About
Carlissa Reagan was born and raised in Concord, California. She moved to Los Angeles to earn her undergraduate degree at UCLA, majoring in Biology and minoring in Evolutionary Medicine. During college, she worked as an instructor at children’s science camps and tutoring centers. She also gained valuable research experience in UCLA’s Sork lab investigating seedling establishment traits in valley oak trees. After graduation, she worked as a genetic counseling assistant at UCLA Health Cancer Genetics and volunteered as a crisis counselor at Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center. As a cancer genetic counseling assistant, she helped manage point-of-care genetic testing programs for patients with colorectal, ovarian, and endometrial cancer. Serving the diverse patient population in Los Angeles formed her interest in expanding access to genetic services for underinsured communities. Carlissa is excited to return to UCLA as a student and learn more about addressing health inequities within genetic counseling. Outside the classroom, you can find her going to movie theaters, working on a new craft project, or trying new restaurants across Los Angeles.