Dr. Erika Dillard received her Bachelor's Degree from Vanderbilt University in Neurobiology and Neurosciences. She then went on to receive her MD & Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee. During her time in medical school, Dr. Dillard spent much of her time researching the effects of an oncolytic virus for the treatment of high-grade gliomas. After completing medical school, Dr. Dillard became a neurosurgery resident at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. During her time in residency, she witnessed how outside factors can affect a patient's procedure. Her clinical and research background combined with a passion for patient care and safety allows Dr. Dillard to use new technologies to help improve patient care and outcomes.

Now she is a postdoctoral fellow at Patents2Products (part of the University of Memphis FedEx Insitute of Technology) and has recently founded PopCheck technologies. Her work with these two companies focuses on intellectual property in the healthcare field.

Outside of her jobs, Dr. Dillard works to increase the retention of under-represented medical personnel and students. She also mentors high school students, undergraduate students, and professionals seeking to enter the surgical field. Her hobbies include cooking, biking, and spending time with family.