Dr. Zhao is a native of China and received her medical degree from Shanghai Medical University in 1990. She completed her general surgery residency at Jiangyin Hospital at the Nantong Medical College in China and later completed Ph.D. studies in Toxicology at North Carolina State University. She also completed family practice residencies at Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, IL and Shands Jacksonville at the University of Florida. She served as a family practice physician in Lakeland, FL before relocating to Phoenix in 2002.

Dr. Zhao is a member of the American Academy of Family Practice and is certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. She is fluent in Chinese.