She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a master's degree in landscape architecture. She later attended Frontier Nursing University, where she received her training as a nurse-midwife. She has worked with women and families for the past 15 years in San Francisco, New Orleans, and the Washington DC metro area. Along with interests in natural childbirth and primary cesarean prevention, complementary therapies for women's health, the transition to menopause, and mind-body therapies, McDonald is committed to teaching and learning with residents, medical and midwifery students, and patients.