Dr. Noonan’s academic career started in the Albertus Magnus College where she received her BA and in the University of Vermont where she received her MD in 1954. She participated in a rotating internship at Chapel Hill North Carolina she completed a pediatric residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Following her residency, Dr. Noonan completed a fellowship in pediatric cardiology at Boston Children’s Hospital

She through her career has been active in many professional societies including the American college of cardiology, American heart association, American academy of pediatrics, American pediatric society, society for pediatric research and the Irish American pediatric society. She has served on a hand full of public advisory boards such as the national institute of health and the National Board of Medical Examiners. She has published extensively and been an national and international visiting professor. 

Dr. Noonan has received many honors including the founder’s award from the pediatric cardiology section of the American academy of pediatrics, founder award from the southern society for pediatric research and an honorary fellowship from the royal college of physicians of Ireland. Dr. Noonan though she has received many prestigious awards and honors, considers the love she has received from her many patients as well as the appreciation of thousands of medical students she has taught as a the greatest honor. She takes great pride in all of the pediatric residents who were trained at the university o Kentucky and are now providing care for children throughout the country.