GMA3 co-host Dr. Jennifer Ashton leaving ABC network after 13 years to launch new wellness company
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GMA3 co-host Dr. Jennifer Ashton has announced that she is leaving the morning program.
She is pursuing other opportunities and starting her own business after giving health and wellness information on Good Morning America for 13 years.
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Dr. Jennifer Ashton will leave GMA3 in June to focus on her wellness company, AjendaCredit: Getty
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The doctor has been a co-host on GMA3: What You Need to Know since 2020, where she sat next to DeMarco Morgan (left) and Eva Pilgrim (middle)Credit: Getty
The ABC chief medical correspondent will leave the network in June when her contract ends, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Dr. Jen told the outlet that she made the decision on her own to leave.
She recently founded the new wellness company Ajenda and currently serves as CEO.
Dr. Jen launched the company in March, which addresses the challenges of menopause health and weight management.
“I kind of subscribe to the fact that when the universe sends you a message, you should listen to it,” she told THR.
“I’ve been watching and participating in the steadily building upswell of interest of those two areas in our country and in our society and in our culture and media and in medicine and in science.”
Dr. Jen has been on GMA since 2012, and served a co-host on GMA3: What You Need To Know since March 2020.
‘CHANGE YOUR MIND’
Dr. Jen shared that she received support from her fellow GMA3 anchors DeMarco Morgan and Eva Pilgrim.
ABC News president Kim Godwin and head of ABC’s news and networks division Debra O’Connell also both gave their support.
However, they asked if there was anything they could do to make her stay.
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“They both said to me, ‘Is there anything we can do to change your mind?’ And when I said there really isn’t, because I really feel strongly about doing this, they basically said you know, ‘we’re going to be behind you.’ And I think that’s really unusual in this business in this day,” Dr. Jen told the outlet.
Debra said in a statement that Jen will always have a home on ABC as she has “immeasurably contributed to ABC News.”
“We wish her only the best as she continues her unwavering advocacy of women’s health,” she said.
Kim said that the doctor’s reporting led their audience through some of the most significant health crises of the past decade.
“She’s done so with poise, unfettered access to key health leaders and experts, and outstanding reporting that’s provided a roadmap to wellness for millions of our viewers,” Godwin said.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE
Dr. Jen also told THR that “sometimes an important message needs the right messenger.”
She said that now is a critical time for women’s health and weight management.
I kind of subscribe to the fact that when the universe sends you a message, you should listen to it
Dr. Jennifer Ashton
The GMA3 correspondent mentioned that obesity, menopause, perimenopause, and women’s health are what she is going to be focusing on.
“And so I’m excited about finally having the opportunity to just devote 100 percent of my time and effort into that, and using the skills that I’ve learned from being at the number one network for 13 years, I think are going to be really vital in that,” she said.
Dr. Jen is a board-certified OB/GYN and obesity medicine specialist.
However, she revealed that she is not leaving TV completely and plans to continue to do television to promote her new business.
“I plan to continue to do television in some shape or form. What that looks like is TBD. But I also feel like there are a lot of ways to reach people and television is one of them, but I want to I want to do all of them,” Dr. Jen said.
She ended by saying that she really wants to get the message of Ajenda out there, so she will try to promote it on TV, podcasts, or even a docuseries.
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Dr. Jen joined Good Morning America and ABC in 2012, where she gave medical advice and health tips for womenCredit: ABC
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Ajenda is a company that Dr. Jen founded, which addresses the challenges of weight management and menopauseCredit: ABC
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Despite leaving ABC, Dr. Jen said that TV is not completely out for her, as she would love to promote her new company and bring awareness to itCredit: ABC