She qualified from the Royal London Hospital, London, and trained in neurosurgery at Atkinson Morley's Hospital, the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and Great Ormond Street Hospital, London. She spent 11 years as a Consultant at Atkinson Morley's Hospital before moving to Plymouth in 2003. She was a founder member and first Secretary of the British Skull Base Society, with a particular interest in anterior and central skull base surgery.