Lee Wainright is the founder of the Upstream Initiative, an organization dedicated to transforming first responder mental health through proactive peer support and early intervention. With nearly three decades of frontline experience across emergency medical services and public safety communications, Lee designs practical, accessible systems that address systemic gaps in traditional wellness models, prioritizing prevention and sustainable resilience.
Lee’s clinical career spans municipal, volunteer, and private transport sectors, including fourteen years as a paramedic with Wilson County EMS and a three-year tenure as Captain with Edgecombe County EMS. His comprehensive understanding of the first responder ecosystem is uniquely deepened by his extensive background in high-stress communications, including nine years with Greenville Police Communications and fifteen years with ECU Health Medical Center's Transport Services Communications.
Lee is the architect of the Upstream Approach curriculum and its accompanying digital platforms, as well as other apps that help individuals before they reach crisis or face issues. These tools translate complex peer-support strategies into intuitive, real-world applications designed to help individuals navigate acute stress before it reaches a point of crisis. Today, Lee actively collaborates with public safety agencies, stakeholders, and wellness advocates to implement proactive, upstream mental health solutions across the field.