Dr. Melissa Lem

Dr. Lem isn’t just talking about planetary health—she’s prescribing it. Literally and figuratively. As President of CAPE, she helped triple the organization’s budget and revenue, train over 100 health professionals in advocacy, and pass landmark legislation on greenwashing and environmental racism. Co-founding PaRx, Canada’s national “nature prescription” program, she has mobilized 18,000 health professionals to issue more than 1.3 million nature prescriptions, doubling prescriber numbers in just two years. Her biweekly CBC appearances reach millions, translating complex climate-health issues into actionable guidance. Melissa’s fundraising savvy brought in nearly $1.5 million for targeted campaigns, while her international collaborations with projects like PANDA and RESONATE are setting global standards. Bold, strategic, and visible, she’s reshaping how health professionals lead on planetary health.