Born and raised in central Massachusetts, Dr. McDermott received her undergraduate degree in pre-veterinary medicine from UMass Amherst. She then went on to work as a veterinary technician in Shrewsbury before going on to attend veterinary school at the University of Missouri Columbia. She focused her time in veterinary school gaining experience with small animals and exotics, and returned home to Massachusetts after vet school to put her new skills into practice. Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. McDermott loves hiking, movies, games, and spending time with her family, including their family pets–a senior dog and cat.