A graduate of Franklin and Marshall College (BA in social science), he received a BSN from Johns Hopkins University and a MSN from the George Washington University collaborative nurse practitioner program at George Mason University. He has completed training for post master's clinical nurse specialist certification in psychiatric and mental health nursing at the University of Virginia, where he completed a post-graduate internship in psycho-pharmacology. He also holds BCIA certification in general biofeedback and in EEG neurofeedback.

Most recently from 2006-2015, Lee worked as a private clinical care provider at his practice Allied Psycophysiology in Wilmington, N.C., which focused on the care of patients with chronic pain conditions, stress-related medical disorders, brain injury and anxiety spectrum disorders. He also consulted in clinical and legal case management, health policy and administration, and provided continuing education and professional mentoring.

Lee and his wife, Liz, are moving to Eugene from Wrightsville Beach, N.C., where they lived since 2000. He and his wife of over 30 years have a son who is a recent college graduate.