ClINICAL STRATEGIST

Traveling the World

GROWING UP GLOBALLY

01 / My father was an Air Force officer, which meant that we relocated to different parts of the globe throughout my entire childhood.

02 / My family lived in 10 different states or countries, including Germany and Portugal, and there were times when not all 5 of us were together. My parents worked very hard to provide a stable, grounded home, but moving schools, making new friends, and adjusting to the challenges of life as a kid were difficult at times.

03 / I learned to adapt to new friends, schools, and locations, and the importance of putting myself out there. My pursuit of new adventures and knowledge likely stems from the many different perspectives and cultures I experienced from such a young age.

Playing Sports

NAVIGATING HIGH SCHOOL

01 / I was a competitive basketball player, and it taught me a lot about discipline and teamwork. I was a nationally ranked freshman on both my high school and club basketball teams, playing against top talent, including Brittney Griner. I received several DI basketball scholarships as a result.

02 / In high school, I was also really driven to achieve academically. I had to choose between attending a college that focused on basketball or one that prioritized academics for medical school. I chose the US Air Force Academy, following in my father’s footsteps, because it felt like the best mix of opportunities to keep playing basketball while getting a great education.

03 / My mom was very sick while I was in high school, which was really challenging for my family and me. After many years of making and leaving friends because of moving, I connected with friends and teammates in a different way as we leaned on each other for support.

Exploring my Limits

JUGGLING SPORTS, SCHOOL, AND SERVICE

01 / During my sophomore year at the US Air Force Academy, where I pursued pre-med coursework to eventually attend Medical School. I excelled at basketball, but found that the intense training and game schedules made it difficult to do as well in school as I wanted to.

02 / Balancing daily military requirements, three-hour practices, injury rehabilitation, two to three games per week, and pre-med requirements made life tough. I relied on my mentors and parents to help guide my next steps. Though I stuck with biology, I often found myself doing labs after games and practices, which left me feeling burned out.

03 / At the end of my sophomore year, I decided not to pursue medical school. It was a difficult decision, as I wanted to work in the medical field and help patients for as long as I knew. With everything I was juggling, it felt like too much at the time, and decided to change my focus to Biology.

Building a Career

SEEKING A PATH THAT INSPIRED ME

01 / I went on to earn an MBA in Healthcare Administration, not knowing exactly where it would lead me, but feeling connected to the field and the potential to help patients.

02 / After graduating, I spent three years in Denver working on satellite systems in space through the military. I collected data, tested the health and safety of the satellites, and analyzed where they were headed. I also answered questions about whether the satellites posed a threat to national security.

03 / After 4 years as a US Air Force Space Acquisition Officer, I felt ready for a change. I was proud of my accomplishments in the Air Force, and working on satellites was very cool, but I felt drawn back to healthcare. It was difficult to leave a well-respected and secure career that I’d invested over 10 years in, and that transition became one of the most challenging but rewarding experiences of my life.

04 / That MBA came in handy, and I got my first job in the biotech industry working in finances and administration. Thanks to great relationships, mentors, and opportunities at the company, my role quickly evolved into what I do now: developing and implementing strategies to make our medicines available to as many people as possible, and working to improve diversity in clinical trials.