Dr Abell graduated from UNSW in 1986 and completed her specialist training in medical oncology in 1994 (FRACP). She also holds a graduate Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology which she completed through the University of Newcastle in 2001.

Throughout her medical oncology career Dr Abell has worked as a staff specialist at several major teaching hospitals in NSW, QLD and Victoria. She returned to her home town of Newcastle in 2002 to take up a senior staff specialist position in medical oncology at Calvary Mater Hospital where she worked until 2022.

In 2011 Dr Abell established the Lake Macquarie Oncology private group practice at Gateshead.

From 2015 to 2019 Dr Abell was appointed as the Director of the Melanoma Unit at Calvary Mater and from July 2019 she was appointed to her current principal role as Director of Cancer Services, Hunter New England Health. In her position with HNE Health Dr Abell played a key role in the design and establishment of the new Maitland Oncology service at Maitland Hospital in 2022. She is currently also the Clinical Director of this service.

Dr Abell's main subspecialty clinical interest is the management of lung cancer. She was an active member of the ALP Lung Cancer Consultative group from 2000-2006 and chaired the Area Lung cancer Multidisciplinary team from 2003- 2007. She is a member of the Thoracic Oncology Group of Australia (TOGA) and regularly attends international lung cancer meetings such as the annual World Lung Cancer Conference. She is also a current member of the Lake Macquarie Private Lung multidisciplinary team which meets fortnightly to discuss new lung cancer cases and recommend optimal treatment plans.

In her spare time Dr Abell and her husband keep busy with a variety of interests including sampling new local restaurants, Civic Theatre performances, weekend getaways to Sydney or the vineyards, hosting French exchange students, and playing the occasional game of golf.

Dr Abell conducts regular private practice sessions every second Tuesday and Friday at the Lake Macquarie Hospital Private Consulting Suites.