She is a native of Crowley, Louisiana and a “Rajun Cajun” for life, having attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where she obtained an undergraduate degree in Biology. She matriculated at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, graduating in 1992 and receiving multiple honors including the Janet M. Glasgow Memorial Award, the Kornberg Award in Medical Biochemistry, G. John Buddingh, MD Microbiology Award, and the Pharmacology Award. She returned home to Acadiana to complete a residency in Family Medicine at LSUHSC University Medical Center in Lafayette.