Dr. Jennifer 'Jen' Ashton says farewell to 'Good Morning America,' ABC News after 13 years
Dr. Jennifer Ashton is scrubbing out at ABC News after 13 years.
During the first hour of "Good Morning America," Ashton's colleagues gave the network's chief medical correspondent and "GMA3: What You Need To Know" co-host a heartfelt goodbye Thursday morning.
"Some of the biggest moments in our country's history in health we covered and that was an incredible honor and privilege to lead the No. 1 network in the country from the medical standpoint for that," Ashton said.
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She also received a special message from Hollywood actor and fitness fanatic Chris Hemsworth, as well as from her family.
'GMA3' co-host Dr. Jennifer Ashton leaves ABC News after 13 years to launch wellness company
"My mother was a nurse, my father was a cardiologist responsible for my passion for heart health. My brother is a reconstructive plastic surgeon," she said, before quipping, "my kids are my kids."
In 2017, Ashton's ex-husband and the father of her children, Dr. Robert "Rob" C. Ashton, died by suicide 18 days after their divorce was finalized. She chronicled the family's struggle with grief on "GMA" and in a 2019 book "Life After Suicide: Finding Courage, Comfort & Community After Unthinkable Loss."
"We know that many families struggle everyday with depression while others like us don’t have any warning. We hope by sharing some of Rob's story it will save others the heartache we feel. You are never alone," the mom to Chloe and Alex Ashton said in an Instagram post after his death.
Dr. Jen Ashton leaving 'Good Morning America' and ABC News to focus on women's wellness company
She is leaving to focus on a new women's wellness company, which is aptly named Ajenda. Ashton, known simply as "Dr. Jen," is a fan favorite on "Good Morning America" and reports across the network on all platforms as ABC News' chief health and medical correspondent.
The "GMA3" co-host previously announced her departure from the network in April.
"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," Ashton said in a lengthy statement posted 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."
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She first rose to fame as a regular expert on "The Dr. Oz Show" and as co-host on the syndicated talk show "The Doctors" for three years, a "Dr. Phil" spinoff starring Dr. Phil McGraw's son Jay McGraw.
Before joining ABC News, she served as the senior medical correspondent for CBS News and appeared on "The Early Show" and "CBS Evening News." Ashton continued hosting on "GMA3," which she co-hosted with Eva Pilgrim and DeMarco Morgan in recent months, after T.J. Holmes' and Amy Robach outster from ABC following an alleged affair.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dr. Jennifer 'Jen' Ashton says farewell to 'Good Morning America,' ABC News after 13 years