Carolyn grew up in Sydney and then moved to Adelaide to study medicine. She completed her medical degree at the University of Adelaide in 2002. She undertook her physician training, specialising in endocrinology, across the major teaching hospitals in Adelaide and became a Fellow of the RACP in 2010. She undertook her PhD at Flinders University, which looked into the metabolic and cardiovascular effects of mild glucocorticoid excess, before moving to Canberra, where she has lived since 2013. She has a strong interest in medical education, having previously been the director of physician education and of prevocational education and training at Canberra Hospital. She is also on the National Examining Panel for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Carolyn works at Canberra Health Services as Director of Diabetes and Senior Staff Specialist Endocrinologist. In her spare time, Carolyn enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dog and skiing.