[1] In Dayhoff's words: My mother was a science professor in a medical school and convinced me that I had to understand not only what physicians knew, but also how they worked and made decisions.

I was interested in all of these areas as I was growing up, and I had a choice whether to study computer science or go to medical school.

Dayhoff completed her second residency in 1980 at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she studied clinical pathology and gave special attention to Laboratory Information Systems.

[4] Dayhoff has held high-ranking positions in the US Department of Veterans Affairs' VistA Imaging Project since 1989.

She has said that her husband, Vincent Brannigan, has provided invaluable support throughout the years by sharing household responsibilities.