Podcast appearances and mentions of Joan H Marks

Spotify just released a new feature, the ability for listeners to rate podcasts. If you've enjoyed the podcast PLEASE rate on Spotify! This is how new listeners will find and enjoy the show. In order to rate you need to use the Spotify app and listen to at least 30 seconds of the podcast. Under the logo you will see “No Rating”, click on that and give us 5 stars. Since this is a brand new Spotify feature rating now will help us rank higher among science podcasts! We also wanted to give a shoutout for a Twitter Spaces conversation Dena Goldberg (Dena DNA) and Kira Dineen co-hosted this past Monday. A bunch of genetic counselors and genetic experts joined us in the live discussion about the NY Times article that was featured on the front page this week. The recorded audio is not top quality, which is why we didn't release it as a podcast episode, however the conversation is top quality. To kick off 2022 and celebrate national Blood Donor Month, genetic counselor Radhika Sawh joins our host Kira Dineen on the podcast to discuss beta thalassemia. Radhika is a genetic counselor and patient advocate for thalassemias. She worked as the National Director of Patient Services for the Cooley's Anemia Foundation prior to joining the faculty of the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College (where she met our host Kira Dineen!) Radhika has a personal tie to the community as she has beta thalassemia major and frequently speaks on behalf of the New York Blood Center as a volunteer blood donor advocate. On This Episode We Discuss:Types of thalassemias How beta thalassemia has impacted Radhika's lifeThe evolution of treatments for beta thalassemia and their impact on life expectancy for those with the conditionThe genetic difference between sickle cell and beta thalassemia What Radhika wants genetic counselors and other healthcare providers to understand about the experience of living with beta thalassemiaThe importance of blood donation and requirements to be a donorLearn more about thalassemia in Radhika Sawh's 2021 paper, “Transfer of care for people with severe forms of thalassemia: Learning from past experiences to create a transition plan” and check her out on LinkedIn.Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on January 14th where we'll be discussing the future of cancer genetics! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can binge over 165 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. All episodes in 2021 and 2022 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNApodcast.com. Are you interested in the rapidly growing field of genetics and want to learn more about clinical genetics, molecular genetics, and laboratory science? Then you should check out the Genetic Assistant Online Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine! By taking part in the program, you will be joining both national and international learners with the same passion for genetics. Interact directly with your Johns Hopkins instructors and fellow students throughout the program. Applications are now being reviewed for the Spring 2022 cohort starting January 31st, and a limited number of spots are still available. (SPONSORED)Do you have patients with Primary Mitochondrial Myopathy? There is a new clinical study looking for people with PMM to enroll. People with Primary Mitochondrial Myopathy can experience muscle weakness or exercise intolerance. This study is assessing the efficacy and safety of a drug to help patients walk further by improving their muscle function. Find out about the study for Primary Mitochondrial Myopathy and how your patients can participate by going to pmmstudy.com. (SPONSORED)Unfortunately, there is an underrepresentation of people of Non-European descent in genetic studies. We've explored this in multiple episodes of DNA Today. Allelica is also very aware of this issue and how polygenic risk scores developed for people who are of European descent cannot be applied to other ancestries without further validations. To directly address this, Allelica developed new models to improve predictive power in Non-European people. Allelica validated their polygenic risk scores in Non-Europeans population to provide ancestry specific genetic risk assessment. Interested in learning more? Visit Allelica.com. Allelica: Empowering the next generation of clinical genomics. (SPONSORED)

The National Society of Genetic Counselors' (NSGC) 40th annual conference occurred virtually this past week. In this special extended installment of DNA Today we are recapping and reflecting on a few sessions from the conference. You can also check out our recap episodes of 2020 and 2019. Guests Laura Hercher has been a genetic counselor for nearly two decades. She is also the host of fellow genetics podcast, The Beagle Has Landed. She is a faculty member and director of student research at the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College, the country's first and largest training program for genetic counselors. Hercher is a writer and commentator with publications including articles in Wired, Aeon and Scientific American as well as peer reviewed journals. She is a co-founder of the DNA Exchange, a blog for the genetic counseling community founded in 2009, which has grown to over 100,000 views in 2017.Sally Rodríguez is a licensed and board-certified genetic counselor who specializes in the area of reproductive genetics, with expertise in expanded carrier screening (ECS), noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS), and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). Sally was an early-stage employee at Recombine, a genetic testing laboratory focused on reproductive genetics, and developed and managed the lab's ECS and NIPS offerings through the company's acquisition by CooperSurgical. Currently, she serves as a genetic counselor at Sequence46, a PGT laboratory. She received her Bachelor's degree in Molecular Biology from Princeton University in 2009 and her Master's degree in Genetic Counseling from The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2013. Sally is an active member of NSGC, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), and the Minority Genetics Professionals Network (MGPN).NSGC 2021 Conference Session OD01: Advocating for Autonomy: Genetic Counselors as Champions for Comprehensive Reproductive Health with Laura Hercher Overview of Texas SB 8 (Abortion Ban) Texas SB 8 disproportionately affecting pregnant peopleRepercussions on genetic counseling from Texas SB 8National impact on Texas SB 8Jackson Women's Health Organization vs DobbsIncrease in abortion laws vs public opinion Defining abortion reason bansTo learn more about abortion law from Laura Hercher, check out The Beagle Has Landed her podcast episode with Jordan Brown. NSGC 2021 Conference Session B03: The Devil is in the Details: Race-Based Medicine and Healthcare Disparities in Genetic Counseling with Sally RodríguezComparing race/ethnicity based vs panethic carrier screening How laboratories use ethnicity in carrier screening Pitfalls of race/ethnicity based testingIssue with self-reported race/ethnicitySelf-reported race vs genetic ancestry Calculate carrier residual risk of being a carrier based ethnicity Cause of disparities in residual risks Testing for genetic ancestry as part of carrier screening ACMG updated practice guidelines Downstream effects of disparities in carrier screening How healthcare providers can solve carrier screening disparity issues Other NSGC 2021 sessions mentioned during the episode:C02: Prenatal Testing: When Multiple Technologies Reveal More than Meets the Eye LabCorp sponsored with case presentations by Samantha Caldwell, Lila Dayani, and Deanna HutchinsonC03: 2021 Janus Lecture: “You Can Never Feel My Pain”: The History and the Future of Sickle Cell Disease. Presented by Barbara HarrisonD02: The Routine Incorporation of Molecular Ancestry into Carrier Screening: Sema4's Clinical Experience. Presented by Lisa Edelmann and Audra Bettinelli Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today this Friday on October 1st where we explore the genetics of ALS with Genomenon! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month, with some bonus episodes like this one! In the meantime, you can binge over 150 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes in 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNApodcast.com. Do you or someone you know have Prader-Willi syndrome? Harmony Biosciences is looking for people with Prader-Willi syndrome to enroll in a new clinical study in the United States. Harmony Biosciences will be studying the safety and impact of an investigational medication on excessive daytime sleepiness, cognition, and behavioral function in people with Prader Willi syndrome. Learn more about the clinical study and refer a patient to a study center here. (SPONSORED)If you're a healthcare provider helping pregnant patients you have inevitably been asked the question, “Can I take this medication during my pregnancy”? Then you need TERIS, a clinical electronic resource that contains information on the teratogenic risks of over 1,700 medications and other environmental exposures and infections, including 200 of the most frequently prescribed drugs. What makes TERIS a unique database? TERIS is governed by an Advisory Board of world-renowned experts in clinical teratology and is an intellectual property of the University of Washington. 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As we Kick Off our Spotlight Series for National Blood Donor Month, I am so excited to welcome to tomorrow's show, Craig Butler, National Executive Director and Radhika Sawh, Genetic Counselor, Board Member of the Cooley's Anemia Foundation.   Craig Butler has been leading the fight against thalassemia for over half a century. Mr. Butler himself has been an active participant in that fight for over a decade, starting with the Foundation as National Communications Director in 2001. In addition to directing all communications-related activities in that capacity, he also served as the Principal Investigator on the Foundation's collaborative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help educate the thalassemia community about effective prevention strategies that can contribute to better outcomes for those with thalassemia.   In addition to advocating on behalf of individuals with severe forms of thalassemia, Mr. Butler directs Cooley's Anemia Foundation efforts aimed at informing both the general public and specific at-risk populations about thalassemia trait. He also oversees programs to encourage all members of the public to donate blood, as treatment for thalassemia involves frequent lifelong transfusions.   Mr. Butler is proud to be the author of “The Cooley's Anemia Foundation Storybook,” a publication for children with thalassemia.   Radhika holds a master's degree in genetic counseling and worked as the National Director of Patient Services for the Cooley's Anemia Foundation prior to joining the faculty of the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College. She is also a wife, a mother as well as an individual living and thriving with beta thalassemia major who frequently speaks on behalf of the New York Blood Center as a volunteer blood donor advocate.   Listen in as Craig & Radhika share the great need for Blood Donors & Why Blood Donations Mean Life for Those with Thalassemia.   Resource: Cooley's Anemia Foundation

The National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) hosted its annual conference virtually this past weekend with a new record for attendance. In this special extended installment of DNA Today we are recapping and reflecting on a few sessions from the conference. Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, PhenoTips. Imagine a health record system designed specifically for genomics. Cause let’s be honest, electronic health records are not built for genetics. Now you can stop imagining and start using, because PhenoTips is just this! PhenoTips is the world’s first complete Genomic Health record system with pedigree drawing, standardized symptom capture, diagnostic insights and more, all in one place. Check them out at PhenoTips.com. TimestampsAishwarya Arjunan 1:30-24:20Rebekah Hutchins 25:17-38:50Courtney Studwell 38:50-53:05Ashlyn Enokian 53:05-56:05Presentations Recapped/RecommendedDrawing the line with ECS: When does expanded carrier screening turn into excessive carrier screening? Live Tweet Threads by DNA Today and Aishwarya Arjunan More Than Just Raising Our Voices: Confronting Injustices in Patient Care Beyond common aneuploidies: Expanding existing chromosome testing technologies and subsequent prenatal care Live Tweet Thread by DNA TodayTransfer of Mosaic Embryos following PGT-A: Updates, Ethics, and Implications Live Tweets by DNA Today (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)2020 Janus Lecture: Ovarian Cancer: A Model for Progress in GeneticsPariah or Pioneer? Stories of Expansion Into New and Emerging Genetic Counselor RolesMastering the Art of Advocacy through Media Relations The PanelAishwarya Arjunan, MS, MPH, CGC, CPH graduated with degrees in genetic counseling and public health genetics from the University of Pittsburgh in 2013 and was certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 2014. She currently works at Myriad Women's Health (formerly Counsyl), a women's health genetic testing and genetic counseling company, as the Clinical Product Manager for the Foresight Carrier Screen. Prior to joining Counsyl/Myriad, Aishwarya was a clinical genetic counselor at the Sarnoff Center for Jewish Genetics and Ann & Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital in the Department of Genetics, Birth Defects, and Metabolism. Within the Northwestern Genetic Counseling Program, Aishwarya is a core faculty member and serves as a thesis advisor/committee member and has participated in the Admissions Committee and Internet Resources Task Force. Aishwarya is actively involved with the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) as the 2019 co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force and incoming Director At Large for the NSGC Board of Directors. She is also involved locally with the Illinois Society of Genetic Professionals (ISGP) and is a past-president of ISGP. At NSGC 2020 she was honored with the Leader in Cultural Advocacy Award. You can follow Aishwarya on Twitter. Rebekah Hutchins, MS, GC is a perinatal genetic counselor. Currently, she practices at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and previously in Hawaii Pacific Health in Honolulu, Hawaii. She received her M.S. in Human Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College’s Joan H. Marks Program. Rebekah has always been passionate about social justice and identifying, dissecting and combating health disparities in marginalized communities. Now as a healthcare professional she identifies innovative ways to bridge those gaps in her work. During her time at Sarah Lawrence College, she developed a cultural competency course for genetic counselors which she has presented twice. You can follow Rebekah on Twitter. Courtney Studwell, MS, CGC, MB(ASCP)CM is a licensed certified genetic counselor at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston and is also certified as a Technologist in Molecular Biology through the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). She counsels patients in the CFMRG and participates in the development and management of genetic testing platforms in the CAMD. She earned her master's degree in Genetic Counseling from Boston University School of Medicine and undergraduate degree in Diagnostic Genetic Sciences from University of Connecticut. You can follow Courtney on Twitter. Ashlyn Enokian, MS, GC is a prenatal genetic counselor at High Risk Pregnancy Center in Las Vegas, NV. Her journey into the field of genetic counseling began with advocacy work through Crisis Text Line and Help Pregnancy Crisis Aid. She worked as a genetic counseling assistant in cancer genetics at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital, pediatric genetics at the University of Michigan, and laboratory genetics at Progenity, Inc. Ashlyn was previously a genetics graphic design intern at My Gene Counsel. Her professional interests include prenatal, ART/fertility, education, and strategies to increase diversity in the field. She earned her B.S. in Biology and a minor in Criminal Justice from Grand Valley State University in 2017. Followed by her M.S. in Human Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College’s Joan H. Marks Program. You can follow Ashlyn on Twitter. Kira Dineen, MS, LCGC, CG(ASCP)CM is a certified prenatal genetic counselor at Maternal Fetal Care, PC in Stamford, CT. Kira also has 10 years of online media experience in digital marketing and podcasting/radio including 5 podcasts. She started her main show “DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast” in 2012 which became a radio show in 2014. The podcast has since produced over 130 episodes interviewing experts in the field. “DNA Today” recently won the People’s Choice Podcast Awards for the Best 2020 Science and Medicine Podcast. Kira is also the host of the PhenoTips Speaker Series, a live webinar interviewing genetic experts attend by over 700 genetic counselors around the globe. She writes a monthly blog series, “Explained By A Genetic Counsellor” for Sano Genetics. Kira was selected and currently serves as a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors’ Digital Ambassador program (#NSGCGenePool). She received her Diagnostic Genetic Bachelor’s of Science degree at the University of Connecticut and is a certified Cytogenetic Technologist. Kira received her Master’s of Science in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College in New York. You can follow Kira on Twitter. PosterPresentations Conference Tips (Virtual & In-Person)Exhibit hall for networking, free genetics apparel, job board, professional and fun photos.Wear layers because lecture halls are freezing.Lunch sessions are free and sponsored by labs. Prioritize select sessions to attend live, there is too much to do everything and you can watch later on demand until it expires January 15th. Attend a Special Interest Group (SIG), you don’t have to be a member.Follow and join conversations on Twitter (#NSGC20 and #gcchat)Students, job hunt utilizing the job board (in the middle of the exhibit hall) and hand out your resume. If there is a meet up with a specific company/hospital you are interested in working with/at, then go check it out!ResourcesBe sure to check out all these resources mentioned during the episode. JGC Task Force ReportAll the special issuesSign up for the Focus GroupsStay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on December 4th. New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month (except this week, thanks for waiting!). In the meantime, you can binge over 130 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNApodcast.com.

This week on COVID Chronicles, Komal Bajaj, Chief Quality Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, joins us to discuss how four fundamental principles from the world of quality and safety are informing their efforts as they change procedures during the COVID-19 surge in New York City. Komal Bajaj, MD, MS-HPEd is Chief Quality Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, catalyzing quality improvement transformation through culture change and data-driven decisions. She is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and serves as the Clinical Director of Simulation for NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal health system in the United States.   Dr. Bajaj attended medical school at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and completed her training in Obstetrics & Gynecology at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. Following residency, she completed a fellowship in Reproductive Genetics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and continues to deliver cutting-edge reproductive genetics care in the Bronx. Sparked by desire to incorporate contemporary educational theory in her quality improvement work, she completed a Masters in Health Professional Education from the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions. Dr. Bajaj has is nationally and internationally speaker on the use of simulation to advance healthcare quality and safety. Her scholarly interests include defining innovative approaches to embed simulation within the clinical environment, developing sustainable programs to build agency in healthcare teams, and characterizing the emerging role of debriefing in healthcare quality/safety. She sits on the Advisory Board for the Foundation for Healthcare Simulation Safety and on the External Advisory Board for the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics of Sarah Lawrence College. Learn more at http://www.harvardmedsim.org.

The National Society of Genetic Counselors celebrated 40 years at this year’s annual conference! In 2019, we surpassed having 5,000 genetic counselors in the US/Canada! We now have 45 genetic counseling graduate programs in the US and 40 more international.In this podcast episode we recap highlights from the sessions and tips for new attendees next year. Below are some of our talking points and resources we mentioned in the episode. Also check out #NSGC19 on Twitter to read more insight from the conference.Should All Women With Breast Cancer Be Offered Genetic Testing?Panel: Dr Mark Robson from MSK, Dr Peter Beitsch from the Dallas Surgical Group, Sue Friedman founder of FORCE.Moderators: Dr. Lisa Madlensky from UC San Diego and Dr. David Euhus from Johns HopkinsMain points of the talk included…Clinical utilityInformed consent vs informed assentResearch vs diagnosticConcordant vs discordant resultsAccessibility and information givingProvider education and utilization of genetic counseling skillsetNCCN GuidelinesEmerging Therapies for Adult-Onset Neurologic Diseases: Possibilities, Pitfalls And Patient ImpactDr. Sonia VallabhPrion Alliance’s WebsiteWIRED’s article, “One Couple’s Tireless Crusade to Stop a Genetic Killer”The Guardian’s article, “The Lawyer Who Became A Scientist To Find A Cure For Her Fatal Disease.”Enabling The Beautiful Uncertainty of Life: My Journey With PGT-MLee Cooper, JDLee’s article in STAT News, “Genetic Testing Plus IVF Can Sidestep Genetic Disease And Reduce The Need For High-Priced Therapies.”The Institute For Genetic Disease PreventionIn Utero Stem Cell Transplantation: Historical Context, Present State And The Future Of Fetal Molecular TherapiesBillie Rachael Lianoglou, MS, UCSF Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision MedicineTIME Magazine Feature, “Scientists Are Developing New Ways to Treat Disease With Cells, Not Drugs.”Clinical Trial for Alpha Thalassemia MajorUCSF Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine’s WebsiteHot Topics In Teratology: Zika, Marijuana, and Maternal Therapies For Genetic DiseaseVictoria Wagner, MS, CGC, Myla Ashfaq, CGC, Jennifer Lemons, CGC all from McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas HealthCDC’s Zika General Resources and Pregnancy ResourcesMother To Baby (DNA Today Interview with MTB)Marijuana in Pregnancy Fact SheetConference TipsExhibit hall for networking, free genetics apparel, job board, professional and fun photos.Wear layers because lecture halls are freezing.Lunch sessions are free and sponsored by labs.Prioritize select sessions, there is too much to do everything.Attend a Special Interest Group (SIG), you don’t have to be a member.Follow and join conversations on Twitter (#NSGC19 and #gcchat)Students, job hunt utilizing the job board (in the middle of the exhibit hall) and hand out your resume. If there is a meet up with a specific company/hospital you are interested in working with/at, then go check it out!The PanelMichael Peneycad is a second year graduate student at the Joan H. Marks Program in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College, originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He earned his B.S. in Cell & Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan and spent time as adjunct faculty at Grand Valley State University before relocating to New York City in 2014. Michael has been involved in many industries including entertainment, events, automotive, and health care in his time before entering graduate school, working with companies such as Spectrum Health Medical Group, Mazda, Jaguar/Land Rover, Chanel, Google, and Target. Michael has also spent years performing in musicals, commercials, and voice-overs during the time between his academic studies. His professional interests include cancer genetics, patient and provider education, and public health initiatives. You can follow Michael on Twitter and Instagram. Go Blue!Ashlyn Enokian is a second year genetic counseling student from Brighton, Michigan. She earned her BS in Biology and a minor in Criminal Justice from Grand Valley State University in 2017. Her journey into the field of genetic counseling began with advocacy work through Crisis Text Line and Help Pregnancy Crisis Aid. She worked as a genetic counseling assistant in cancer genetics at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital, pediatric genetics at the University of Michigan, and laboratory genetics at Progenity, Inc. Ashlyn was previously a genetic graphic design intern at My Gene Counsel. Her professional interests include fertility, neurogenetics, and strategies to increase diversity in the field. She acts as a student representative of Sarah Lawrence College’s Class of 2020. You can follow Ashlyn on Twitter..Kira Dineen hosts DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast (and radio show), which was founded in 2012 and features over 100 episodes interviewing genetic counselors, patient advocates and other genetic experts. The show was nominated in the 2015, 2016 and 2019 Podcast Awards. She also hosts other healthcare podcasts including Working For Health, Advancing Dentistry, and Insight Says: A Mental Health Podcast. Kira is a member of National Society of Genetic Counselors’ Digital Ambassador Program (aka #NSGCGenePool). She received her in Bachelor's of Science degree in Diagnostic Genetics with a Cytogenetics concentration at the University of Connecticut, and has a certification as a Cytogenetic Technologist. Along with Ashlyn, she is a student representation in Sarah Lawrence College’s Genetic Counseling Class of 2020.Want to learn more about Sarah Lawrence College’s Genetic Counseling Program? Come to our open house this Friday (November 15th) from 6-8pmET.Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today. New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month with some bonus episode thrown in there. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNApodcast.com.

The genetic podcast crossover series continues with Grey Genetics’ Patient Stories! Host Eleanor Griffith returns as a guest to offer listeners a peek inside her genetic counseling company behind the podcast.Eleanor Griffith is a board certified genetic counselor and the founder of Grey Genetics, a genetic counseling and consulting company. Her clinical experience includes both prenatal and cancer genetics, in both public and private academic hospital settings. She is a member of the Admissions Committee for The Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College and a Course Instructor at Sarah Lawrence where she also received her master’s.Eleanor’s previous appearance was on episode 71 of the show back in 2017. She shared her insight on how to have a competitive genetic counseling graduate school application. There are also 2 other episodes of this show (87 and 97) where myself and a panel of other grad school students discuss the application process including the match system, which was brand new for my class.On This Episode We Discuss:Grey Genetics’ Genetic Counseling ServicesGenetic Counseling Specialities OfferedProcess from the Patient Perspective.Requirements, Insurance, Self-PayGenetic Counselor State Licensure for TelehealthBe sure to check out Grey Genetics’ podcast, Patient Stories. Stay updated on Twitter and Instagram. Meet the Grey Genetics network! Learn more about Grey Genetics in this Medium piece.Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today. New episodes are released on the first and third Fridays of the month. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNApodcast.com.

Bryana Rivers is a second year genetic counseling student in the University of Cincinnati Genetic Counseling Program. As an African American female in a field that is >90% Caucasian, Bryana has a passion for increasing diversity within the profession of genetic counseling. Bryana talks about possible reasons for the lack of diversity within the field, ways this might be addressed, and shares her own path to the field of genetic counseling. Story Reference Points: Bryana’s experience at her first NSGC annual conference @ 1:45 Bryana’s path to the field of genetic counseling and experience as a GC Assistant at Hopkins @ 3:23 Why does diversity matter? @ 6:53 Bryana’s own experiences as a patient who is an ethnic minority @ 8:26 How race came up in one of Bryana’s genetic counseling sessions @ 11:06 Less obvious impacts of race on genetic counseling sessions @ 15:59 Why is genetic counseling so White? How can we diversify? @ 17:40 Representation Matters-- and the experience of attending the Minority Genetics Professionals Meetup at NSGC @ 21:56 Gender diversity within genetic counseling… a topic for another podcast?! @ 24:32 The makeup of Bryana’s genetic counseling class & contrast with her undergrad experience @ 26:31 What Caucasian female genetic counselors should understand about diversity @ 28:49 Links and Resources Bryana’s blog post: ”This Is What I Know. Now What Can We Do? – Racial Diversity in Genetic Counseling” Articles cited by Bryana: Studying the Needles in the Haystack: A Qualitative Study of African-American and Latino Genetic Counselors. Amanda Kass and Larissa Veres. Human Genetics Theses and Capstones. The Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics. May 2016. Diversity in genetic counseling: past, present and future. Mittman Is. Downs K. Journal of Genetic Counseling. 2008 Aug;17(4):301-13. Connect with Bryana on Twitter@GcBry Do you want to support Patient Stories? You can now make a donation online! Want to support Patient Stories in a non-monetary way? Leave us a review on iTunes, or share your favorite episodes on Social Media. Patient Stories on Twitter: @GreyGeneticsPod Patient Stories on Instagram: @patientstoriespodcast Check out other Patient Stories podcast episodes. Read other Patient Stories on the Grey Genetics Patient Stories Page Do you want to support Patient Stories? You can now make a donation online! Want to support Patient Stories in a non-monetary way? Leave us a review on iTunes, or share your favorite episodes on Social Media. Patient Stories on Twitter: @GreyGeneticsPod Patient Stories on Instagram: @patientstoriespodcast Are you looking for genetic counseling? Patient Stories is sponsored by Grey Genetics, an independent telehealth genetic counseling and consulting company. Book an appointme

Eleanor Griffith, MS, CGC is a board certified genetic counselor and the founder of Grey Genetics, a genetics counseling and consulting company. Her clinical experience includes both prenatal and cancer genetics, in both public and private academic hospital settings. She is the Treasurer of the NYS Genetics Task Force and a member of the Admissions Committee for The Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College, where she also received her M.S. in Human Genetics We discussed how students can have a competitive application for genetic counseling graduate schools. Eleanor shares her insight on the components of an application including prerequisites, personal statements, experiences (genetic counseling job shadowing, advocacy, laboratory work, counseling), and letters of recommendation. She provides an overview of what a typical interview day looks like at Sarah Lawrence and more information on what the Sarah Lawrence genetic counseling program specifically provides students. She also talks about her background as an English major, why she pursued genetic counseling and continues to love the profession. Here’s a complete list of all the accredited genetic counseling graduate programs in North America. Students can also find genetic counselors to job shadow and interview at FindAGeneticCounselor.com. Stay updated on Eleanor’s private practice on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. And don’t forget to follow my new account on Instagram, @DNAradio.