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

I completed a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Biology at UC San Diego. At UCSD, I worked as a teaching assistant for genetics, biochemical techniques, and a physiology course.

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 appreciate how genetic counselors walk a line between communicating technical information while comforting and counseling patients. Sometimes, healthcare can feel rushed and impersonal, but genetic counseling is a field where providers focus on making sure each patient understands the meaning and significance of their genetic information.

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?

For a few years I taught night classes as adjunct faculty at a community college, in addition to my full-time job organizing and teaching biology and chemistry labs. I was hoping to eventually move into a full-time teaching position. I loved teaching labs, but wanted to teach more lectures, especially courses with an emphasis in molecular biology. When someone suggested looking into genetic counseling, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to teach molecular biology and genetics by educating patients.

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

This program has an incredible group of faculty. After getting to know the genetic counselors, doctors, and professors involved in planning and teaching the genetic counseling curriculum, I knew I would enjoy the program. The faculty are dedicated to ensuring students are well-informed, know how to comfort and counsel patients, and have clinical experience to clearly explain genetic information to patients and providers.

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

Spending time with a tight-knit group of faculty and future GC’s.

What is one fun and interesting fact about you?

I love riding my bike and being outdoors.