I grew up in Oak Lawn, Illinois, near Chicago. Starting in 1982 I attended the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where I received a Bachelor's degree in 1986, a Master's degree in animal science in 1988, and then a Doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1992.

After graduation I moved to the Southwest to be closer to my parents. My first professional veterinary assignment was in Gallup, New Mexico, which included driving a mobile veterinary clinic onto the Navajo Reservation every week for a two-day clinic. This is where I met my husband Jamie Massey, who was teaching elementary school in Kayenta, Arizona.

In 1994 soon after we were married, we moved to Tucson. We live with two sweet dogs, Sadie and Daisy. I enjoy walking my dogs, gardening, bird watching and horseback riding. My hobbies reflect my love for the beautiful landscape of southern Arizona and I encourage efforts to protect our natural environment. I am fortunate to have been active in several animal protection movements in Arizona, including the 1998 ban on cockfighting and the 2006 ban on veal and gestation crates for pigs.

In addition to traditional training, I have studied acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. In recent years, I have added homeopathy, NET (NeuroEmotional Technique), and Nutritional Response Testing (NRT) techniques to my practice. Combining the fantastic advances of western medicine with the tremendous wealth of Traditional Chinese Medicine and modern alternative modalities is a wonderful way to foster health.