The Rev. Lydell C. Lettsome, M.D. is a board-certified general surgeon with a background of study in Christian and Medical Ethics. He received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology & Pre-Medical Sciences from Columbia University. From there he earned his M.D. at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pa.  Besides being a Fellow of the American College Surgeons, Dr. Lettsome is also a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. He has also been a member of the Institute of Healthcare Quality, the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the American Society of Breast Disease.​

Dr. Lettsome is the author of Stolen Money, Stolen Health, a prize winning book advocating universal healthcare for Americans. Dr. Lettsome has been a tireless health equity advocate for the past decade. He has lectured on health equity and disparities throughout the country. He has also served on several boards and task forces addressing equity including the NYC Dept of Health’s Task Force on Disparities in Breast Cancer.  In addition to his surgical practice he is the founder of the Vanbert Health Equity Project. A 501c3 non-profit that coaches churches on how to identify, procure and develop the necessary assets to achieve healthy living. Through Vanbert he has worked with the Drew Theological School, the AME Church International Health Commission and New York Theological Seminary.​

He is a Christian who not only expresses his love of God and people through his surgical skill but also through his service to the community and the world. Dr. Lettsome has travelled the world providing free medical and surgical care to the poor with various missionary groups and has served on the Board of Directors for the Dorcas Medical Mission.  In addition, he often volunteers for the Greater NY Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation. In 2005, Dr. Lettsome was licensed to the Christian ministry at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY. In the midst of a highly demanding surgical career he completed a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City in 2010 and was ordained in April 2011.