Michelle is a fulltime rheumatologist practising in Kew, Victoria. She completed her studies in Medicine and graduated from The University of Melbourne in 1984. Michelle trained as a medical resident and registrar at St Vincent’s hospital Fitzroy where she succeeded in obtaining her fellowship with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 1993.
Together with her husband, Dr Christopher Worsnop, Respiratory Physician, they have three adult children, the eldest of whom is to be married early next year. Michelle’s interests focus on osteoporosis and the rheumatic diseases, their treatments and improving functional outcomes for her patients. She is currently a consultant at St. Vincents’s private hospital in East Melbourne and Fitzroy and at Cotham Private Hospital.
Michelle has worked previously at The Royal Melbourne Hospital Bone and Mineral Unit as a clinical assistant and has conducted research at the Royal Children’s hospital in the area of Juvenile Rheumatoid arthritis. She has been involved in teaching medical students and giving educational lectures to GPs and specialists over the years.
Michelle treats patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis incorporating DMARD and biological therapies where indicated. Her experience in the use of cytokine targeted therapy to “Treat to Target” has given her insight into the impact of these treatments to reduce inflammation and pain associated with these debilitating conditions.
Aside from her work, Michelle enjoys gardening, shopping and travelling the world with her husband, a seasoned marathon runner and athlete involved in Masters Games in Australia and abroad.