Dr. Z was born and raised in the small town of Maysville, Kentucky, on the banks of the Ohio River. She received a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a bachelor’s in education from the University of Kentucky. She then moved to Cincinnati, where she began teaching and received a master’s degree in childhood development from Xavier University. While Dr. Z loved teaching, she couldn’t shake a love of medicine and animals and the dream of becoming a veterinarian, so she packed up and headed to The Ohio State University to receive her degree in veterinary medicine in 2000. She practiced in the Columbus, Ohio, area until moving to Utah in 2016.

Dr. Z resides in Park City with her African Grey Parrot and German Shepherd. Her passion is working with Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs, a canine search and rescue group with her dog, Rey. Other interests include skiing and hiking and her two grown daughters. Special veterinary interests include dermatology and general medicine.