She earned her undergraduate degree from Arkansas State University and completed her Master of Science in Health Administration at Kennedy-Western University. Chris initially worked as the Vice President of Clinical Services from 1995 until 2001 assisting with the development, planning, building and opening of Arkansas Heart Hospital. She returned to Arkansas Heart Hospital in 2005 as the Vice President of Clinical Services after serving as a consultant for major hospitals and corporations. Her consulting experience includes reorganization of cardiovascular programs, development and implementation of new cardiovascular programs, preparation for Joint Commission surveys and consulting with hospitals building new facilities. She also has expertise in development and implementation of fully-digital hospitals incorporating electronic medical records for the entire facility.