Francis Xavier University (2002) and a Master of Health Studies from Athabasca University (2007). In addition she has earned certificates in gerontology and continuing care from St. Francis Xavier University (2002). She has worked for many years in acute care hospitals as a front-line critical care nurse and more recently as a healthcare manager improving quality of care for elderly patients in long-term care facilities across Canada. She is a passionate advocate for healthy living and smart aging, and has done extensive research on the impact of lifestyle on aging. She lives in Ottawa, Canada, with her husband Jack, and near her three sons and their families while pursuing her hobbies of physical fitness, and playing the piano, as well as a lifelong passion for learning.