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

I graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2019 with a BA in Neuroscience and a BA in Psychology. During this time, I had the opportunity to work in a research laboratory studying the neurobiology of drug addiction. After graduating, I spent a couple years working as a Professional Research Assistant in a stress and circadian biology laboratory. Now, I am very excited to have begun my education in genetic counseling!

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 had wanted to be a psychologist from the time I was a kid, but came to love neurobiology as an undergraduate. Genetic counseling is a great combination of psychology and biology because you get the opportunity to help patients process the psychosocial aspects of a genetic condition and you also get to study the molecular mechanisms underlying these conditions. As genetic counselor, it will be a great privilege to be able to empower others to make informed decisions about their health.

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?

Remaining dedicated to my studies, pursuing research, and working a part-time job while dealing with chronic pain from a genetic condition of my own was one of the greatest obstacles I’ve had to contend with on my path to becoming a genetic counselor. Fortunately, I’ve had the support of wonderful family, friends, and academic mentors to help me keep my head up!

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

I am really looking forward to getting to know my classmates and beginning rotations. The connections we make here at KGI will form the foundation for a career of collaborative research and patient care. I’m also very excited to see how our classes will inform our counseling styles and the specialties we choose to pursue. We have so much to learn and a lifetime to do it!

What is one fun and interesting fact about you?

I have played the piano for most of my life and still love learning new songs, especially jazz!