Born into a family of doctors, a physician in fifth generation,[1] She graduated from school with a gold medal in 1977.

From 1988 to 1997 she worked as Medical Laboratory Assistant and associate professor.

In July 2008, she was appointed Deputy Minister of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation.

On May 21, 2012, she was appointed to the role of Minister of Health of the Russian Federation in Dmitry Medvedev's Cabinet.

On 15 January 2020, she resigned as part of the cabinet, after President Vladimir Putin delivered the Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly, in which he proposed several amendments to the constitution.