Laura graduated as valedictorian of James M. Coughlin in 1995.  She continued her education at the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, where she earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Letters, Arts, & Science and minors in Gerontology and Human Development and Family Studies.  After graduating from Penn State in 1999, Laura matriculated into dental school.

Originally, Laura was set to graduate from dental school in 2003.  While in her first semester, she began getting severe headaches.  The headaches progressed and she also began having balance problems, dizziness, and arm numbness.  At the end of her first year of dental school, Laura was diagnosed with having Arnold Chiari Malformation.

The only real treatment for Chiari is surgery.  In June 2001, Laura underwent brain and spinal surgery at the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO with Dr. John Oro.  She had posterior fossa decompression, C-1 laminectomy, and duraplasty.  Basically, bone was removed from the skull to make more room for her brain.  The surgery was successful and Laura had relief from most of her symptoms.  Recently, in October 2005, Laura was diagnosed with Syringomyelia.  A syrinx is a fluid-filled cyst within the spinal cord.  More than likely, the Chiari Malformation is the cause of this recent diagnosis.  In addition to Chiari and Syringomyelia, Laura was diagnosed with having Vitamin D deficiency, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

After recovering from her surgery, Laura decided to work for a few years in the dental field before returning to school.  While working, she decided that she still wanted to be a dentist, and returned to her studies at the University at Buffalo.   During dental school, Laura worked as a dental assistant at Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo. 

On May 10, 2008, Laura graduated with her DDS degree from the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine.  Laura completed her General Practice Residency in June and now works at Casey Dental and in the OR.