Dr. Burns received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University in English. She graduated from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine with Honors in a Special Field and simultaneously earned a Masters Degree in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health. Following dental school, Dr. Burns completed training at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Baltimore and received a Certificate in Hospital Dentistry.  Dr. Burns then completed a two-year residency in Endodontics at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and received a Certificate in Endodontics.

Dr. Burns is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics.  She is also a Fellow of the International College of Dentists.

She is a member of the American Dental Association, Georgia Dental Association, Northern District Dental Society, American Association of Endodontists, College of Diplomates of the American Board of Endodontics, The Thomas P. Hinman Dental Society, Georgia Association of Endodontists, and the Southern Endodontic Study Club.  Dr. Burns also volunteers at the Ben Massell Dental Clinic in Atlanta, Georgia by contributing services of endodontic therapy.