# Michael K. Lester

> Michael K. Lester is a company founder and executive, known as the co-founder, founding CEO and chairman of LifeStance Health. He led LifeStance from its official founding in 2017 through its June 2021 Nasdaq listing before retiring as CEO in September 2022. His earlier ventures include Radiant Research and Accelecare; Nira Medical currently lists him as executive chairman.

- **Role:** Executive Chairman at Nira Medical
- **Organizations:** Nira Medical, LifeStance Health, Radiant Research, Accelecare Wound Centers, ContinueCare Health Systems, Silversmith Capital Partners, Bain Capital, SV Life Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin
- **Known for:** Founded Radiant Research in January 1998., Founded and led Accelecare before its 2015 sale., Co-founded LifeStance and served as founding CEO and chairman from 2017 to September 2022.

## Career timeline

- **1996** — Sold Dallas-based ContinueCare Health Systems and subsequently moved to Seattle.
- **1998** — Founded Radiant Research in January.
- **2004** — Radiant announced $26 million in financing and operated about 50 facilities.
- **2006** — Announced retirement as Radiant CEO; Pamela Spaniac succeeded him, while he remained executive chairman.
- **2007** — Founded Accelecare, serving as CEO.
- **2015** — Accelecare was sold; former backers later approached Lester about another venture.
- **2017** — LifeStance officially founded with Lester as founding CEO and chairman alongside co-founders Gwen Booth and Danish Qureshi.
- **2020** — LifeStance announced a partnership with TPG, Summit Partners and Silversmith.
- **2021** — Led LifeStance through its June 10 Nasdaq trading debut under LFST.
- **2022** — Retired as LifeStance CEO and chairman, effective September 7; Ken Burdick succeeded him, and Lester was to continue as strategic advisor.

## Achievements

- Founded Radiant Research in January 1998.
- Founded and led Accelecare before its 2015 sale.
- Co-founded LifeStance and served as founding CEO and chairman from 2017 to September 2022.
- Led LifeStance through its June 2021 Nasdaq listing.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Research check: Nira Medical’s public leadership page lists Michael Lester as executive chairman; this is a verification date, not an appointment date.
- **2022-09** — LifeStance announced Lester’s retirement as founding CEO and chairman, with a planned continuing role as strategic advisor.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-lester1

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/michael-lester
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23