Dr. Pankhurst was born and raised in western Oklahoma. She graduated high school from Burns Flat - Dill City. It was during her freshman year of high school that she experienced the medical side of optometry after having her eye scratched during a basketball game and grew to love the profession! She then moved to Tahlequah, Ok where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science of Cell and Molecular Biology from Northeastern State University. From there, she completed her optometry degree at The Oklahoma College of Optometry where she graduated cum laude.

During optometry school, Dr. Pankhurst was involved in fellowship of Christian optometrist, Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity, class president, and enjoyed volunteering at the Special Olympics. After graduation, she then completed an ocular disease and refractive surgery residency at the Clay-Rhynes Eye  Clinic in Durant, Ok and RGB Eye Associates in Sherman, Tx.

Dr. Pankhurst has been married to her husband, Rocklin since 2016 and recently welcomed her daughter Amelia in April 2025. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, snowboarding, taking cruises, and flying airplanes with her dad.