Cyrus Lee, DMD

Executive Dental Director and CEO
Permanente Dental Group

Cyrus Lee, DMD, is the executive dental director and CEO of Permanente Dental Group, one of the nation’s largest independent, dentist-led, multispecialty dental organizations. In this role, he leads more than 150 clinicians and professional staff in delivering evidence-based, integrated oral health care to more than 250,000 Kaiser Permanente dental members across Oregon and Southwest Washington. Since becoming CEO in July 2022, Dr. Lee has guided the organization’s continued focus on quality, innovation, and equitable access to care.

A member of Permanente Dental Group since 2008, Dr. Lee has advanced through a series of leadership roles, including dental director of Operations and Specialty Care in 2017 and dental director of Care Delivery in 2018, before being named CEO. In addition to his executive responsibilities, he is committed to advancing the dental profession through education and mentorship. He serves as a part-time clinical assistant professor at Oregon Health & Science University’s School of Dentistry, advising the dean and supporting community engagement, alumni relations, and academic initiatives. He also serves as an affiliate instructor with the University of Washington School of Dentistry. Dr. Lee earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from OHSU and a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University. He further strengthened his leadership expertise through executive education at Harvard Business School and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management Executive Scholar Program.

Dr. Lee’s commitment to service extends beyond dentistry. A former officer in the U.S. Army Dental Corps, he provided care in challenging environments, including deployments in Iraq and Korea, experiences that continue to shape his leadership approach and dedication to community health. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Medical Teams International and as the organization’s Board Secretary, helping advance efforts to provide critical health and dental services to underserved populations locally and around the world. Outside of his professional roles, Dr. Lee is an active volunteer, youth, and high school basketball coach, and enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest with his wife and 3 children.