Kate grew up in Denver, Colorado and attended the University of Kansas for her undergraduate degree in biochemistry. After graduating from KU, she went to the University of Minnesota to pursue a master’s degree in public health, where she developed interests in health equity, harm reduction for people who use substances, and violence prevention. During the time she earned her  master’s degree, Kate’s research focused on expanding cancer care to underserved communities in both rural and urban areas. Kate continued at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities to receive her medical degree. During medical school, Kate continued working in the harm reduction and violence prevention spaces and published research encouraging physicians to engage in firearm safety counseling with their patients. Additionally, she helped lead the Addiction Medicine and Scrubs Addressing the Firearm Epidemic student organizations. Kate looks forward to continuing her research in violence prevention and harm reduction through the obstetric-care perspective while at OHSU. Outside of medicine, Kate enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, and hosting dinner parties for her friends and family.