Photo by Alice Keeney

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Jennifer became a gynecological oncologist in the best wrong way. Her undergrad career was spent in engineering, “perfect training for medical school,” followed by an Ob/Gyn rotation where she realized they do it all: “truly the specialty for the undecided—we are the medical doctors, the pelvic surgeons, with a mix of pediatrics and psychiatry,” she says with a laugh. Always up for a challenge, the former pageant contestant has been studying HPV vaccine awareness and its efficacy in different populations, from here to Tanzania. “The women of the Lowcountry are the most wonderful patients in the world. However, we are challenged by problems including higher rates of cervical cancer as well as [contributing factors like] obesity and smoking.”

“The Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is the greatest anti-cancer invention of our generation. If this was a vaccine for breast cancer, women and their daughters would line up around the block. Don’t let the STD thing fool you—cervical cancer can affect women of all ages, races and backgrounds. Talk to your doctor about getting yourself or your daughter vaccinated.”