Joan M. Griffin is an associate professor of health sciences research at the Mayo Clinic and the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern scientific director for the Care Experiences Program at Mayo's Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, a research program dedicated to improving patient and family caregiver health outcomes by developing, testing, and implementing efficient, equitable, and effective strategies to transform healthcare practice. Joan has a long-time research interest in the health effects of family caregiving on both caregiver and care recipient health. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, she studies how to reduce the physical and mental health risks faced by caregivers, providing care and strategies to engage caregivers in their loved one's health care in order to improve care recipients' transitions in care, assure their safety, and optimize their health outcomes and quality of life. Her work has focused on the impact of caring for people with cancer, traumatic brain injury, dementia and heart failure. She earned a Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and conducted post-doctoral work at the University College London.