Karen E Lee, MD

Dr. Karen Lee is awesome. She is very patient and explains everything clearly to you. She gives you all the options and always leans towards other options before surgery. She has taken great care of my wife and I appreciate that she didn’t leave me out when I had questions for her. Her staff has always been warm and helpful and we havent had any trouble making appointments.

I am so glad I found CV Women’s Health. I saw the Physician’s Assistant, Jamie Whittmer Pingree, who I would highly recommend — she was kind, answered my questions, and made me feel very comfortable. I also really liked that I could schedule my appointment online!

I just started seeing Dr.Lee. To say I’m surprised by the negative reviews would be an understatement. First, the afternoon I called this office, Dawn was determined to answer all of my questions. She took my number and called me back with in 10 mins. This was before I even became a patient.
When we first met Dr. Lee it was a breath of fresh air. She was thorough in her recording and questions and paid attention to the answers. This in of itself is a magical thing for an OB. I know I’ve been through dozens. She had a clear action plan and got down to business. Did she coddle me? No. She was realistic. Was she cold? Absolutely not!
Call me silly but I could honestly care lees how a doctor’s manner is if they are skilled and keep my baby healthy from beginning to end. Sometimes I think ladies miss the mark on what’s important during pregnancy. The practice I just left took 4 days to call me back and that included a trio to the ER. Dr. Lee made sure that I knew she was reachable ²⁴⁄₇. My recommendation is this: if you want a fake smile and pat on the back by someone who is running a baby factory go elsewhere. If you want a genuinely caring doctor who is skilled in her art then see Dr. Lee.

I have been seeing Dr Lee for over 15 yrs.
I have always been treated with respect and care. My health remains excellent and Dr Lee never over prescribes anything, and her staff! So caring and down to earth. They too make sure I am cared for until I leave the office, wouldn’t change Drs for anything !!!

Unfortunately, I cannot provide a positive review of my experience with Dr. Lee’s office. I found Dr. Lee, herself, to be straightforward and to the point. Straight and to the point is good by me if a doctor is knowledgeable. I found the woman at the front desk to have a bit of an attitude. In fact, she was on the border of being rude. I originally went to Dr. Lee because I was new to the area and looking for a new doctor. I was quite certain I was pregnant though my at home tests kept coming up negative– hence the visit. Dr. Lee ran some tests while I was there and she told me she doubted I was pregnant. It was suggested that I consider going on birth control pills. When I received a follow-​up call from someone in Dr. Lee’s office they gave me the results of the various tests; everything was normal. I asked this individual whether I was pregnant. The woman suddenly got very short with me and said something like: «No, ma’am, you’re not pregnant.» I asked her if there was any possibility that I could be pregnant and she just said: «No». Well, nine-​plus months later and here I am at week 40 in my first pregnancy. I’m glad I decided to do one more at home test. I am glad I decided to believe my acupuncturist over this office (my acupuncturist was convinced I was pregnant weeks before I visited Dr. Lee’s office). And, I am glad I found reliable care during my pregnancy with the University of California, San Diego.

I’m someone who likes to give people multiple chances before I make a judgment and tend to give the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately my first gut reaction was correct in regards to Dr. Lee’s practice. The patient rooms are unkempt, equipment everywhere, reminders and notifications taped to cabinets, not inviting, clean, or comfortable at all. If effort can’t be made to make an office/​patient rooms inviting, then how am I to think that a patient will be treated differently? The PA seems to give great care, however I can’t say the same for the Dr… cold and indifferent. I will not be back.

I am saddened to see these negative reviews for a wonderful Doctor. I think she is just as good or it not better than many OBs around San Diego. I have been through some rough pregnancies and Dr. Lee and her staff have been very supportive and accommodating.

Got my first annual in sd with dr. lee. She was super polite, answered all my questions, and best of all, my annual was quick and painless.
her staff was really friendly too. Glad I found this office.

My friend referred me to Dr Lee when I was looking for a new doctor. This is one of the best referrals I have received. Dr. Lee is very informative and knowledgeable. When I go for my annual exam I always feel comfortable. If you have special needs Dr. Lee can assist you with them.
The staff there is very friendly and helpful. They always remember me when I come in for an appointment.

I was Refered by my friend that has been here before. She suggested that I see the nurse practitioner Jamie. I am so GLAD she
Did ! Usually going for the annual exam is dreaded but after this experience I can say it’s not. Jamie makes you feel so comfortable, you can ask any questions with ease and leave feeling heard and your questions answered. She really cares about her patients and goes out of her way to help. 5 stars do not seem like enough !
Look no further, Jamie is the best.

Dr. Lee and staff are awesome, kind and helpful. I have gone to her for 2 years now for my routine exams and really have enjoyed her expertise. I finally decided that I had to do a repair surgery for vaginal hernia and other stuff and Dr. Lee did a fabulous job. She and Saria (sp) answered all my questions and Dr. Lee did a fabulous job with me healing quickly, no problems whatsoever and I am so glad she did this for me and did such a wonderful job. I highly recommend her to all. Her office is easy to get to and parking is ground level with stairs and elevators. I have never had a long wait to see her and appreciate Dr. Lee’s focus on healthy living.

I’ve been seeing Dr. Lee for over six years and she has delivered both of my children. Her staff is knowledgable, courteous and friendly. I’m very surprised by some of the negative reviews because every visit to Dr. Lee’s office has been extremely positive for me and I consistently recommend her to anyone that I meet who is in need of an excellent OBGYN. Dr. Lee’s new NP Jamie is also wonderful. Regardless of who I see when I have an appointment I have always felt confident and valued. I highly recommend Dr. Lee!

Everyone in the office is extremely caring & knowledgeable. Dr. Lee is a wonderful doctor, very attentive, warm, and professional. I have referred her to friends and family and will continue to do so.

I have nothing but positive comments for this office. Dr. Lee is warm, caring, and most importantly, a very good doctor. I have been seeing her for years for a variety of health issues. She has ordered appropriate tests and made correct diagnoses so that the treatments I have received are effective. I feel that I am getting some of the best health care possible from this office. I also see Katie (NP) for regular visits, and she is very good as well. All staff are professional and efficient, they call you if there are issues but otherwise won’t call with your annual results. Seems organized and effective to me.

I was referred by my sister. I went in for my annual exam. Dr. Lee is professional and warm. She takes a lot of time with you and really listens to your concerns. Her medical assistant is very friendly and the office staff was efficient.

I have been going to Dr. Karen Lee for 13 years now, and honestly it is my favorite place to visit. I am always greeted with a big warm welcoming from all the staff and then embraced in warm arms and tons of hugs. I would say I go to the office their for a check up about every 3 – 6 months. I have never had any issues. Dr. Karen Lee has performed surgery on me and the results were fantastic. I have never been misdiagnosed, misinformed, or left feeling as if I had questions that were unanswered. Whenever I call in about an issue, they find me a time slot to stop in as soon as possible. Never have I ever had to wait longer than 48 hours for an appointment slot.
The girls their are so warm-​hearted and have a great sense of humor. I feel like I am going to a friends house rather than the doctors whenever I go in for a check up. I would highly recommend this establishment to anyone and everyone!

I’m shocked by the negative reviews of Dr. Lee. I’ve been going to her since I was 16… I’m now 35 and she just delivered my first baby. She’s amazing… Over the years I had an abnormal pap and when I had to go in for more «in-​depth» testing, Dr. Lee was very caring and comforting. And just recently, during my baby’s delivery there were issues with the baby’s heart rate dropping during my labor and Dr. Lee was there right away (even though I was only 4 cm dilated) and performed a perfect c-​section.
Dr. Lee was also rated as one of the top OB/​GYNs by San Diego Magazine.
I also love the office staff. After almost 20 years with them, I don’t have a single negative thing to say. They are always so helpful and answer any and all of my questions, and I have had a lot with my first pregnancy. =) Yes, they are busy… but wouldn’t you expect one of the top doctors to be? I think I would be a little weary of a doctors office that wasn’t busy…

I wont come back. I tried Dr. Lee based on a stranger’s referral. Her bedside manner was cold and award. It was for my annual and she failed to make sure to write refills for my Rx.
The office staff has major issues.
Lab results: I had to call two times to get my lab results, two weeks after my exam.
Rx refills: I had to call to get my Rx refill (see above), the office left me a voicemail to confirm it was filled. But when I went to the pharmacy, they had not heard from the doctor’s office. I had to call again, and leave a message, wait for a return call, and then go back to the pharmacy. It was an unnecessary waste of time.
I had to call four times to get my records transferred to another office.
The literature and pamphlets in the ofice are all about cosmetic injectinles for the face. I’m not against these things, but not looking for it to be pushed at my obgyn. When I inquired about the price for botox and restalyne for the lips, the office staff tried to sell me into some crazy new injectible to enhance my cheeks bones. Uhhhh, nooooo thanks

My experience with Dr Lee’s office was one of my worst. The receptionist is very rude and the office manager also. The office is full of solicitations for all types of products, from beauty treatment and anti aging to handbags and jewelry. The solicitations continue into the treatment phase when they try to get you to enroll in programs to buy vitamins online with automated delivery.
It’s been a good learning experience to me, that if the reception is rude, to simply not make the appointment and call other doctors until I find courteous and professional office.

I wouldn’t go to this office again if it weren’t for NP Katie. She is great. I found the office staff is rude, unorganized, unhelpful, unknowledgeable and poorly trained. I waited well over an hour in the office for a procedure and when I finally was seen, Dr. Lee was very rude and uncaring. Her office staff gave me the wrong information about pain medication which caused me to have a much more painful experience than I needed to have. When I told Dr. Lee this, she seemed unaffected, and I’m sure nothing was said to the staff member responsible. Every single review I read (stupidly after I went, shame on me) online was 1 star for this office and every review were angry patients.
I wasn’t impressed with Dr. Lee’s bedside manner. I was impressed with NP Kate.