An Alabama native, she graduated from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in 2001. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of Texas, Houston and then completed her Geriatric Medicine fellowship at Harvard Medical School. She received additional training in Palliative Care through the Harvard Medical School "Program in Palliative Care Education and Practice" course, and additional training in Medical Education through the Harvard Macy Institute's "Program for Educators in the Health Professions", for which she has subsequently served as a returning Faculty Scholar. She is board certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Care.