Gail Lese

Education

Dr. Lese has a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School, a Doctor of Medicine from Cornell University Medical College, and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Lehigh University, earning a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Philosophy and Biology.

Career

Dr. Lese has a distinguished track record in finance and in medicine. As the fund manager of the Fidelity Select Food and Agriculture portfolio, Dr. Lese led the fund to achieving one of the highest absolute returns in the United States within nine months of assuming leadership of the fund. The fund was identified by Business Week as one of “The Best Mutual Funds” (October 8, 2001). Dr. Lese outperformed the S&P 500 by 29.3% during her tenure as fund manager, with beta=0.20. The Morningstar fund rating was raised to the highest rating of 5 Stars from 3 Stars (3-year performance) during her leadership. Dr. Lese has a track record of being involved in impact investing and socially responsible investing in healthcare, community service and charity initiatives.

Community service

Dr. Lese has a deep commitment to public service and volunteerism. Her extensive volunteer service has included serving on the board of directors of Foundation for Gender Equality, the Mass Mentoring Partnership, the American Red Cross and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Cape Cod, tutoring and mentoring students in the Boston, Los Angeles and New York public school systems; founding multiple community service programs, service as a volunteer physician at the L.A. Free Clinic, and helping to procure and grant wishes for terminally ill children with the Make a Wish Foundation.

Prior to entering the investment profession, Dr. Lese practiced medicine in Los Angeles. She did her medical training in Pediatric Medicine and Pediatric Neurological Surgery at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. Dr. Lese has conducted medical and policy research that has received national and international acclaim and has been an invited speaker for national and international meetings. Her research has been published in leading peer-reviewed medical journals including Neurosurgery, Archives of Neurology, and the European Journal of Pediatric Surgery.

On March 9, 1998 the Clinton White House announced that Gail Lese was a Regional Finalist for the White House Fellows Program. "[1] Dr. Lese was also selected as a White House Fellow National Finalist in 2003 and again as a Regional Finalist in 2005 under George W. Bush. The White House Fellows Program has been described as: "Founded in 1964, the White House Fellows program is America's most prestigious program for leadership and public service."

Dr. Lese ran for the State Senate from the Cape and Islands district against State Senator Rob O'Leary (D-Barnstable) in 2004. O'Leary won the election.