I graduated with my Bachelor's Degree in Medical Technology from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI, and then did my practical training at Butterworth Hospital also in Grand Rapids. Following my internship, I was hired at Butterworth Hospital and worked as a Medical Technologist and was eventually promoted to a supervisory position in the Hematology area of the laboratory. My position included responsibility for evaluating, revising and implementing new procedure manuals and working with the student interns.

During this time period, I decided to pursue further education and enrolled in the Master's Program for Clinical Laboratory Science at Michigan State University. In 1971, I graduated with my MS degree and was then hired by the Michigan Department of Public Health in Lansing, MI, as a Laboratory Evaluation Specialist. When I started with Public Health in 1971, we inspected laboratories under three sets of regulations: State of Michigan, Medicare and Interstate. This continued until the CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) regulations went into effect in 1992.

I met my husband. Gary, at Public Health when we shared an overflow office. He was working for the Department of Education at that time. We were married in December of 1980. We both enjoy golf and the local theater. I also enjoy bowling and do volunteer work for my Church, St. Thomas Aquinas and also for Sparrow Health Systems at St. Lawrence Campus. We have no children, but we have two dogs who are absolute joys: MacDuff a Cairn Terrier and Mickey, a Whippet, the M & M boys.