Harriet Lefley, PhD, was a highly distinguished pioneer in the fields of cross-cultural mental health care and advocacy for the mentally ill. As Professor with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Dr. Lefley was Principle or Co-Investigator for countless studies and research projects, served on many national advisory boards (including the DSM-IV) and blue-ribbon panels, and received numerous awards from nationally and internationally distinguished organizations.

A founder of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) of Florida and Miami, she became a highly in-demand keynote speaker at conferences world-wide.
Her publications include ten books and over 100 articles and book chapters on cultural issues in mental health service delivery, community mental health models, advocacy and support systems for persons with severe mental illness and their families.