“Jen is a certified Clinical Research Professional at the University of Michigan Health/Michigan Medicine: Rogel Comprehensive Cancer Center and is team lead on Neuro-Oncology clinical trials and cooperative group clinical trials across multiple disease sites. She is a graduate of Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor of Science in Public & Nonprofit Administration with an emphasis in Community Health.
In 2003, at the age of 11 years old, she experienced her first headache. Within 6 weeks, that would be forever known as the first symptom, and it was rapidly joined by a slew of debilitating issues. Her ability to function independently was rapidly stolen. It would not be until October 1, 2003 that this monster tearing apart her life would be diagnosed as a low-grade inoperable brainstem tumor, resulting in acquired hydrocephalus.
Since then, Jen’s daily life has been filled with years of scans, doctor’s appointments, managing acquired chronic conditions, struggling with survivors’ guilt, visible and hidden scars on her skin and deep in her soul.
Her experience is mixed with the purest friendships discovered at cancer camps, and shattered hearts from friends stolen from this earth by the evil of cancer.
Many tears and smiles and all the feels in between.
Her journey started one day, way back when she was 11 years old, in the hospital recovering from the first brain surgery.
Today, she proudly wears a white coat walking along patients and physicians to navigate the science needed to improve treatment, manage, diagnose and hopefully one day cure cancer. “
