Anesthesiology

HumAnes of UCLA: Jennifer Scovotti, MA

HumAnes of UCLA: Jennifer Scovotti, MA

Two adults and two children standing on a beach pier with ocean behind them

What first sparked your interest in research?

I was exposed to research early on in my education and always had an interest in medicine/healthcare. I got my undergraduate degree in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at USC and my graduate degree in Psychology from Pepperdine. In my early career, I worked on evidence-based prevention programs to improve multiple health risk behaviors that lead to adverse health outcomes. After my master’s degree, I explored other opportunities and was fortunate to find a position that combined both my interests, research and medicine. I had no idea there was a research position that would allow me work in a clinical setting. I was pretty lucky to find this position, and I have now been in the department for 19 years.

What is something about your job you love? What does a day in the life look like?

I love how every workday is different. Some days I am in the OR or ICU with research patients. Other days I am developing budgets, obtaining data agreements, completing IRB applications, maintaining regulatory documents, entering data, etc. I also get to work with a multidisciplinary team (doctors, nurses, blood bank, lab, pharmacy, sponsors, etc.) and collaborate across all DAPM divisions (cardiothoracic, critical care, pediatric, liver transplantation, pain, perioperative medicine, etc.).

What is something people might not know about you just by looking at your resume? 

Two people in yellow baseball jerseys standing in front of a yellow "Go Bananas" banner.
I have two kids. My daughter Avery is 12 and in 6th grade. My son Dylan is 8 and in 2nd grade. My husband grew up in New York, so we are a house divided (Dodgers/Yankees).

What is one thing you love about living in the South Bay that people outside of the area might not know?

It’s a laid-back, family-friendly lifestyle with a small-town vibe, and you can go to the beach whenever you want.

What is your favorite local restaurant or go-to takeout spot?

Oh, there are a few:
  • El Tarasco (the one on Rosecrans by the beach) for Mexican food
  • Proudly Serving for smashburgers
  • Shellbacks for the best chicken tenders
  • Izaka-Ya for sushi

If you had a completely free day, how would you spend it?

A free day is rare with two kids in sports, but if I’m not at the field, an ideal day would be at the beach with my family, followed by an evening around the outdoor fire pit.