She received her BS in Biochemistry and Psychology from the University of Arizona and her PhD in Clinical Psychology, specialization in Neuropsychology, from the San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. She completed an internship specializing in Neuropsychology and then a two-year fellowship in Neuropsychology/Child Neuropsychology (Epilepsy emphasis), both at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine. In 2009 she joined the faculty at UCSF.