A native of Shelbyville, Kentucky, Ellen Matthews Oetinger graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1985 with an Associate's Degree in Nursing later, earning her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from Immaculata University in 2012. She has practiced in a variety of healthcare related fields over the past 35 years and is presently a marketing representative for a renal-related medical practice. The mother of two grown sons, Phil and Henrik, Ellen resides outside of Philadelphia with her husband Pete.