Dr. Machen received her undergraduate degree from Bucknell University, where she graduated magna cum laude, and her medical degree from Penn State, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. She completed her internship at Reading Hospital followed and her residency at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in Chicago, where she served as Chief Resident. She returned to Pennsylvania to complete her Glaucoma Fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital. She works at Tri-Century Eye Care in Bucks County and is member of the Glaucoma Service at Wills Eye Hospital.

In her spare time, Dr. Machen enjoys running, hiking and cooking and is an unapologetic Steelers fan (though she has room in her heart for Philadelphia sports as well).