She received her undergraduate degree from Franklin and Marshall College and her doctorate in medical microbiology and immunology at Ohio State University, where she was granted the Chairman’s Award for Most Outstanding Graduate Student. She received her medical degree from the Medical College of Ohio. She completed her otolaryngology residency at UPMC. Dr. McElwain is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, the American Association of Cancer Research, and the American Society of Microbiology. She specializes in general otolaryngology with special interests in sino-nasal disorders and pediatric otolaryngology. Dr. McElwain also has specific interest in allergy detection and treatment as well as snoring and sleep apnea problems.