Catherine holds a bachelor's degree in psychology, a certificate in gender studies and a microprogram in law from the University of Montreal. She is a candidate for the master's degree in political science at the University of Montreal and for the short program in disability and deafhood, rights and citizenship at UQAM. Her master's thesis, under the supervision of Professor Pascale Devette, focuses on the experience of chronic pain and the consequences of medical invalidation in healthcare trajectories. Catherine first joined the CEPPP as part of an internship funded by the FRQSC during her master's studies.

Living herself with chronic pain that originates from a rare and orphan connective tissue disease, Marfan syndrome, her approach to research is rooted in experiential knowledge and in her own healthcare trajectory and experience.