A Grinnell native, Laura Ferguson graduated from Grinnell College with a degree in studio art in 1990. In 1995 she received her M.D. from the University of Iowa College of Medicine. She completed a family medicine residency at North Iowa Mercy Hospital in Mason City, Iowa, in 1998. She served as Chief Resident during her third year there.

After graduation from residency, Laura joined her father, David Ferguson, M.D., in practice in Grinnell. She served as president of the medical staff from 2001-03 and currently sits on the State of Iowa Prenatal Advisory Panel. She and her husband, Scott Wiley, have two children, Katherine and Samuel.