Michelle Tarver is an ophthalmologist and epidemiologist serving as the Deputy Center Director and Chief Transformation Officer at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) at the US Food and Drug Administration. Under her leadership, CDRH is advancing efforts to include underserved and underrepresented populations in the evaluation of medical devices, including people across diverse age, sex, gender, racial, and ethnic backgrounds; those living with rare diseases and physical limitations; and those living in rural areas.

Prior to her current position, Tarver held various leadership roles at CDRH, including Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships and Technology Innovation and Program Director of Patient Science and Engagement. In these positions, she facilitated the development, implementation, and direction of CDRH's transformative projects and initiatives. Her medical specialty is ophthalmology, with particular expertise in ocular inflammation, a subject she became well-versed in during her residency in ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute (Johns Hopkins).

Outside of her work at CDRH, Tarver has made her mark as a speaker, most notably at the Milken Institute's Health Equity Convergence across the Biomedical Research Ecosystem and Digital Health Equity and Technology sessions. Her combined experience in biochemistry, medicine, public health, and leadership in technology innovation positions her as an authority on a variety of topics related to health equity, medical technology, and patient engagement.

Her educational background includes a BS in biochemistry from Spelman College and completion of the MD/PhD program at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Women, Female Leadership, Healthcare, Health, Medicine, Strategy Implementation, Technology, Women in Tech Innovation, Ophthalmologist, Milken Institute, Black Heritage, African-American Women, Public Health, Eye Health,