Jana and Matt met in 2011 during their sophomore year at USC. After meeting at a football game, Jana noticed the following week that Matt was sitting just a few rows behind in her organic chemistry lecture. Jana was pre-med and Matt was pre-vet, and a close friendship formed quickly. They bonded over their love of dogs, horror movies, great pizza, and making each other laugh. Finally during senior year while living in a house with 8 other people, they began dating. What followed was five years of long distance while Matt completed veterinary school in Philadelphia and Jana completed medical school in Chicago. They now live in Lakeview with their beloved pittie, Topper.

Their relationship has been shaped by shared values and a deep appreciation for community, family, and tradition. They’ve always loved spending time together and simply supporting each other’s passions (theater for Jana, running for Matt, and fly fishing and bird watching as a team). As a pediatrician and a veterinarian, their lives are centered around caring for others—children, families, and animals. They feel incredibly lucky to do work that allows them to nurture and support others every day.

But now, more than ever, they are ready to turn that love inward and grow a family of their own. Becoming parents has been a long-held dream for Jana and Matt. They are so excited to build a family rooted in love, kindness, resilience, and inclusion. They want to raise a child in a home where tradition and community are deeply valued, and where they feel supported, seen, and encouraged to be their full selves. Jana and Matt are incredibly grateful to the JUF Path to Parenthood Program and the Chicago Coalition for Family Building for helping make this dream possible.

Jana and Matt are recipients of the Path to Parenthood Grant from the Jewish United Fund – Chicago.