She graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1984 earning a degree in Chemistry and Molecular Biology. She then completed her medical degree at Hahnemann Medical College, graduating in 1989. Dr. Patanella completed her residency training in Pediatrics in 1992 at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield Massachusetts. She then worked as a pediatric hospitalist at Holy Redeemer Hospital and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia Pennsylvania until 1996. From 1996 through 1998 she did an Internal medicine residency at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Patanella has worked as a Hospitalist with the Hospital Medicine Division at Strong Hospital since 1995.