Our Genetic Counselors

I was fortunate to be accepted to University of California at Irvine for my undergraduate studies.  An outstanding college volunteer experience was being part of a surgical team who performed cleft lip and palate repairs internationally. Soon after, I got my first full time job in a commercial cytogenetic and molecular laboratory in Orange County.  I loved what I did working with the common thing that makes all people unique, but I had a deep-set desire to pursue further studies. 

While perusing job postings in the laboratory’s cafeteria, I was inspired by a job posting for a genetic counselor. After discussing what this role entailed with my lab director and contacting the National Society of Genetic Counselors, I found my goal and passionately pursued it. I knew I was on the right track when I gained fulfillment volunteering as a crisis intervention counselor at a women’s resource center and completing human anatomy. The technical knowledge, compassion, and social nature of genetic counselors seemed like a perfect fit.

California State University at Northridge was my destiny. In 2000, I received my Master of Science degree with distinction in genetic counseling. This wonderful program exposed me to the diverse settings of genetic counselors in the Los Angeles area while allowing me to develop positive relationships with what would be my professional family for years to come. I began working at Kaiser Permanente Orange County in 2006. I came to Kaiser Permanente with work experience from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Genzyme Genetics. 

I am affiliated with the National Society of Genetic Counselors, American Board of Genetic Counseling, State of California Department of Public Health and the American Society of Human Genetics.