She received her Master's Degree in Health Services Administration from the George Washington University, completed an administrative residency and postgraduate fellowship in health systems at the VA Medical Center in Washington, D. C. and earned her Ph.D. in Administration-Health Services at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has published extensively in the health care field and most recently co-authored The Retail Revolution in Health Care, published by Praeger 2010, which examined the silent revolution in affordable health care delivery that is being driven by the private sector. Malvey has worked in a variety of health care settings and served as the executive director of a national trade association, representing health professionals in private practice. She also has worked as a congressional aide on Capitol Hill.