Dr. McDonagh is originally from San Francisco and earned her undergraduate degree from California Polytechnic State University before attending North Carolina State University for veterinary school. During her training, she gained diverse experience working with exotic animals, including elephants, rhinos, and tigers, as well as equine medicine with a focus on reproduction. Her clinical interests include internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, minimally invasive procedures, and ultrasonography.

Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. McDonagh loves traveling, hiking, paddleboarding, interior design, gardening, and exploring Chicago. She is also a proud pet mom to two Golden Retrievers, Oden and Mabel, who keep her active and entertained. If she weren't a veterinarian, she might have pursued archaeology or art history.