1978, studies at London School of Economics; 1980-87, studies in Medicine, Medizinische Hochschule, Hanover; 1991, doctorate; 2001, Master's in Public Health. 1988-92, Assistant Doctor, Women's Clinic, Hanover Medical School; 1995, market analysis, Stanford Health Services Hospital Administration; 1998-2002, with academic staff, Department of Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Health System Research; 2003-05, Member, CDU, State Assembly, Lower Saxony; 2003-05, Minister for Social Affairs, Women, Family Affairs and Health, Lower Saxony; since 2004, Member, Presidium of the CDU, Germany; 2005-09, Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth; since 2009, Member of Parliament (Deutscher Bundestag); 2009-13, Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs; since 2010, Party Vice-Chairwoman; since 2013, Minister of Defence. Member of the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum.