Dr. Michelle grew up in Pennsylvania and earned an associate degree in Music and a bachelor's degree in Science (majoring in Biology) from Baldwin-Wallace College in Ohio. She moved several times before ending up in Minnesota in 1989, working as a Research Technician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. In 1998, she earned her degree from the University of Minnesota's School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Michelle joined Valley View in April of 2002 as a part-time associate, also working as a relief veterinarian for local emergency clinics like South Metro, St. Paul, and Oakdale. Although formally trained in equine and mixed-animal medicine, she has practiced as a small animal and exotic clinician for 6 years.

Dr. Michelle has a strong interest in exotic pet medicine - particularly birds and freshwater fish - and enjoys client education, emergency medicine, and general practice. Outside the office she enjoys spending time with her children Corey, Asher, Kyrie, and Morgan, choral singing, perennial gardening, and doing anything artsy or creative.