Could you tell us a little bit about your educational background?

I graduated from IU in May 2022 with a BS in Biology with a concentration in Cell Bio & Genetics, as well as minors in Psychology and Religious Studies.

What first got you interested in the healthcare field as a career choice? There are a lot of career options in the field -nursing, physician assistant, etc., what made you decide that genetic counseling was the right practice area/career choice for you?

I learned about Genetic Counseling from one of my professors during my sophomore year of college and realized that it would be a great way for me to combine my love of science with my desire to foster personalized connection and care within the healthcare field. During my senior year at IU, I worked to make sure that I had the ability to explain complex scientific topics to the general public by collaborating with my Religious Studies professors to write and present an article about the intersection between religion and CRISPR gene modification.

What type of obstacles have you had to overcome on the road to getting your education and in particular in pursuing your Genetic Counseling degree?

Due to COVID, and the relative lack of Genetic Counselors near my location in Indiana, I struggled to find GCs to shadow during my undergrad years. I was able to make up for this by doing my own research and watching videoed GC sessions to make sure that this was the career for me.

What are you most looking forward to about beginning your Genetic Counseling studies?

I’m very excited to continue to grow alongside my cohort! I value having personal connections with my classmates and am glad to know that we can continue to support each other even after graduation.

What is one fun and interesting fact about you?

I’m SCUBA certified and dove at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia!