Mikaela is from Hastings, Nebraska. She graduated from the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Nebraska with her Bachelor's Degree in Rehabilitative Studies and a minor in Psychology. Mikaela then received her Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy in 2013. Mikaela became a Certified Lymphedema Therapist through The Academy of Lymphatic Studies in 2013. She is also certified in Physical Agent Modalities. Mikaela initially began her Occupational Therapy career working at a critical access hospital with acute care, swing bed, outpatient therapy and skilled nursing facility as well as long-term care.
Since graduating, Mikaela has attended several continuing education courses, primarily focusing on additional aspects of lymphedema including head and neck lymphedema, axillary cording and elastic taping as well as other topics related to lymphedema. Mikaela has also received training for Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM). Mikaela began working with Mary Lanning Healthcare in 2014. She works primarily in outpatient lymphedema therapy but also helps with acute care at Mary Lanning hospital as well as home health lymphedema therapy.