Jennifer grew up in a medical family. Her father is a heart surgeon with more than five decades of service and her mother trained and worked as a public health nurse. Before she was born, her parents served in the Peace Corps in Tanzania providing medical care and immunizations to the people of the East African country. Her family settled in Stockton, CA where her father established the region’s first heart program to ensure the people of San Joaquin County could receive life-saving care. That foundation shaped Jennifer’s belief that healthcare should be available and accessible to all, that medical organizations should be accountable and centered on the people they serve. Earlier in her career, Jennifer spent four years at Voices for Children, advocating for San Diego’s foster youth.