Anna Prestel grew up in Marietta, Georgia, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Genetics from the University of Georgia in 2022. After completing her undergraduate studies, she remained at UGA for a year to contribute to a genome-wide association study (GWAS) focused on the systems biology of sorghum–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) interactions.
Following her research experience, Anna transitioned into the clinical field. She worked as a genetics coordinator at a private clinic and subsequently took on a role as a genetic counseling assistant in the Neurology Department at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. At CHOA, she collaborated closely with genetic counselors, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to coordinate and facilitate the genetic testing process. Her responsibilities included assisting with administrative tasks, reviewing and correcting test requisition forms, managing supply inventories, obtaining previous genetic testing results, and shadowing in various clinics to support patient care.
In her free time, Anna enjoys walking along the Atlanta BeltLine, hiking, painting, spending time with friends, and exploring new restaurants around the city. She is excited to be a part of Emory's Genetic Counseling program and would love to speak with prospective students about the application process and her experience in the program.