Episode 190: How a GP Became an Award-Winning Menopause Specialist with Dr Shilpa McQuillan

ARTICLES

How a GP Became an Award-Winning Menopause Specialist with Dr Shilpa McQuillan Business Awards Show cover in black with gold font. Photo of Shilpa in top right corner.

by jon | Apr 1, 2026 | Awards, podcast, Show Notes

Debbie Gilbert discovers How a GP Became an Award-Winning Menopause Specialist with Dr Shilpa McQuillan, founder and clinical lead of the Berkshire Menopause Clinic. In our latest episode, this leading specialist discusses all things menopause. In addition she explains how she set up her own business whilst juggling the demands of a family, and the impact of winning two awards at the 2025 Best Business Women Awards, including the highly contested Best Customer Service category.

Shilpa’s story is a remarkable one. A dual trained gynaecologist and GP, she built her own clinic from scratch with no business background whatsoever. She even built her own website, while waking at 4:30am with a one year old. Three and a half years in, she is fully booked and has over 125 five star reviews.

There are fascinating discussions about what genuinely good menopause care looks like, why so many women are still not getting the support they need, and how to navigate an increasingly noisy space full of conflicting advice. Shilpa also shares why she built her business around trust rather than paid advertising, and why following your values is the single best business decision you can make.

Honest, warm and genuinely useful whether you are navigating menopause or building a business from scratch.

About Shilpa

Berkshire Menopause Clinic is a specialist women’s health and menopause clinic in Henley, providing compassionate, personalised care focused on patient needs.

Led by Dr Shilpa McQuillan, a dual-trained women’s health GP and community gynaecologist, BMS-accredited specialist, Advisory Council member, and Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, she combines evidence-based clinical excellence with treatment and advice tailored to individual health concerns.

Her focus is helping patients feel informed, supported, and confident when managing their health, so they can make decisions that feel right for them.

Dr Shilpa is a regular guest on BBC Berks, Radio 2, and 5 Live, and as a columnist for Henley Life and the Henley Standard.

{2:35} Why Shilpa set up Berkshire Menopause Clinic.

{5:15} Her focus on customer care.

{6:56} Shilpa’s own medical experiences.

{8:08} How the clinic has been marketed.

{11;42} The common themes in menopause support.

{14:45} Why menopause information can be so confusing.

{16:07} The continual need to learn about menopause issues.

{17:35} Why Shilpa started to enter business awards.

{20:11} The challenge of setting up a business.

{22:07} Finding ways to manage the business effectively.

{23:13} How the clinic may develop in coming years.