Dr. Sartain grew up in Houston Texas and attended Rice University where she received her undergraduate degree in biology. She attended Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine receiving her BS in Veterinary Medicine and DVM with cum laude. Dr. Sartain moved to Bethesda in 1995 and worked part-time at several veterinary hospitals in the area while raising children until starting at Alpine in June 2002. Dr. Sartain and her husband Keith, have four teenage children and a menagerie of animals. Dr. Sartain enjoys ringing in a handbell choir, knitting, biking and taking her four dogs for walks.