“Good Morning America”'s Dr. Jennifer Ashton Announces Exit from ABC News After 13 Years
Ashton became a co-host on 'GMA3' in March 2020, joining as a medical correspondent amid the COVID pandemic
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Dr. Jennifer Ashton in 2022Dr. Jennifer Ashton is announcing her departure from Good Morning America after 13 years with ABC News.
On Thursday, April 18, the physician and journalist announced that she would be leaving the morning talk show, where she served as the chief health and medical correspondent and co-hosted GMA3: What You Need to Know.
"It has been an honor to be at ABC and help cover the biggest health issues in the country and world over the past 13 years," she said in a statement shared on Instagram. "My coworkers have become more than friends; they've become family and have seen me through the biggest professional moments of my life. I feel fortunate to have worked with the best in the business."
Ashton is a double board-certified physician in obstetrics, gynecology and obesity medicine, and has been with the network since 2012. She took on the role of GMA3 co-host in March 2020, in an attempt to keep viewers informed about the COVID pandemic.
"As one of the preeminent medical journalists of our time - or as we call her here at ABC - 'America's favorite doctor,' Dr. Ashton has immeasurably contributed to ABC News as America’s #1 news network," Debra O’Connell, President of News Group and Networks for Disney Entertainment, said in the press release. "She will always have a home at ABC, and we wish her only the best as she continues her unwavering advocacy of women’s health."
Since 2020, Ashton has remained a correspondent on GMA3, and last year she was a part of the relaunch alongside co-hosts Eva Pilgrim and DeMarco Morgan (after former hosts Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes exited). She's become major part of the network, appearing also on World News Tonight with David Muir, Nightline, ABC News Live, and has even made appearances on The View.
"Dr. Ashton’s straight-forward, fact-based reporting has guided our audience – and the country – through some of the most significant health crises of the past decade, notably the COVID-19 pandemic, and 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," ABC News president Kim Godwin added in a statement.
The physician's departure comes amid the launch of her women's wellness company Ajenda — which plans to debut TV programming, newsletters, meal plans and more.
Related: GMA3's ‘Wedding in a Week’ to Follow Couple from Surprise Proposal to On-Air Nuptials
"I've been hearing from women across the country about the focus on weight loss and menopause dominating our society's health conversation and I wanted to have an impact in a laser-focused way," Ashton said of the company. "Women's health and wellness is at a pivotal point in this country. Ajenda meets the moment, elevates the conversation and, with my strengths as a doctor and communicator, supports women."
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Ajenda was launched last month with a free newsletter covering perimenopause, menopause health and weight management, but Ashton told the Hollywood Reporter that she hopes the company expands into much more.
"This has always been my medical calling, but I really feel like I was in a position to leverage my communication ability and the platform that I have in these two areas," she told the outlet. "So who knows what it’ll evolve into, but I know that I like communicating about these topics. And so any way that I can do that I am interested in and everything’s on the table. It might be a podcast, it might be television, docuseries, anything."
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