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

I have a BA in English​ ​from UCLA.

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 a career in online advertising when I realized I didn’t like the work I was doing and wanted to find something more fulfilling.

I did consider a few other career options in the healthcare field (PT, OT, PA), but none of those options felt right for me. When I learned about genetic counseling, I was immediately drawn to the unique combination of roles that the field encompasses (genetics expert, counselor, educator, patient advocate, etc.). I loved the idea of breaking down complex genetic conditions and testing options into layman’s terms to help people 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?

One obstacle was simply finding out about genetic counseling in the first place, as many people still are not familiar with the field. At first my non-science background concerned me, however, as I went through the application cycle I came to realize that my unique background was actually an asset.

Once you decided to pursue a Genetic Counseling degree, how did you know that KGI was the right school for you?

I felt the KGI program was very progressive with the flipped classroom model and coursework that included pharmacogenetics and genomics. I also felt KGI had the agility to quickly make changes to keep up with the fast moving world of genetics. The first year students mentioning how supported they felt by the program leadership pretty much sealed the deal for me.

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

I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge of human genetics so I can answer the complicated genetics-related questions I’m already getting from friends and family. I’m also looking forward to getting to know the MSGC and MSGDA students.

What is one fun and interesting fact about you?

I was a pilates instructor for 4.5 years so I find myself assessing posture without intending to. Old habits die hard!