She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Saint Francis College of Nursing in Peoria, Illinois in 1995. She has worked as a nurse in a variety of settings that range from general surgical/medical to Intensive Care and as an Adult Crisis Nurse at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. She returned to graduate school to become an advanced practice nurse and graduated from Saint Francis College of Nursing in Peoria, Illinois, where she was awarded the Sister M. Ludgera Memorial Award. Michelle is board-certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner.