Dr. Holmes spent years practicing primary care medicine in the South Bronx and among a largely immigrant population in a Cambridge neighborhood health center.  In 2000 she transitioned to full-time epidemiology research, and she is based at Brigham Women’s Hospital where she is a Professor of Medicine. Her research interests include lifestyle factors (diet, weight, physical activity, psychosocial factors, and common medications such as aspirin) affecting the quality of life and survival after a breast cancer diagnosis.  She has helped to design a longitudinal study of non-communicable disease (obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer) at 5 sites in sub-Saharan Africa, relying on VISIONS principles to facilitate that multicultural collaboration.  Michelle is both a dynamic presenter and a compassionate facilitator.