Dr. Mara Vernier was born and raised in Texas. She grew up in McKinney, Texas. She attended veterinary school at the University of Missouri, then completed a small animal rotating internship at the University of Illinois, followed by a residency in small animal emergency and critical care at the University of Georgia.

Dr. Vernier lives with her husband, Mark, and their seven pets: four dogs and three cats. She is a wannabe extreme cat lady and would commit to "cats only" critical care if that was an option. In her free time, she enjoys reading, going to the gym, and spending time with family.