Dr. Jennifer J. Brown has a research, public health and scientific communications background. She has a PhD in genetics from the State University of New York, Stony Brook for studies on plant genes at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Brown is the Author of 11 books including When the Baby Is Not OK: Hopes & Genes, a memoir of pregnancy, childbirth and early childhood, parenting her two daughters diagnosed with PKU following newborn screening (2025).
Brown is a Mentor for people diagnosed with PKU and their families at the non-profit National PKU Alliance (NPKUA) in the US. She has extensive experience in public speaking and leading public health workshops with diverse community-based and faith-based organizations, as a City Research Scientist and Assistant Director of Cancer Prevention at the New York City Health Department from 2017 - 2023. Brown was Senior Editor at Everyday Health 2013-2016 writing breaking health news stories, and Scientific Director at WebMD’s Medscape producing medical education for healthcare providers, 2007-2013.
Brown’s advocacy journey began nine days after the birth of her first daughter, diagnosed with the rare genetic condition phenylketonuria (PKU). A graduate student at the time, without health insurance, the news radically changed the course of Brown’s life. Her lived experience as a single mother and geneticist is a deep dive into challenges of health equity, eugenics, DNA testing, rare disease and patient rights. Her memoir book is a courageous call to action for more compassionate healthcare today. It will be of special interest to families, members of the rare diseases and PKU communities as well as patient advocates, medical trainees and healthcare providers, nutritionists and genetics counselors. 10% of the memoir book royalties are donated to non-profit The Arc for people with intellectual and physical disabilities.
Brown continues to advocate for compassionate care, equitable health care access and affordable medical diets through her public speaking events, health podcast interviews and in-person meetings with families in the rare community
More about "Storytime Evening" at Building Bridges:
Survival Gene Stories, a Positive Spin on "Rare"
A provocative story time event with three tales of the “rare” genes that allowed humankind to survive epic disasters in the past, hosted by book author Jennifer J. Brown. Join us for a positive take on the history of rare genetic conditions, with author readings from her new book "When the Baby Is Not OK: Hopes and Genes."
Your Storytime Evening host: Dr. Jennifer J. Brown, Book Author, Public Health Advocate and Mentor at National PKU Alliance, USA (NPKUA) has a writing, genetics research and public health background.
About the book: When the Baby Is Not OK: Hopes and Genes As a genetics student who thought about being a scientist first, and becoming a mother second, the news of her baby's PKU diagnosis changed Brown's life forever. This intimate memoir of pregnancy, childbirth and raising special kids revises the story of what to expect with hope. By turns heartbreaking and horrifying, educational and inspiring, here is a raw and remarkable journey of triumph and acceptance.
Times:
11:59 PM: Newfoundland, 11:30 PM: Atlantic, 10:30 PM Eastern, 9:30 PM Central, 8:30 PM Mountain and 7:30PM Pacific
To Register for this event: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Ajgp0SBlSj-K62ugUwIRYQ
Attendance at Building Bridges is NOT required to attend this event.
To purchase the book on amazon please use our link. We will get a small percentage with no additional cost to you.