green was educated at the university of queensland in the 1970s, where after receiving 1st class honours in medicine she worked for several years in queensland hospitals before returning to the university of queensland to receive in 1984 a phd in epidemiology. green chose to study medicine due to her then boyfriend's enjoyment of medical school, her personal enjoyment of biology, as well as the influence of scientists such as marie curie. she had previously considered studying english literature or going into diplomatic service.