Bio

Michelle believes in turning experiences into opportunities for others. Born to first generation Cuban refugees, Michelle is the only person to graduate from college in her family. Because of her formative background, she has an intimate understanding of the value of perseverance and the minority experience in America. As a Cuban-American, she had a unique experience growing up with a childhood doctor who knew her family for generations, spent hours with them when needed, leaving her and her family feeling truly known and cared for. This early experience inspired her to pursue medicine and shaped her vision of what makes a great physician, convincing her that she, too, could become THAT kind of doctor. Prior to medical school, Michelle completed a graduate degree in biology. As a graduate student and high school teacher, she learned how to cater her teaching style to a variety of different learning styles. She believes that presenting information in different ways is the key to creating ‘lightbulb’ moments that translate abstract facts into usable knowledge. She believes that one of the greatest responsibilities a doctor possesses, in addition to healing, is teaching. Each day as a practicing primary care physician at Optum, she finds new and better ways to teach patients about their bodies, their ailments, their options, and preventative choices. Moreover, as a lesbian woman, her mission also includes increasing clinical competency in LGBTQ+ health along with improved access to care for this community. “In every patient-physician interaction, there is a power disproportion. Every patient feels disempowered, unequal in information or authority. My desire is to elevate everyone to feel empowered, to leave every patient feeling like they have a voice.” Over the years, Michelle has accumulated teaching, writing, and research experiences, and has employed these experiences in being a patient advocate and clinician-teacher. Recognizing that physicians are still lacking in education in queer health, she serves as a leader and LGBT Champion at Optum, where she has assumed the roles of clinician coach, patient advocate, and teacher. To inquire about speaking or writing opportunities, please contact Michelle at DrMGarrido.com.