Cohort of 2023
Hello! My name is Mikayla, and I am from Langley, BC. I graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Behavioural Neuroscience.
Through UBC’s Faculty of Medicine Summer Student Research Program, I was introduced to the overall approaches used to functionally characterize variants of unknown significance associated with rare genetic disorders. My research project focused on investigating how stoploss mutations in the gene CLDN11 cause Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease – which not only deepened my understanding of genetics, but also allowed me to appreciate the complexities of genetic disorders and their impact. Throughout this time, I was also volunteering as a crisis line responder, which taught me firsthand how rewarding it can be to support and assist individuals.
When learning about the field of genetic counselling, I realized that it intriguingly qualified as a career of both arts and science. It was an area defined by medical knowledge and research, and yet there was tremendous scope for self-expression in the form of empathetic communication and counselling. It was a facet of healthcare that combined my interests, and I am enthusiastic about leveraging my experiences to positively impact patients and their families, while also striving for equity, justice, and inclusion in genomic medicine.
In my free time I love to read, go to the gym, and spend time with my friends and family!