I began my educational journey at the University of West Georgia as a music major. I lost my passion along the way for music theory, which left me a bit displaced. I followed with the pursuit of a general education degree in business at the University of Phoenix, until I found myself, and walked into my purpose, medicine. I am currently a Mercer University student in a pre-physician assistant (PA) program with a concentration in science. Upon graduation, I hope to be accepted into a PA program at Mercer, Emory, or Morehouse School of Medicine.
I never sought to become involved in research. The research field found me. I became engaged with Emory Hope Clinic’s Community Advisory Board, connected to trans-feminine inclusive studies, the first of their kind in the United States. After becoming the United States Community Working Group Representative and being instrumental in my involvement of the HPTN Infinity Study and the HVTN Amp Study, I began a career at Emory’s Hope Clinic in recruitment. The evolution became an accomplished lead research coordinator with a passion for research, working on the first trans-feminine cohort study in the United States, the LITE Study.
Currently, I work on the LITE Study, Leading Innovation for Transgender Women’s Health, and Empowerment. This study accesses HIV and STI incidents amongst the trans-feminine community and other socio-economic determinants, such as education, employment, insurance coverage and food security. I am fortunate and grateful to be here from where I've been, but I am even more excited about the future.