Ms. Thorp is a native of Minneapolis, MN. She is a Physician in the Department of OB/GYN, Park Nicollet Clinic in Minneapolis, MN. Her field of interest is cross-cultural medicine. She helped develop a Somali childbirth education program, including a Somali language video, and participated in the publication of midwifery literature. She was awarded "Educator of the Year" by Park Nicollet Institute, 2003.

Ms. Thorp has served as consultant and editor on IHEA's literature on breast and cervical cancers.