McKenzie Vater is from Alexandria, Kentucky. She earned her undergraduate degree at Northern Kentucky University (go Norse!) and attended medical school at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, while maintaining her devotion to the Kentucky Wildcats. She completed her residency and chief residency at Vanderbilt and worked as a pediatric hospitalist for a year at Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital prior to starting rheumatology fellowship. In addition to clinical rheumatology, she hopes to continue her scholarly work in medical education and health equity.

Her hobbies include biking, running, reading, and spending time with her husband, daughter, son, and cat.