About
Joanna Chan was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology from the University of Florida. During her time there, she served as an undergraduate research assistant on an assay investigating mutation accumulation effects on pathogen susceptibility in C. elegans.
Since graduation, Joanna has gained diverse experience in public health, contributing to obesity intervention research, serving as a case investigator, and later working as a Project Coordinator at a public health consulting firm. In this role, she supported several notable initiatives, including the CDC’s NHSNCoLab, NCHS Birth and Fetal Death Reporting, and NCHS Medicolegal Death Investigation projects.
Motivated by a desire to deepen her understanding of genetics and pursue a career in genetic counseling, Joanna returned to the UF, where she worked as a Genetic Counseling Assistant in the Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism Clinic. Through this experience, she has developed a strong commitment to supporting individuals and families as they navigate the challenges of obtaining a diagnosis for rare diseases.
In her free time, she enjoys attending concerts, thrifting, and hiking with her German shepherd, Scout.