Dr Michelle Griffin's career started in the NHS as an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, where she worked for over 10 years in both clinical and academic settings. Her research focused on gynaecological cancers, both lab-based and population-based, reviewing global health interventions and screening. Dr Griffin also worked as a strategist advising the NHS, looking at large-scale clinical and operational strategy to optimise services across Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Paediatrics – focussing on improving accessibility, scalability and cost-effectiveness.
She then moved into Public Health England, working in the National Cancer Registration and Analysis department, determining the reasons behind variations in cancer outcomes across developed countries. With her background in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and a real need to understand and improve lives, she led the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service to collect and analyse crucial data sets to inform the diagnosis and management of those affected with these conditions.
Most recently, Dr Griffin has worked in medtech, assessing the clinical impact and value of medical devices. This varied from the design and development of the CoVent ventilator for COVID-19 Nightingale Hospitals to a digital therapeutic for emotional regulation for patients with personality disorders.
Now, as CMO at Vira Health, she brings her clinical, operational, strategic and technical expertise to make a difference in the area of women’s health, which is still significantly underserved and underfunded, resulting in poor health outcomes and quality of life for women and consequent major effects on society.
Vira Health explores the menopause, where there are fundamental gaps in knowledge, leading to misdiagnosis, disrupting side-effects and generally poor care. Women spend 7-10 years in menopause, with symptoms changing and fluctuating all the time. Yet, in the UK, less than 7% of women are satisfied with the care they receive. Better treatment for menopause is not just about immediate relief. It is also about shifting the long-term trajectories for the core issues women face in later life, thereby having a significant impact on this condition.