Dr. Michelle Reckard graduated from the University of Florida in 1998 with a major in mathematics and minor in actuarial science. She worked for nine years in the actuarial consulting industry. In 2002 she began a career change into veterinary medicine, graduating from Argosy University in 2005 as a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT). Dr. Reckard received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2012 . After graduation, she moved to Indianapolis to complete a one year rotating small animal internship at VCA Advanced Veterinary Care Center. After completing the internship, she joined the staff full time as an Emergency Clinician. She completed her Master of Public Health (MPH) through the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health in September 2015.

In Minnesota, Dr. Reckard was highly involved with Basic Animal Rescue Training (BART), a non-profit organization that trains firefighters and other first responders how to safely handle animals encountered during emergency situations. She served on the Board of Directors from 2008-2012. She is co-author of BART's Large Animal Recapture and Restraint Curriculum that was approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a state-sponsored course in September 2012 and a contributing author of BART's Small Animal Basic Life Support Curriculum that was approved by the DHS in March 2008. She has given numerous presentations to first responders and was a speaker at the 31st Annual Arrowhead EMS Conference & Expo.