The Origin Story
Raised in Golden Valley, Minnesota, Anna was born with fibular hemimelia—a congenital condition affecting her right leg. With only three toes on her right foot, a compromised ankle joint, and hip dysplasia, she underwent 28 surgical procedures throughout her childhood and adolescence at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare.
High-impact sports caused significant pain, so she turned to the pool. Swimming provided a gravity-neutral environment where her orthopedic differences didn't limit her. What began as a therapeutic outlet became a fierce competitive passion—and ultimately a pathway to the highest level of international competition.
That same resilience, forged through years of surgeries and rehabilitation, now powers her work in healthcare. The girl who spent her childhood navigating surgical wards grew into a woman determined to ensure no patient faces systemic barriers to life-saving care.
The Journey
From Golden Valley to the global stage and beyond
Growing Up in Golden Valley, MN
Born with fibular hemimelia, a congenital condition affecting the right leg. Grew up in Golden Valley, Minnesota.
28 Childhood Surgeries
Underwent 28 surgical procedures at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare to address congenital orthopedic conditions including hip dysplasia and a compromised ankle joint.
Discovered Swimming
Turned to the pool as a gravity-neutral environment where orthopedic differences didn't limit movement. What began as therapy became a fierce competitive passion.
International Debut — 4 Medals
Won Gold in the 100m Butterfly, Silver in the 400m Freestyle, and two Bronze medals at the IPC World Championships in Durban, South Africa.
Paralympic Gold — Beijing
Won Gold in the 100m Butterfly S10 with a time of 1:09.26, setting a new American Record. Also earned Bronze in the 100m Freestyle at the Beijing Paralympic Games.
Gustavus Adolphus College
Earned a B.A. in Biology while competing as an NCAA Division III swimmer. Maintained a 3.8+ GPA, named 3x MIAC All-Conference Academic and 3x Scholastic All-American.
IPC Worlds — Eindhoven
Won Gold in the 4x100m Medley Relay and Bronze in the 100m Butterfly at the IPC World Championships in the Netherlands.
Team Captain — Para PanPac
Named Team Captain for the United States. Won Gold in the 4x100m Medley Relay and Silver in the 100m Butterfly.
Paralympic Silver — London
Named Co-Captain of the U.S. Paralympic Swimming Team. Anchored the 4x100m Freestyle Relay, advancing the team from 3rd to 2nd place to win Silver.
Genetic Alliance — Washington, D.C.
Served as Program Fellow in Maternal and Child Health at the Genetic Alliance. Conducted newborn screening education research with the Minnesota Department of Health.
Mount Sinai — M.S. Genetic Counseling
Graduated from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai with the James Felt Memorial Prize for highest overall standing in her class.
Mayo Clinic — Genetic Counselor
Specialized in Clinical Genomics at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, translating complex genomic information for patients and families.
Allina Health — Oncology Genetic Counselor
Provided oncology genetic counseling in Minneapolis, supporting patients making life-altering decisions about treatments and family planning.
Joined NMDP / Be The Match
Began working at the National Marrow Donor Program, first as a Patient Education Specialist and Clinical Trials Navigator, then advancing to Practice Implementation Principal.
UCSF — Implementation Science Certificate
Completed a Certificate in Implementation Science from the University of California, San Francisco, adding rigorous IS methodology to her clinical and genetic counseling expertise.
Promoted to Clinical Research Manager
Promoted to Clinical Research Manager at NMDP. Leads research on implementation science, caregiver equity, and health equity in cellular therapy.
Education
Academic credentials and honors
Gustavus Adolphus College
Bachelor of Arts in Biology
2009 – 2013 · St. Peter, MN
- • Cumulative GPA 3.8+
- • 3x MIAC All-Conference Academic
- • 3x Scholastic All-American
- • Helped team win 3 consecutive MIAC Championship titles
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Master of Science in Genetic Counseling
2014 – 2016 · New York, NY
- • James Felt Memorial Prize for Highest Overall Standing
University of California, San Francisco
Certificate in Implementation Science
2021 – 2023 · San Francisco, CA
Explore both sides of Anna's extraordinary career.