Dr. McBrien completed both her undergraduate and medical education at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She went on to an internship in General Surgery at the University of Michigan and completed her Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery residency at Northwestern University in Chicago. She has also had further training in endoscopic sinus surgery for children and adults.

She has done research in both medical and surgical management of ear and sinus diseases. Her current interests are pediatric otolaryngology and medical and surgical treatment of sinus disease in all age groups. She has won awards for teaching and for research, and currently participates in the education of residents and medical students at Beaumont Health System.

Dr. McBrien is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology. She is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. She is the Chair of the Surgical Services Operations Committee at Beaumont Hospital – Royal Oak, as well as Section Head of Otolaryngology there.