Dr. Rich Lester MD
Director, Infectious Disease Research; Director, Neglected Global Diseases Initiative; Consultant, BC Centre for Disease Control
Division of Infectious Diseases
Faculty of Medicine
Dr. Richard Lester completed his research fellowship in HIV in Kenya at the University of Manitoba and University of Nairobi collaborative, where he initiated development of an innovative mobile phone health (mHealth) service that was demonstrated in a landmark trial, WelTel Kenya1 (Lancet 2010 ), to improve HIV outcomes funded by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
WelTel NFP is the recipient of Grand Challenges Canada phase I & II awards for transitioning the mHealth service to scale in remote Kenya. Since the WelTel service and model have been introduced into the Canadian and other healthcare systems.
Dr. Lester has ongoing studies internationally and within Canada, has consulted on mHealth innovations with the World Health Organization for HIV, TB & tobacco control, and is a CIHR Foundation Scheme recipient and Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar.
