“3D imaging and better heart scans can help doctors spot heart problems earlier and treat patients more effectively.”
One of the tools Dr. Alex PW Lee highlighted is TEE, short for Transesophageal Echocardiography, a special kind of heart ultrasound where a thin tube with a camera is gently guided down a patient’s throat. Lee is as an illustrious cardiovascular doctor and a professor in Hong kong.
“Because the food pipe (esophagus) lies just behind the heart, TEE gives doctors a much clearer view of heart structures than regular chest scans,” Lee said.
“It’s like going from watching flat cartoons to a full 3D movie,” Lee explained. “We can now see the heart from the inside and plan treatments much better.”
Lee noted that early cardiology focused on 2D images like coronary grams, but the field underwent a "dramatic 3D revolution" in the early 2000s. He also mentioned a 2014 study showing that 3D supermodel training developed better facial recognition and navigation skills.
Early 3D experience
The speaker’s fascination with 3D Perception stemmed from video games like Super Mario Bros and” seeing magic pictures and identifying a flying arrows.”
"Even then I was mesmerized by how a few flat lines could transform into something three dimensional in my mind," he said.
With 3D imaging, Lee said, the clearer images will help doctors make smarter decisions, especially during delicate procedures like fixing valves or sealing holes in the heart.
Lee also showed how 3D printing of a patient’s heart can help doctors “practice” a procedure before doing the real one—just like a rehearsal before surgery.
The speaker’s fascination eventually led him to dedicate himself to the intensive study of the world-class echocardiography program at Mayo Clinic's Echocardiography Program. He thanked the Hong Kong Heart Foundation for this opportunity.
He advised those considering further training, particularly in echocardiography, to select institutions renowned for structural fellowship programs with mandatory hands-on training.
Beyond high-tech tools, Lee stressed the importance of early detection and lifelong monitoring, especially for people with congenital heart conditions.
He encouraged young cardiologists and patients alike to focus not just on treatment, but also on prevention and personalized care.
“The goal is not just to fix problems,” Lee said, “but to prevent them before they get worse—and that starts with better imaging, better education, and better teamwork.”
"A physician has two objectives. Number one is to heal sick. The number two is to advance the medical science," he added.
In conclusion, he said, his journey has been about embracing changes, overcoming challenges, and pushing boundaries adding his excitement to contribute to a field where innovation and collaboration will save the future.
Lee, the speaker from Hong Kong, shared how new imaging technologies are changing the way doctors prevent and treat heart diseases.
He trained under some of the world’s top heart specialists, including Dr. J.K. Oh from the Mayo Clinic Rochester, emphasized how 3D imaging and better heart scans can help doctors spot heart problems earlier and treat patients more effectively.
Dr. Alex Lee
Fr. L: Drs. Aurora Gamponia, Joel Abanilla, Alex Lee and Luigi Pierre Segundo
