Partners In Health Announces Lesley King as Chair of Board, Dr. Michelle Morse as Vice Chair

Boston, MA (June 26, 2025) – Reinforcing its commitment to transformative leadership, Partners In Health (PIH) today announces that PIH co-founder Ophelia Dahl is stepping down as Chair of the Board, a position she has held since 2002, and passing the responsibility to Lesley King, a longtime board member and advocate for PIH’s mission. Dr. Michelle Morse, a former deputy chief at PIH, has been appointed Vice Chair of the Board, a newly created role. 

Dahl, who will remain on the Board, co-founded PIH 37 years ago and helped shape the organization into a force for global health justice. Under her leadership as Executive Director of from 2001 to 2015, PIH expanded across four continents, delivering high-quality care to underserved communities. While she is stepping down as Chair, Dahl remains deeply involved with PIH and continues her advocacy through various leadership roles, including her trusteeship at Wellesley College and board positions with the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), the Equal Justice Initiative, and the Clinton Health Access Initiative. 

Lesley King, who has served on PIH’s Board for 14 years, brings extensive experience in governance, finance, and global health advocacy. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, King spent fifteen years as a Managing Director at JP Morgan before transitioning to nonprofit leadership. She played a foundational role in the establishment of UGHE in Rwanda, where she served as Board Chair and is a current board member. Prior to her tenure at UGHE, she served as COO and later Board Chair of Village Health Works, a PIH-affiliated organization in Burundi. 

Dr. Morse, a physician and public health advocate, has been instrumental in advancing global health equity through policy, education, and activism, and has served on the PIH board since 2017. Dr. Morse has held distinguished leadership positions, including serving as Deputy Chief Medical Officer at Partners In Health, as a Soros Equality Fellow, and as a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow. In recognition of her transformative contributions, she was named a TIME100 Next honoree in 2024. She currently serves as Acting Health Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she works to bridge public health and health care to reduce health inequities and lead the agency through the numerous local public health challenges of our current moment. 

“I know I speak for the board and everyone at PIH when I say we are profoundly grateful for Ophelia’s remarkable leadership,” said PIH CEO Sheila Davis. “Lesley and Michelle bring invaluable experience and passion to their new roles, ensuring PIH continues to advance the movement for global health equity and bring the fruits of modern medicine and public health to those who need them most.” 

About Partners In Health 

Partners In Health is a nonprofit organization that provides high-quality health care to impoverished communities worldwide. Founded in 1987, PIH works alongside local governments to strengthen health systems and promote the right to health. For more information, please visit https://www.pih.org/ 

Please contact media@pih.org with any press inquiries.