Dr. Lesley Lutes, PhD, R.Psych

Dr. Lesley Lutes is a Professor of Psychology, Director of Clinical Training, and Director of the Center for Obesity and Well-being Research Excellence at the University of British Columbia - on the Okanagan Campus.  Dr. Lutes is a clinical psychologist whose area of research is in behavioral medicine: developing innovative treatment approaches focused on lifestyle behavioral change, and improving mental health and well-being. 

Dr. Lutes received her honours undergraduate degree from Concordia University in Quebec, her Masters in Health and Exercise Science from Wake Forest University in North Carolina, her Phd in clinical psychology from Virginia Tech in Virginia, and completed her pre-doctoral residency in behavioral medicine at the University of Florida. Dr. Lutes has received over $7 million in grant funding to date, published over 70 peer reviewed papers, and completed over 100 national and international presentations to date – winning an international award for her work on small changes. 

In addition to her research, she is currently the Co-Director of Public Advocacy for the BC Psychological Association and recently completed her role as President of the Canadian Clinical Professional Psychology Programs. Since coming back to Canada in 2015, where she was born and raised, she has been passionate about helping change healthcare policy in BC, and integrating evidence-based models of care into primary care networks in order to improve the physical and mental health and well-being of individuals, improving physician wellness, and decreasing healthcare costs.