Dr. Purnell is a Royal College Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in Orthopaedic Trauma and Foot and Ankle Surgery. She obtained her medical degree from the University of British Columbia before completing her Orthopaedic Surgical Residency at the University of Calgary.
She subsequently completed a fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, focused on complex Foot and Ankle Reconstructive Surgery. Following this, she completed an Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship in Oxford, England. She has published several peer-reviewed articles and presented research nationally and internationally.
She has been the recipient of provincial and national scholarships in recognition of her academic endeavors and leadership