She attended Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, graduating with honors. During medical school, Dr. Denwood was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society for academic excellence and Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society recognizing scholarship, service, and leadership. While her early interests focused on women’s health, she remained broadly engaged in service-oriented care and education.

Dr. Denwood completed her internship at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, in 2012. During this year, she was actively involved in promoting education around hospice and end-of-life care. Her clinical excellence and leadership were recognized by her peers, who voted her Intern of the Year, and she was awarded the Joseph H. Crampton Memorial Award for outstanding intern performance.

She went on to complete her ophthalmology residency at the Indiana University Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute in Indianapolis, Indiana, graduating in June 2015. During residency, Dr. Denwood participated in research projects focused on glaucoma treatment and management. Although she had not initially envisioned a career in ophthalmology, observing cataract surgery for the first time as a third-year medical student profoundly influenced her path. She was drawn to the precision of eye surgery and the immediate, life-changing impact that restoring vision can have on patients.

In August 2015, Dr. Denwood relocated to Western North Carolina, drawn initially by the region’s natural beauty but ultimately choosing to stay because of the community. She established her clinical practice in Waynesville and became a partner at Mountain Eye Associates in 2018, where she served patients throughout the region for more than a decade. Her private practice experience spans comprehensive ophthalmology, continuity care, and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Denwood has demonstrated a sustained commitment to patient safety, advocacy, and professional leadership. She has been actively involved with the North Carolina Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (NCSEPS) since 2022, contributing to initiatives focused on patient safety, physician advocacy, and quality improvement in ophthalmic care.

Dr. Denwood is also deeply engaged in global ophthalmology and medical education. She has served as a volunteer surgeon with SEE International, providing clinical and surgical ophthalmic services to underserved communities in Bolivia, most recently in 2024. She continues to advance global outreach through education, including directing the 2025 NCSEPS Fall Meeting MSCIS Wet Lab to provide hands-on simulation-based training for ophthalmology residents.

After more than 10 years in private practice serving Western North Carolina, Dr. Denwood is transitioning into academic medicine. She will be joining East Carolina University as the new ophthalmology residency program launches in July 2026, fulfilling a lifelong goal of teaching, mentoring and service.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Denwood enjoys hiking throughout Western North Carolina, gardening, contra dancing, improving her Spanish, and spending time with family and friends.