Lee Edson P. Yarcia is a physician and a lawyer working at the intersection of public health and human rights. He is Senior Lecturer of Constitutional Law, Legal Theory, Medical Jurisprudence, and Ethics at the University of the Philippines, teaching across the Colleges of Law and Medicine.

Guided by the belief that those who have less in life should have more in law, Lee advances the causes of vulnerable and marginalized communities. His advocacy centers on law and policy reform for the promotion and protection of the rights of women and gender minorities, people who use drugs, persons with disabilities, persons deprived of liberty, and people living with HIV, among others.

Previously, Lee served as National Programme Officer for the United Nations Joint Programme on Human Rights in the Philippines, providing technical support to government institutions on public health, human rights, and drug policy reform during a critical period following the country’s war on drugs. He currently provides legal advice to government agencies as Senior Legal Associate of the Institute of Government and Law Reform. He has published academic works on various legal issues in medicine and is currently writing a book chapter on how the Philippine Supreme Court decides public health cases.

Lee aims to guide future thought leaders in law and medicine toward health equity work. As part of the EI Community, he looks forward to learning from peers’ leadership styles, professional journeys, and how they navigate challenges in equity work. He seeks to help design a pathway for lawyers and physicians to engage in health equity, and to champion this pathway in his academic space. He hopes EI will equip him with the tools and support to advance this vision, while building networks with Fellow academics, collaborating on projects and publications, and implementing innovative work in human rights and public health.