Jenna Jajjo

Hi! My name is Jenna Jajjo and I am from Metro-Detroit, Michigan. I graduated from Oakland University in the Spring of 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a minor in Biology. During my undergraduate studies, one of my jobs was working as a patient observation aide at Corewell Health, where I closely monitored the safety of vulnerable patients. This role helped me gain psychosocial support skills that are essential and transferable to providing exceptional genetic counseling care. Following graduation, I worked at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit as their genetic counseling assistant for two years. Some of the responsibilities I took on in this role were completing the hospital’s Lynch Syndrome screening protocol, preparing the monthly cancer genetics conferences, informing patients of result reclassifications, and authorizing genetic testing through insurance. I am incredibly grateful for the endless learning opportunities that this position gave me, which greatly reinforced my desire to pursue this path. Beyond work, I volunteered for KnowResolve, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting mental health and preventing youth suicides through advocacy, outreach, and education. Alongside a licensed mental health professional, I facilitated expressive art summer camps, fostering a safe and welcoming environment for teenagers to explore their emotions through expressive art. Outside of academics, you can expect to find me attending a concert, browsing thrift and antique stores, or hanging out with my beloved cat, Petunia. I am looking forward to being a part of MCW’s 6th genetic counseling cohort and can’t wait to explore all that the city of Milwaukee has to offer!