Dr. Flannagan is from California where she graduated summa cum laude from California State University, Fresno. She attended medical school at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. Her special training in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology was at Allegheny General Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic in the Department of Hepatology.

During her training, she was able to take advantage of her Spanish speaking abilities and studied in Valencia Spain for a one year. She completed one month medical training in San Jose, Costa Rica, serving under privileged areas and providing basic health care screening and treatment. She also completed a one month rotation in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in the Department of Gastroenterology.

She is dual board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroentrology. She is a member of the Crohns and Colitis Foundation, American Gastroenterological Association and the American College of Gastroenterology. She is active on the staff of Ohio Valley Hospital, Sewickley Valley Hospital, and Three Rivers Endoscopy Center.