Taylor Jaaska
Taylor Jaaska grew up outside Ann Arbor, Michigan, and attended undergrad in her backyard at the University of Michigan. She spent most of the next 5 years exploring the city of Chicago and the mountains of Colorado, working as a neonatal ICU nurse. This past year, Taylor and her partner moved to Philadelphia with their pup Figgy in hand, eager to immerse themselves in a new city. Outside of studying to become a Women’s Health/Gender-Related Nurse Practitioner and Nurse-Midwife, she winds down by oil painting and embroidering. On breaks between semesters, Taylor can be found skiing the Rockies or searching for Petoskey stones along Lake Michigan.
What's your favorite place to eat on campus or in the city?
Kalaya in Fishtown
What's your favorite non-required or elective class?
n/a
What's your favorite Penn perk (e.g. access to museum, ICA, athletics, Arboretum, etc)?
The gym access!
What's your favorite place on campus?
The cobblestone streets right in the middle of campus
What's your favorite Penn activity / hobby outside of class (e.g. on-campus groups, clubs, athletics, volunteering, etc)?
The LGBT Center
What is something that you really like about your program of study?
I love how the WHNP/CNM program emphasizes the importance of the history of health care, social impacts, current issues in society, and important reproductive justice information along with the course curriculum
What's your favorite thing about your cohort and/or the community at Penn?
Everyone is so excited to be there. It truly feels like everyone wants the best for each other and does everything they can to uplift one-another.
What or who has inspired you the most while pursuing your degree, and why?
One of our faculty, Casey Benchimol, has been incredibly inspiring. Their lectures not only teach required content but bring about important social topics, discuss the “hard things”, create space to express and feel different emotions and ideas, and make you feel heard and respected. They are a wonderful faculty member and the WHNP/CNM program is incredibly lucky to have them!
