She graduated Magna Cum Laude from The Ohio State University's College of Education and Human Ecology with a degree in Exercise Science. She then pursued her graduate degree in Boston, MA where she received a Master's of Physician Assistant Studies from MCPHS University (Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences). Michelle worked in the Greater Boston area initially as a Hospitalist before specializing in orthopedics. She began her orthopedic career as an inpatient provider for a community hospital with 24/7 PA/NP orthopedic coverage that involved first assisting on all types of orthopedic surgeries including spine, in addition to both ER and inpatient consults.