Dr. Hartzell was born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana. She is proud of her Midwestern roots and values. This environment encouraged a strong work ethic with an equal emphasis on kindness. Dr. Hartzell attended Miami University graduating Suma Cum Laude with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Anthropology. Driven by a desire to advance her interest in Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, she attended the prestigious Washington University School of Medicine, an institution which consistently ranks in the top three medical schools in the United States. Her medical school class was the first at Washington University to be comprised of an equal number of women and men. Dr. Hartzell graduated from medical school with numerous honors and awards.

She then completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the University of North Carolina Hospitals. Returning to St. Louis, Dr. Hartzell fulfilled her desire to specialize in Ophthalmology by training as a resident in the Washington University School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. She furthered her training after residency undertaking a fellowship in cornea and external diseases and refractive surgery with Dr. Lawrence Gans. Throughout her training and practice, Dr. Hartzell has performed thousands of cataract and lens implant procedures, refractive surgery procedures and corneal transplants.

After practicing in the Boston area, Dr. Hartzell and her husband decided to put down roots to raise their two children in Northern Virginia. She established Fairfax Eye Center in January 2008.