Dr. Lopate received her BS from Colorado State University in 1984 and a Masters Degree in Reproductive Physiology in 1987 from The Ohio State University. She graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1991.

She practiced in a rural mixed practice in Minnesota from 1991 – 1995. She then went on to complete a residency in comparative theriogenology (reproduction) at Purdue University from 1995—1997. She was board certified in Theriogenology in 1997. She continued to teach clinical reproduction at Purdue University Veterinary Hospital for 2.5 more years, and during that time, spent 6 months on sabbatical in Australia, working on horses and companion animals.

Since that time she has been practicing predominantly companion animal and equine reproduction. She has had extensive experience with both large and small stud farms in the equine industry and with both professional companion animal breeders and pet owner/breeders in the companion animal field.

She opened a reproduction specialty practice in November of 2003 and provided reproductive services for horses and small animals until 2021. In 2021, she retired from equine practice and currently co-owns a companion animal practice and provides services to dogs, cats and the occasional exotic animal at the Portland Zoo that needs reproductive specialty care.

Dr. Lopate has a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, an Australian Shepherd, a Cleveland Bay gelding, 2 miniature donkeys, 2 barn cats and 3 sheep for her dogs to herd. She enjoys hiking, biking, herding sheep, playing with her dogs and crafting in her free time.