2021 Inspiring Women
Honouree
Shine
Bright
Professor Michelle Leech (1981)
MBBS Hons, FRACP, PhD
As Deputy Dean Medicine Professor at Monash University, Michelle Leech oversees the delivery of the flagship medical program across the Clayton, Gippsland and Malaysia campuses. Michelle ensures that the learning objectives and outcomes of both the direct and graduate entry degrees are aligned. She also coordinates a range of academic initiatives for Monash medical students and is currently the Deputy Chair of the Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria, and Vice President of Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand.
Michelle is the Head of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinic at Monash Health. She also maintains an active research profile as part of the rheumatology research group in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health. Her clinical research interests include cytokine biology, glucocorticoid action and cell cycle proteins in the context of Rheumatoid Arthritis pathogenesis, as well as medical and interprofessional education. Michelle’s work has been published in medical journals including – Nature Reviews Rheumatology, The Lancet Rheumatology and Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Prior to her role as Deputy Dean, Michelle held a number of teaching and leadership positions within Monash’s Medical Program. She is a recipient of the Australian Medical Students’ Association National Teaching Award – the highest teaching accolade.
Michelle previously served as the Medical Director of Arthritis Australia and held positions on a number of National Rheumatology Advisory Boards. She is the outgoing Chair of the Clinical Examination Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians National Exam Panel.
A proud Monash alumna, Michelle holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) Hons and PhD, and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP).
Michelle is a recipient of the Australian Medical Students’ Association National Teaching Award – the highest teaching accolade.
