Colleen Insook Lee, MD

I’ve been going to Dr Lee for years. I never have a problem making an appointment and able to see the doctor fairly quickly. I’ve never had to wait long aside from one time where staff kindly squeezed me in since I wanted to see the doctor on the same day. The staff are efficient and kind. Dr Lee is patient and thorough, when I saw her for a full physical before moving to the UK, she helped diagnose a condition early so I could keep my eye on it and seek further medical attention.

I’ve been a patient of Dr Lee’s for a long time now the staff is always polite and friendly!. The wait time is never long which I really appreciate so I’m in and out in no time!. I have absolutely no complaints!. Thank you Dr Lee!!

PLEASE ANSWER THE PHONE!!! It is very stressful and frustrating when you need to make an urgent appointment and no-one answers the phone or calls you back. If you call the Flushing office, they just say “Dr. Lee is there keep calling”. It is a busy time of year, but also a lonely, difficult and bleak time. If patients are faced with job loss, financial ruin, are depressed, they could act recklessly out of hopelessness when no-one answers their calls for help. Please be more professional and considerate.

This medic may well be an accomplished internist, and an excellent doctor but she is horribly cruel to the point of inflicting deep mental hurt on those already struggling and going through a hard time. I have always liked and trusted this doctor since my first appointment with her back in 2010. I was “shocked and ashamed to discover” recently her true character. She was condescending, dismissive, she kept typing and obviously working on something else while I was offering intimate details to my case, things I was already reticent about sharing. Here is a sample of her responses to some of the things I raised during my very brief consultation with her: Patient: “My mother died of medical negligence with complications that affected her heart.” Dr: “So if you have some emotional problem because your mother died, you need to go to a psychiatrist”. Patient: “I observe strict hygiene practices learned through working in a medical school so…” Dr: “That’s not my problem. I don’t know what protocol your school has.” Patient: “I don’t want to lose my job when I have provided weekly proof I am safe to work with.” Dr: “Nurses lose job too, but I can’t do anything it’s government not medical problem”. Also this little chestnut, Dr: “If you have religious belief, that’s emotional so you need to see a psychiatrist.” Patient: “I’m not crazy just because I believe in God.” Wow. Just…… wow.

When first going to Dr. Lee's office, I was greeted by a friendly receptionist, who made my first visit pleasant. When I went for a follow up visit a few months later, the pleasant receptionist was replaced by someone who was grumpy, and unpleasant to approach. There also seemed to be a problem with the doctor listening to me during that visit, as I tried to explain why I was there, and she was ready to rush me out of the office without thoroughly hearing what my concerns were. After having to very, VERY clearly explain why I was there to her, she took some blood but was unprepared to handle proper diagnostics pertaining to what my diagnosis was, and had be run to a "quest" laboratory, only to find out that they could not conduct the tests needed at that laboratory. I called the office back and explained what had happened, and the receptionists advisement to me was to "google somewhere that would do the testing". I feel as though my visit, which was a 15 minute one because she rushed me out of the office, was money that was poorly spent, and unfairly justified. I don't mind quick service, but not at the expense of empathy, and basic listening skills needed to evaluate a patients conditions. She seems fairly outdated, and unprepared to handle LGBTQ health concerns, or conversations regarding PrEP, and other forms of gay mens health concerns or prevention methods being utilized in NYC. She does not seem like a "bad" provider per se, but there is always something damaging to a person when the provider lacks the listening, and empathy skills needed to work with vulnerable, and under-represented communities. If you are a heterosexual individual, she might be a fit for you, yet she seems to lack an understanding of evidence based policies that are being developed so I am not sure.