Professor Kieron Leslie is a medical dermatologist trained in internal medicine, tropical medicine, and infectious diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), on faculty at UCSF since 2005. In 2020, he founded the UCSF Marcus Conant Fellowship, which supports early-career physicians in their research and advocacy for people living with HIV (PLWH) and the LGBTQ+ community, empowering the next generation of healthcare leaders to address health disparities.
His research focuses on skin diseases affecting PLWH such as Kaposi's sarcoma and studying emerging infections such as mpox. As a founding member of the Gay and Lesbian Dermatology Association (GALDA), Kieron is dedicated to mentoring individuals from underrepresented minorities (URM) in medicine.
Kieron holds leadership roles with the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) and the World Health Organization (WHO). His advocacy efforts led to the inclusion of liposomal doxorubicin for treatment for advanced stage Kaposi’s sarcoma on Kenya's Essential Medicine List in 2019, a decision later adopted by the WHO in 2023.
As a visiting professor at LSHTM, he lectures on dermatological aspects of infectious diseases, mentors students and early-career researchers, and collaborates on public health research. He serves as the Clinical Director of HIV Dermatology at UCSF and San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH), staffing the historic Ward 86, the first outpatient facility dedicated to HIV care.
Kieron’s research interests extend to skin cancer in PLWH, including solid organ transplants, aiming to identify unique risks and develop tailored prevention and treatment strategies. Recognized as a national expert in managing Kaposi's sarcoma, he receives referrals from across the United States, serving as a vital resource for both patients and healthcare providers with his large patient cohort. At Ward 86, Kieron enhances access to dermatological care, educates healthcare professionals on skin-related complications of HIV, and conducts community outreach programs to raise awareness of these critical health challenges.