Professor Helen Lester

Professor Helen Lester was an inspirational GP and academic who made a difference to the lives of many people. Helen was truly one of the iconic figures of academic general practice. She was secretary to SAPC from 2004-2010 and Chair from 2010-2013. 

Helen died peacefully at home with her family in March 2013. To honour her memory, in 2014 SAPC started the annual Helen Lester Memorial Lecture series.

The inspiration for this lecture series came from Helen herself. Helen challenged us all to think more creatively about many things – but especially about mental health. Only weeks before her death, Helen gave the eponymous James MacKenzie lecture at the RCGP – a  lecture in memory of another of the great names in our discipline who made such a difference in primary care. In her Bothering about Billy lecture, Helen challenged us all to think differently about the needs and care of people with complex and long standing mental health problems. And even more, to do things differently.