Maria Lester is a passionate advocate devoted to assisting families dealing with chronic illness. She began her journey 20 years ago as a caregiver at Nemours and has since become the GI Family Support and Advocacy Coordinator. As a mother of two children with chronic conditions, Maria understands the challgenes that families face when confronted with a life-altering diagnosis. Her personal experiences have fueled her commitment to advocating for and supporting these families.

Maria's transition from caregiver to hospital employee has given her a unique perspective. This has made her an invaluable asset in bridging the gap between medical professionals and the families they serve. Her dedication and compassion have made her an inspiration to many, and she continues to make a positive impact on the lives of those around her.

Maria serves on several councils and learning networks, including the Nemours Family Advisory Council, the Institute for Patient and Family Centered Care PFAC DEI Learning Community, and the ImproveCareNow Parent Family Advisory Council where she serves as the Connections co-lead. Additionally, she is involved with the Autoimmune Liver Disease Network for Kids (A-LiNK), and served as a mentor for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Central Florida Chapter. Maria's advocacy efforts include meeting with members of Congress to promote the Special Diabetes Program for Type 1 Diabetes, which provides $150 million annually for Type 1 diabetes research.

One of Maria’s most recent projects is collaborating with Dr. Paul Enlow of the Nemours Center for Healthcare Delivery Science on a study to establish a peer mentoring program to increase the use of diabetes technology among minoritized youth with type 1 diabetes.