After receiving her bachelor of science degree in food and nutrition from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio, she worked for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center as a dietitian, focusing on trauma and neurosurgery patients. She continued her education at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to earn her master’s degree in physician assistant studies and started her physician assistant career in pediatric neurosurgery. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.