Briefly describe the path that brought you here.

For most of my life, I’ve been focused on telling stories and started my professional path at the age of 12 when I borrowed my dad’s 35mm camera (and never gave it back). While getting my degree in journalism at the University of Kansas, I found an ability to tell stories both visually and narratively that served me well in a somewhat short career in newspapers (7 years). When the grind of the off-schedule newspaper life got to be enough, I transitioned to crafting the messaging for a variety of companies I believed in. Each had something to offer the world but needed someone to tell the story of what that was, and to make it look good. When I first heard about what pharmacogenomics could do and how its application was still in its infancy, I knew what was next for me.

What motivated you to get involved with RxGenomix?

All my life I’ve been determined to spend my days doing something more meaningful than just working. I found my first true calling in journalism, hoping I could affect change for the better, and missed that somewhat when I transitioned to the corporate world. Helping RxGenomix get started from scratch provided a perfect opportunity to get back to something meaningful. I’m blown away on a weekly basis by the impact PGx can have on people’s lives and its potential for the future.

What is the one thing you most hope to accomplish with RxGenomix in the next five years?

Honestly, I just hope to get the testing in as many of the right hands as possible. I had a significant adverse drug reaction to pain meds when I was a kid and my father had one that resulted in surgery for a brain bleed. A simple PGx test we ran a few years ago explained exactly why for both of us. If we can keep just one kid out of the ER or someone else’s dad out of an unnecessary surgery, I’ll keep at it every day for the next five years.

What’s your personal business philosophy?

Invest in something bigger than yourself.

What is the one thing you can’t live without?

My road bike (as in bicycle). I really discovered this while rock climbing years ago but doing something physically demanding outdoors where a lack of attention brings a risk of serious injury really tends to clear the mind.

You have two weeks. Where would you go?

Easy–Glacier National Park backcountry. Feels like the roof of the world, but there’s still plenty of oxygen.

What is your spirit animal?

My eleven-year-old. He’s smart, creative, extroverted, confident, kind and with a quirky sense of humor – all things I wish I had been at his age and now know will be extremely valuable later in life.

Who should play you in the movie about your life?

Tim McGraw or Paul Rudd, depending if it’s a sappy, made-for-TV drama or a more accurate portrayal.