'GMA3' co-host Dr. Jennifer Ashton leaves ABC News after 13 years to launch wellness company

Dr. Jennifer Ashton is scrubbing out at ABC at the end of June.

The "GMA3: What You Need To Know" co-host and morning show mainstay announced her departure from ABC News after 13 years.

"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."

Dr. Ashton is leaving to focus on her 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. 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.

She previously served as the senior medical correspondent for CBS News and appeared on "The Early Show" and "CBS Evening News" before joining ABC News.

ABC announces new 'GMA3' co-anchors following Amy Robach, T.J. Holmes affair scandal

Ashton has had staying power on "GMA3," which she co-hosts with Eva Pilgrim and DeMarco Morgan, who were both named co-hosts five months after Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes were fired from the afternoon news program following an alleged affair.

Contributing: Naledi Ushe

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dr. Jennifer Ashton, 'GMA' co-host, to leave ABC News after 13 years