The longtime chairman of the state's medical disciplinary board vacated his position in the wake of a Newsday investigation into doctor misconduct, which found that he simultaneously led the board and lobbied for the state's premier physician-advocacy organization.

Dr. Thomas T. Lee retired as chairman of the state’s Board for Professional Medical Conduct in August, according to a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health. Lee confirmed the departure in an interview Thursday, while touting his dedication to transparency, patient care and removing "bad apples" from the system.

"If I’m a distraction," Lee said, "it’s time for me to retire."

Titled "Broken Practice" and published in May , Newsday's investigation found 46 doctors on Long Island who held New York medical licenses witho

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