 2018

Hypertension	65
High Cholesterol	48
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	30
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD treated as a general surgeon in Chula Vista, CA during 2019 were hospital care, inpatient care, minimally invasive procedures and gastrointestinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	68
gastrointestinal procedures	19
hospital care	61
inpatient care	61
minimally invasive procedures	19

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD.

**Gender**
Male	37
Female	73

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	76
Black	0
Hispanic	20
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	48
From 75 to 84	32
85 and over	11
Less than 65	19

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD in 2019

Hypertension	62
High Cholesterol	50
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	40
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	29
Dementia	0
Cancer	17

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD treated as a general surgeon in Chula Vista, CA during 2020 were hospital care, inpatient care, minimally invasive procedures and gastrointestinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	40
gastrointestinal procedures	15
hospital care	41
inpatient care	41
minimally invasive procedures	15

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD.

**Gender**
Male	27
Female	53

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	54
Black	0
Hispanic	12
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	38
From 75 to 84	20
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD in 2020

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	36
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	16
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	24
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	25
Dementia	0
Cancer	24

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD treated as a general surgeon in Chula Vista, CA during 2021 were minimally invasive procedures and gastrointestinal procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	47
gastrointestinal procedures	27
minimally invasive procedures	27

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD.

**Gender**
Male	27
Female	62

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	62
Black	0
Hispanic	12
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	38
From 75 to 84	32
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD in 2021

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	53
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	20
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	35
Dementia	0
Cancer	19

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD treated as a general surgeon in Chula Vista, CA during 2022 were minimally invasive procedures, gastrointestinal procedures, hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	42
gastrointestinal procedures	30
hospital care	12
inpatient care	12
minimally invasive procedures	30

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD.

**Gender**
Male	36
Female	67

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	73
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	44
From 75 to 84	35
85 and over	13
Less than 65	11

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD in 2022

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	65
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	17
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	20
Atrial Fibrilation	22
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	15
Diabetes	30
Dementia	0
Cancer	29

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD treated as a general surgeon in Chula Vista, CA were hospital care, inpatient care, emergency care and minimally invasive procedures.

doctor visit	91
emergency care	52
gastrointestinal procedures	36
hospital care	55
inpatient care	55
minimally invasive procedures	36
preventive care	11

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD.

**Gender**
Male	46
Female	85

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	100
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	10
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	39
85 and over	14
Less than 65	12
65 to 74	55

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and diabetes.

Hypertension	57
High Cholesterol	47
Stroke	1
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	28
Asthma	3
Osteoporosis	8
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	26
Atrial Fibrillation	11
Dementia	2
Cancer	17

Education & Training

Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD graduated from Temple University School of Medicine. She completed residency at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. She is certified by the General surgery and has a state license in California.

Medical School: Temple University School of Medicine

Residency: Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital

Board Certification: General surgery

Licensed In: California

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Sharp HealthCare

Sharp Memorial Hospital

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: TRICARE, Cigna, Aetna, Self-Pay/Uninsured, Blue Shield of California, UnitedHealthcare, Sharp Health Plan, Anthem, Beech Street, Health Net, Medicare, HealthSmart, Humana and Whole Foods Market.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

TRICARE

Cigna

Aetna

Self-Pay/Uninsured

Blue Shield of California

UnitedHealthcare

Sharp Health Plan

Anthem

Beech Street

Health Net

Medicare

HealthSmart

Humana

Whole Foods Market

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 143 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Chula Vista, CA.

4.8

Overall Rating

(143 Ratings)

Leave a Review

General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Pamela Cristine Lee, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.	$295,407 Da Vinci Surgical System $262,187	DA VINCI SP $33,220
LIFECELL CORPORATION	$1,118 STRATTICE $1,002	AlloDerm $116
Davol Inc.	$738 PHASIX $444	Phasix Mesh $205	BD MAX $90
ACell, Inc.	$639 $639
Kerecis Limited	$516 Kerecis Omega3 SurgiClose $335	Kerecis Omega3 Marigen $182
Other	$2,467 AirSeal $262	INTERSTIM $195	INTERSTIM ICON $168	SEAMGUARD Bioabsorbable Staple $147	Sacral Nerve Stimulation - Neuro $140	Other $1,555

**Types of Payments**
Education	$190,539
Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program	$84,435
Food and Beverage	$14,868
Travel and Lodging	$10,353
Honoraria	$650
Other	$40

Biography

Dr. Pamela Lee works as a general surgery and colon & rectal surgery. These areas are among her clinical interests: cancer surgery, fistula, and surgical repair. She has received a 5.0 out of 5 star rating by her patients. Dr. Lee accepts several insurance carriers, including Anthem, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue California. She attended Temple University School of Medicine and then went on to complete her residency at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Dr. Lee speaks Spanish. She is professionally affiliated with Sharp Memorial Hospital and Sharp HealthCare. According to Sharp HealthCare, Dr. Lee is currently accepting new patients at her office in Chula Vista, CA.