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Today we’d like to introduce you to Winston Lee.
Hi Winston, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My Story: From a Bus Tour in Europe to Fullerton, CA
My journey to becoming a “Doctor of Acupuncture” in California began with a spark of curiosity in 2001. While I was a medical student in Korea, I took a 30-day international bus tour across Europe. Traveling with students from the UK, Brazil, and the US, I realized that I wanted to communicate and practice medicine beyond the borders of South Korea. That experience motivated me to study English daily alongside my medical studies, preparing for a future on a larger stage.
After earning my Ph.D. in Korean Medicine and running a successful clinic in South Korea, I moved to California in 2012 to serve as the Medical Director for the Jaseng Center for Integrative Medicine. For ten years, I managed clinics in Los Angeles, San Jose (Silicon Valley), and Fullerton, gaining deep experience in the U.S. healthcare system.
In May 2022, I opened my private practice, Doctor Acupuncture in Korean Medicine, in Fullerton. My goal was to create a space where I could apply my 20+ years of clinical experience to treat spine and joint pain non-surgically, blending the best of Eastern and Western perspectives.
The Challenges: Adapting to a New System
Moving to the U.S. was a significant challenge. I had to adapt to a completely different medical environment, including understanding complex insurance systems like PPO and HMO, which are very different from Korea’s system.
Furthermore, helping patients understand that “fixing habits is more important than taking medicine” is an ongoing challenge I embrace. Many patients come looking for a quick fix for chronic pain. My role is to educate them that without correcting daily habits—like posture, diet, and sleep—pain often returns.
About the Business: Doctor Acupuncture & Whole-Body Wellness
I specialize in the non-surgical treatment of spine and joint disorders, such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and arthritis.
What sets my practice apart is my focus on identifying the root cause. I don’t just treat the pain; I look at the patient’s lifestyle. For example, I’ve helped patients cure “sciatica” simply by having them remove a thick wallet from their back pocket, and helped others relieve neck pain by adjusting their computer monitor height.
Key highlights of my work include:
Integrative Treatment: I utilize acupuncture, herbal medicine, and nutrients to reduce inflammation and strengthen bones and ligaments, helping patients avoid surgery whenever possible.
Author & Educator: I recently published a book titled Discovering Path to Pain Free Life: Guide to Whole-Body Wellness (Nov 2025), which compiles over 100 health columns I’ve written to help the public understand and prevent pain. I also serve as a clinical lecturer at Dongguk University Los Angeles.
Community Service: I have been a volunteer acupuncturist at the Lestonnac Free Clinic since 2013, helping underserved communities manage pain.
My ultimate goal is to help my patients live a pain-free life by combining professional medical treatment with smart lifestyle changes.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Clinically, one of the most persistent struggles has been shifting the patient mindset from seeking “quick fixes” to addressing root causes. As I discuss in my book, Discovering Path to Pain Free Life, many patients prefer taking medication or undergoing surgery over the more complex work of changing their daily habits. I frequently encounter patients who suffer from chronic conditions like disc issues, yet continue harmful activities, such as playing excessive golf or maintaining poor posture, despite medical advice. Convincing patients that correcting lifestyle factors—such as diet, sleep, and posture—is often more effective and essential than medicine remains a challenging but vital part of my mission to help them live pain-free lives.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Doctor Acupuncture in Korean Medicine, based in Fullerton, specializes in the non-surgical treatment of spinal and joint disorders, including herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and sports-related injuries such as those from golf.
What sets my practice apart is a deeply integrative approach that combines traditional acupuncture and specialized herbal medicine to treat the root cause of pain rather than merely masking symptoms with painkillers or injections. I am most proud of my commitment to patient education, recently culminating in the publication of my book, Discovering Path to Pain Free Life: Guide to Whole-Body Wellness, which embodies my core philosophy that fixing daily habits—such as posture, sleep, and diet—is often more critical for long-term recovery than medication alone. I want readers to know that my brand is dedicated to guiding patients toward a natural, pain-free life by leveraging over 20 years of clinical experience to strengthen the body’s natural healing powers and prevent recurrence.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Based on my experience as both a practitioner and a lecturer, my best advice is to seek internship opportunities through your school’s alumni network actively. Still, the groundwork for this must start long before you need the job. To make these connections happen, you must establish a stellar reputation while you are still a student.
In my experience, professors and classmates are the most effective gateways to these opportunities. If you consistently demonstrate a positive attitude, diligence, and respect toward your professors and peers, they become your strongest advocates. I personally found that opening my first clinic with seniors and friends from school was a key step in my career. This was possible because of the trust built during our student years. Therefore, networking isn’t just about meeting new people later; it’s about obtaining a good reputation in school way in advance so that when you reach out to alumni, your character has already paved the way.