About
Alexis, a Southern California native, began her education in the California Community College System. During this time, she interned with the Pathmaker Internship at Palomar Health, gaining early insight into patient needs and the healthcare system.
After transferring to CSULB, Alexis participated in the Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement, conducting research on the restoration of Southern California marshes. She graduated with a B.S. in Microbiology and a Chemistry minor, becoming the first college graduate in her family.
Post-graduation, Alexis worked in pharmaceuticals as a technician, cell therapy specialist, and aseptic operator. She later returned to research and clinical care as a junior research specialist at UCI, where she researched and organized clinics for lysosomal storage disorders.
Throughout her undergraduate studies and professional experience, Alexis volunteered in local genetic clinics, shadowed various genetic counseling specialties, and actively participated in the Genetic Counseling Prospective Student Network (GCPSN) and the Genetic Counseling Experience Initiative. She contributed to developing free application assistance resources and enrichment materials for prospective students. Notably, she led one of GCPSN’s most productive outreach years by organizing nearly thirty presentations and creating the outreach workflow used today. In 2024, Alexis was awarded the SCGC Prospective Genetic Counseling Student Scholarship.
Additionally, Alexis volunteered as a crisis counselor with the Crisis Text Line and the California Coalition for the Youth. She also served as a support group facilitator for familial dementia caregivers through Alzheimer's Orange County. These experiences equipped her with compassionate, active listening skills, which she plans to carry into her genetic counseling training and beyond.
Now proud to call herself a Bruin, Alexis is eager to become a culturally sensitive genetic counselor to meet the needs of Southern California's diverse patient populations. She aims to complete a graduate thesis that enhances understanding of healthcare needs in underserved communities and, upon completing her education, mentor future genetic counselors and promote awareness of genetic services in these communities.