Dr. Turner was born in Chesterton, Indiana. She graduated from Loyola University in Chicago for her undergraduate study, completed medical school at the University of Chicago, and then stayed on for OBGYN residency at the University of Chicago. She has been in private practice for 35 years in LaPorte, Indiana.

In 2000, she joined one week mission trips to Guatemala. Then in 2009, she transitioned to part-time practice and went on her first mission with Doctors Without Borders/MSF. To date, she has completed five missions with Doctors Without Borders.