Rachel grew up in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, and graduated magna cum laude from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology. While at St. Olaf, Rachel was involved in cardiac physiology research, and after graduation moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to continue her research at Emory University. She returned to Minnesota and completed both medical school (2005) and residency (2009) at the University of Minnesota.

Rachel is board certified in pediatrics, and joined Wayzata Children’s Clinic in 2009. Her clinical interest includes working with Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (complex care). She has provided leadership in quality improvement work for Wayzata Children's Clinic since 2016 and has served as the Medical Director for St. David's Center since 2017. Rachel and her husband live in Plymouth, and in her spare time she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her nieces.