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

I graduated from UCSC in 2011 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology.

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?

Science has always been my favorite subject, and I’ve always loved helping people, so I always knew I wanted to be in the healthcare system where I can incorporate the two. Genetic Counseling is the right choice for me because my passion for studying conditions associated with DNA and chromosomes is immense. Nothing would be more rewarding than applying that passion in a clinical setting where I can help a patient achieve optimal healthcare.

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?

Working full time since college, while taking additional classes was a challenge. But, it was taking those classes where I learned about genetic counseling and I am incredibly thankful for that. Learning to balance my time while becoming a Mama over the last year is a perpetual challenge, but I’m setting the example for my daughter to never give up on your dreams.

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

Learning about all the genetic conditions and their associated mechanisms. For example, learning how mutations can affect our entire genome and how these conditions came about is beyond fascinating and I can’t wait to learn about this to a greater extent.

What is one fun and interesting fact about you?

I am obsessed with Star Wars.