Journal of Genetic Counseling

Jehannine Austin, PhD, FCAHS, CGC (they/them)

Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

I interact with the world as a White person who was raised and socialized as a girl/woman, but who identifies as agender and pan. My experiences with mental illness (primarily depression and anxiety) shape my perspective on my work. I am also influenced by my status as a first-generation settler on lands of Coast Salish peoples, and my awareness of the atrocities of colonialism committed by the British people – which is my own heritage. As a first generation academic, I am acutely aware of the privilege I have as a result of all the education I have accrued, and experience a deep drive to do what I can to contribute the products of this education to try to make the world better in whatever ways I can. To me, the process of research matters as much as the outcome – I am committed to adopting the very best, most ethical process strategies that I can, and to learning as I go, and doing better as I learn over time. I engage in, and deeply value, both qualitative and quantitative work. My own approach as a researcher is to use whatever tools and methodologies and frameworks that fit best to advance the development of solutions to problems that are of interest to me. I am deeply committed to advancing genetic counseling research in general, and research led by genetic counselors in particular. As editor in chief of this Journal, I aim to try to build research literacy, and capacity to design and execute rigorous research within our community and to build the external reputation of genetic counseling as a rigorous area of academic study.

Areas of expertise:

• Psychiatric genetic counseling
• research methods
• RCTs
• genetic counseling outcome studies
• qualitative research

Benjamin Helm, PhD(c), MS, CGC (he/him)

Assistant Professor of Clinical Medical & Molecular Genetics, Doctoral Candidate, Epidemiology

Areas of expertise:

• Cardiology
• Pediatrics/General
• Epidemiology
• Genetic Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Biostatistics

Hetanshi Naik, PhD, MS, CGC (she/her)

Associate Professor, Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine

I experience the world as a South Asian woman and first-generation immigrant, having grown up in Canada. I believe that having a strong foundation of evidence-based practice is critical to advancing the field of genetic counseling, and this is only achievable through rigorous research. I strive to conduct such research myself, using a wide array of tools and methods, and aim to bring my research experience to this role as Deputy Editor.

Areas of expertise:

• Patient reported outcome measures
• rare disease clinical trial design
• porphyrias
• lysosomal storage disorders
• pharmacogenomics
• research methods

Tasha Wainstein, MSc (Med), CCGC (she/her)

Research Genetic Counsellor, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

My positionality is informed by both privilege (White, cisgendered, heterosexual, educated) and marginalization (immigrant, neurodivergent). My research originates from experience-based observations, questions, and concerns that arose during my career as a clinical genetic counsellor. While I consider myself to be a mixed methods researcher with affinity to the pragmatic research paradigm, my research is dominated by qualitative techniques and the distinct values and traditions that have developed around qualitative methods. I have come to reframe my own notions of power from something that exclusively enforces an imbalance, towards power as a resource for creating action. I therefore endeavour to use my privilege to act as an ally and advocate in this space. Charlotte Maxeke, a heroine of the struggle for liberation and human rights in Apartheid South Africa, said, “If you can rise, bring someone with you.” It is in this vein that I view my role as Deputy Editor of this Journal as an opportunity to help expand and elevate the quality of genetic counselling research.

Areas of expertise:

• Adolescents
• Disability
• Ethics
• Lived Experiences
• Qualitative Research Methods

Kimberly Zayhowski, MS, CGC (she/her)

Genetic Counselor and Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

As a queer, multiracial person, I am committed to anti-oppression and to advancing our understanding of effective ways to support communities that have been marginalized within the healthcare system. My focus lies in prioritizing community engagement and cultivating respect throughout the entire research process.

Areas of expertise:

• LGBTQIA+ health
• cancer genetics
• health equity
• social justice
• qualitative research

Nadine Channaoui, MS, CGC (she/her)

Genetic Counselor, Cardiovascular Division, Mass General Brigham

I write and review work with a critical lens toward inclusive language, particularly aiming to minimize experiences of invalidation, mislabeling, distortion of social descriptors, and microaggressions faced by readers of marginalized identities. I consider each manuscript to be an opportunity to shift our professional body and healthcare services beyond the status quo and toward equity and justice. These viewpoints are shaped most by my upbringing in a Lebanese-Palestinian-American family with varying degrees of discrimination as well as by my identity as a queer cis woman. My own research works are primarily qualitative in methodology.

Areas of expertise:

• Cardiovascular genetics
• Health equity
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion

Kimberly Zayhowski, MS, CGC (she/her)

Genetic Counselor and Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

As a queer, multiracial person, I am committed to anti-oppression and to advancing our understanding of effective ways to support communities that have been marginalized within the healthcare system. My focus lies in prioritizing community engagement and cultivating respect throughout the entire research process.

Areas of expertise:

• LGBTQIA+ health
• cancer genetics
• health equity
• social justice
• qualitative research

Ramona Moldovan, PhD (she/her)

University of Manchester, United Kingdom, Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania

I studied undergraduate psychology and then clinical psychology at Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania and trained as a genetic counsellor at the University of Manchester, UK. I also trained in cognitive and behavioural psychotherapy with the Albert Ellis Institute, New York, USA. I took up my role with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Manchester in 2018 and I continue to hold my affiliation with Babeș-Bolyai University, since I was first appointed in 2006. My teaching, clinical and research activities are focused on neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders.

Areas of expertise:

• Research methods
• Complex conditions

Christophe Cordier, Dr.PhD (he/him)

Doctor, Genetic counsellor, Department of Medical Genetics, MEDISYN SA, Lausanne, Suisse.

Passionate about people and their physical and mental health, I've always wanted to work to help others. With a particular attraction to the ethics and practice of genetics, I'm working to gain recognition for the profession of genetic counsellors. I obtained my Master's degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of Marseille (France) and went on to obtain a PhD in Genetic Counseling. Having a family history that might suggest oncogenetic features, I enrolled in a University Diploma in Breast Diseases, which I completed at Strasbourg Hospital. I now practice my wonderful profession of genetic counsellor in Lausanne, Switzerland, and have the good fortune to teach psychosocial aspects of genetic counselling at the University of Siena in Italy. Involved in the European Society of Human Genetics, I'm part of the Policy and Ethics Committee and try to think and give my best for the well-being of patients and their families.

Areas of expertise:

• Ethics
• Genetic counselling
• Cancer
• Education
• Public health
• Artificial Intelligence

Leila Jamal (she/her)

Genomics Education Specialist, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute
Bioethicist, NIH Department of Bioethics, NIH Clinical Center

I am a second generation, biracial United States immigrant who has dual U.S./U.K. citizenship. I am also a cis-gendered woman. Growing up, I lived in the United States, Bangladesh, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, a journey that brought me equal measures of enrichment and disorientation. I had a chronic neuromuscular illness as a child, an experience that motivated me to care for others seeking better acceptance of their bodies and a richer understanding of their health. I have a longstanding interest in moral philosophy, especially as viewed through pluralistic and intersectional lenses. I am particularly interested in how the tools of moral reasoning can be more accessible and useful in everyday genetic counseling practice. Although I am not a member of any organized religion, I am interested in how theology shapes psychology, ethical values, and the organization of institutions.

Areas of expertise:

• Ethical theory ("bioethics")
• conceptual scholarship
• genetic counseling pedagogy
• uses of standardized/simulated patients in genetic counseling training
• qualitative methods
• survey methods
• Delphi methods
• cancer genetic counseling
• research genetic counseling
• public policy
• public health

Heather Zierhut, PhD, MS, CGC (she/her)

Associate Professor, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

My lived experience is as a white, cisgender, not currently disabled woman who holds positions as a researcher and training program director. My research program is divided into four areas: 1) genetic counseling outcomes research; 2) integration of genetic counseling into public health and primary care; 3) mentorship of student-led research projects; and 4) access to genetics services for underrepresented populations. I aim to continuously grow in my professional journey and being a Section Editor for the Journal of Genetic Counseling is one way that I hope to do so. After being a member and leader of numerous national committees, task forces, advisory boards, and participatory research studies, I have had a chance to work with many genetic counselors, patients, and research participants throughout the country. I hope to use my network, expertise, and previous experiences to improve the review process and support the next generation of genetic counseling researchers.

Areas of expertise:

• Education
• health communication
• outcomes
• public health
• community participatory research

Vivian Pan, MS, CGC (she/her)

Senior Genetic Counselor, University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA

As a cisgender, heterosexual woman and an Asian Canadian American immigrant, my diverse identity shapes my perspective as an individual. My professional journey across various institutions and roles, including leadership positions within NSGC and ABGC, has profoundly influenced my identity as a genetic counselor. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Biomedical and Health Informatics at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), my research interests span health equity and access, clinical genetics workforce dynamics, service delivery models, and the informatic needs of genomic medicine. Recognizing the importance of health equity, systematic changes, and processes, I strive to contribute to the Journal of Genetic Counseling by leveraging my diverse background, adhering to high editorial standards, and conducting research that advocates for justice, systematic improvements, and optimized processes for diverse populations. As a member of the editorial board, I pledge to uphold the journal's high-quality standards, ensuring its enduring impact on the genetic counseling profession.

Areas of expertise:

• Health equity and access
• clinical genetics workforce
• service delivery models
• biomedical and health informatics

Jodie Ingles, GradDipGenCouns, PhD, MPH (she/her)

Laboratory Head and Program Director, Genomics and Inherited Disease, Garvan Institute of Medical Research & Cardiac Genetic Counsellor, Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia

Areas of expertise:

• Cardiovascular genetics
• gene discovery
• clinical studies
• psychosocial research
• variant and gene curation

John M. Quillin, PhD, MPH, CGC (he/him)

Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

In my professional life I serve as a clinical cancer genetic counselor, researcher, and teacher. My research has spanned multiple areas including health behavior (lifestyle, cancer screening, and associated behavior theories) and disparities (primarily racial disparities). I also benefit from participating in a variety of research experiences led by genetic counseling trainees. I gravitate toward quantitative assessment of data, but I appreciate that the phenomenon we study can never be fully captured by a single approach and that the researcher’s perspective cannot be fully suppressed. This is important because authentic understanding of science helps align intentions with actions. In genetic counseling encounters, I often have the daunting task of helping people make decisions after gaining little more than a first impression of them. In a similar vein, my approach to reviewing articles for the Journal of Genetic Counseling starts with a recognition that, through the submitted manuscript, I am usually meeting the author(s) for the first time. I believe my challenge is to understand the science they present, become cognizant of my own perspective, and together try to discover – and communicate – their scientific observations as authentically as possible, to advance the genetic counseling field.

Areas of expertise:

• Cancer

Andra Ciucă, PhD, MS, CGC (she/her)

Researcher, Department of Psychology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

I am an EBMG registered genetic counsellor and I currently hold a position as postdoc researcher at Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania. I have previously completed a PhD on genetic counselling for familial colorectal cancer with a focus on predictors of efficacy and implications for practice. Through my work I am committed to contribute at maintaining high-quality standards for research in genetic counselling that makes a meaningful impact on people’s lives. In my role as co-chair of the EBMG board, Genetic Counsellor’s Branch I continuously advocate for advancing the development of the profession in Europe.

Areas of expertise:

• Cancer
• complex conditions
• research methods

Masakazu Nishigaki, PhD, RN, PHN, JCGC (he/him)

Professor, Department of Genetic Counseling, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan

In my more than 20 years of research experience, I have been involved in a variety of methodological studies in diverse areas including nursing, clinical genetics, epidemiology, and genetic counseling. I believe that this experience will contribute to further improving the quality and diversity of papers published by the JoGC. As a Japanese genetic counselor, I am also very happy to contribute to the international perspective of JoGC, the only journal dedicated to genetic counseling.

Areas of expertise:

• Cardiovascular
• Cancer
• Complex Conditions
• Public Health
• Quantitative Research

Mrs Bianca Rossouw, MSc (Med) Genetic Counselling, (she/her)

Genetic Counsellor, lecturer and PhD candidate Division of Human Genetics, National Health Laboratory Service and School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of the Witwatersrand

I am a registered genetic counsellor in Johannesburg, South Africa currently working at the National Health Laboratory Service and the University of Witwatersrand, which is also where I completed my training. My current role includes clinical practice in prenatal, paediatric, cancer and adult Genetic Clinics. Our team also runs the MSc (Med) in Genetic counselling course and Genetic Counselling internship program, and we are involved in teaching and training for other Genetic courses at the University. I also assist in the laboratory analysing, interpreting and reporting our CGH-microarray test results. To top this all off, I am registered for my PhD which aims to investigate the hereditary causes of ovarian cancer in the African population. I have experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and my research interests include cancer genetics, preimplantation genetic testing, and genetic counselling practice in resource limited settings. There is a wealth of research potential on the African continent. I am passionate about increasing research quality, capacity and access in resource limited settings. We need to strive to elevate the African continent’s presence in the global genetic research community and contribute to the advancement of genetic knowledge and the improvement of patient care.

Areas of expertise:

• Cancer genetics
• reproductive genetics
• quantitative and qualitative methodologies
• genetic counselling
• genetics research in resource limited settings

Mr. Peter James B. Abad, RN, MSc (he/him)

Associate Professor, College of Nursing, University of the Philippines Manila

I acknowledge that my worldviews are influenced by my social standing as an educated multilingual Asian man. My training in the Philippines as a nurse and genetic counselor and my prior experiences in working with families with inherited conditions shape my perspectives and my research work. I am aware of my privileges as a result of my education and social standing which I hope to use to contribute in finding better ways to improve care of individuals and families with inherited conditions. I strongly believe that the development of the genetic counseling profession will benefit from the collective perspectives of genetic counselors worldwide. As such, I am committed to support researchers from countries less represented in the literature to contribute in advancing genetic counseling as a field of study.

Areas of expertise:

• Family communication of genetic information
• information management in families with inherited conditions
• cultural competence in genetic counseling
• genetic counseling professional development

Reem Alsulaiman (she/her)

Consultant Genetic Counselor (CGC), Medical Oncology and Interim Deputy Chair of the Medical Genetics Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha-Qatar

As the first board-certified Qatari genetic counselor, I have always been passionate about the possibilities enabled by the advancement of genetic counseling in my country. As such, I have sought to establish the standards of the profession, raise awareness about the practice of genetic counseling, and promote genetic and genomics research, given the high rate of consanguinity, unique genetic epidemiology, and high incidence of complex and rare autosomal recessive diseases in the Qatari population. Being Qatari has made me more aware of the cultural factors and attitudes impacting social issues and perceptions of genetic disorders. Therefore, I strive to raise awareness of such issues and promote the work of advocates within the community.

Aside from my professional endeavors, coming from a family with an extensive history of cancer, as both my parents were affected, have also influenced my passion toward my specialty. These very painful ordeals further cemented my desire to specialize in the field of cancer genetics to help at-risk families prevent or at least detect such an ugly disease early. The clinical and research aspects of this field have always fascinated me, especially in my community, where homozygosity contributes to cancer complexity and severity. Therefore, my academic and clinical practice has focused on these issues. In addition to cancer and rare and complex diseases, I am also interested in social, ethical, and psychological issues. Thus, cancer counseling and psychotherapy were the focus of my PhD research, in which I employed both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

My clinical and research experience in genetic counseling has bolstered my commitment to advancing this profession to its highest standards by advocating for genetic counseling and genomics research. To aid in this endeavor, I look forward to my role on the editorial board of the Journal of Genetic Counseling.

Areas of expertise:

• Cancer
• Rare Diseases and Consanguinity

Sahil Kejriwal MS, PhD (he/him)

Biopharma Strategy Consultant, Blue Matter Consulting, Mumbai, India

Having been raised in India and having had the privilege to pursue higher education in both the UK and US, I recognize the unique opportunity I have to contribute to the development of the genetic counseling profession in India and enhance the lives of families impacted by genetic conditions. Throughout my career, I've embraced diverse roles in genetic counseling, research, industry, professional society development, and strategy consulting. As an editorial board member of JOGC, I aim to leverage the diverse skills and perspectives gained from these roles, along with my ties to the Indian genetic counseling community, to elevate the quality and quantity of genetic counseling research emerging from India, and facilitate distinctive research contributions from India that can benefit the global genetic counseling community.

Areas of expertise:

• Adherence research
• participatory action research
• qualitative research
• genetic testing
• public health
• thalassemia
• Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• precision oncology
• professional development in developing countries

Ms Sook-Yee Yoon, MA, CGC (FHGSA)

Head of Genetic Counselling, GENETIX Cancer Research Malaysia
Visiting Genetic Counsellor, University Malaya Medical Centre

I have been working in Malaysia since 2006 as a researcher and a practicing genetic counsellor in Cancer Research Malaysia. Malaysia is a multi-cultural country with ethnicities primarily Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous Malaysians. My research area is on the psychosocial impact of genetic testing and counselling in our local setting with the aim to develop culturally appropriate tools and methods to improve access to genetic testing and counselling in a low resource country with low health literacy. I am a visiting faculty member of the genetic counselling Masters programme in the National University of Malaysia (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia ) where I teach and supervise the students’ research studies.

The use of genetic information for healthcare is increasing in Malaysia and regionally but we face challenges in the social aspects and making it equitable and well-supported for the population. I am honoured to be working with the editorial board of JoGC to improve the understanding of the genetic counselling issues in the region.

Areas of expertise:

• Psychosocial impact research in the Asian population
• Mainstreaming genetic counselling research
• Cultural competence in regional genetic counselling
• Advocacy for equitable access to genomic testing
• Genetic counselling professional development

Emily Glanton, MS, CGC (she/her)

Associate Director, Undiagnosed Diseases Network Data Management Coordinating Center, Harvard Medical School

I am a white, non-Hispanic/Latine, currently not disabled, cisgender woman. My research interests are focused on health communication through the lens of health equity, particularly for Spanish speakers and other groups historically and presently excluded from biomedical research.

Areas of expertise:

• Rare disease
• pharmacogenomics
• population health
• health communication

Robin E. Grubs, MS, PhD (she/her)

Associate Professor, Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States

Areas of expertise:

• Genetic counseling education
• public health
• qualitative research

Toni Lewis, MS (She/her)

Associate Data scientist, VUMC

Born of two immigrant parents, my experience as a cisgender, heterosexual, and able-bodied woman has been heavily influenced by the Afro-Caribbean culture and mannerisms of my family. It was in part from their lived experiences and my desire to help overcome disparities in health literacy and care through education and awareness that motivated me to pursue a career in genetic counseling. Previous work has provided me experience with survey instrumentation, qualitative analysis, psychosocial aspects to decision-making, variant curation, and exome/genome. However, through newer opportunities, I am learning that my current interests lie in uncovering and bridging the disparities that continue to impede equitable access to care. Furthermore, through my research initiatives, I hope to advance the knowledge of the genetic counseling profession and position us to ask needed questions in the discovery of how we better service underserved populations. I am both excited and honored to join the editorial board at the Journal of Genetic Counseling in the mission to report new knowledge and discoveries that impact our rapidly growing field.

Areas of expertise:

• qualitative and quantitative analysis
• Decision making
• Genetic/genomic testing
• Genome sequencing
• Health behavior
• Health beliefs
• Rare disease
• Under-served populations
• Variant classification
• Skin Disorders
• Rare autoinflammatory disorders

Elsa Balton, MS, CGC (she/her/hers)

Genetic Counselor at University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA

I am a white, currently able-bodied, cisgender woman.

My research interests include qualitative techniques, new sequencing technologies, and increasing the utility of genetic services to excluded and underserved groups.

Areas of expertise:

• Rare disease
• exome/genome sequencing
• somatic mosaicism
• neurogenetics

Jessa Bidwell MS CGC (she/her)

Research Genetic Counselor and Instructor in Medical Genetics, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

My lived experience is informed by my identity as a white, cisgender, able-bodied woman. I consider myself a Midwesterner of the United States and am privileged by my socioeconomic status and access to higher education, including my participation in the advanced research training for genetic counselors through the University of Pennsylvania. I value curiosity, efficiency, and problem-solving. I feel research is one of the best ways to live out these values in an ethical manner, benefitting the larger society and giving opportunities to advocate for those in need. My research in genetic counseling thus far has evaluated return-of-results processes and outcomes for population health studies and evaluating the roles of genetic counselors in genetic therapy.

Areas of expertise:

• Population genetics
• community engagement in research
• biobanking
• research return of results
• ethics

Pankhuri Gupta (she/her)

Research Genetic Counselor, University of Washington

Areas of expertise:

• variant interpretation/ VUS reclassification
• functional data curation
• long read sequencing
• rare disease

Hannah Llorin, MS, CGC (she/her)

Director, Atria Health and Research Institute, New York, NY; Research Fellow, University of Minnesota Genetic Counseling Fellowship in ReSearch Training (GC-FIRST) Program

My lived experience is as a mixed-race Filipina, queer, not currently disabled ciswoman. My clinical and research interests include pharmacogenomics, health equity, reproductive genetics, and genomic screening.

Kristen A. Miller, MGC, LCGC (she/her)

Assistant Professor & Genetic Counseling Research Fellow; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Baltimore, MD, USA

I am a white, cisgender, currently able-bodied, millennial woman from a middle-class background, and the privilege afforded to me by these experiences shapes my personal and professional worldviews. While I benefited from financial stability and educational support, I am a first-generation graduate degree holder and have navigated academic medicine without inherited insider knowledge.

I work in a combined clinical and research role, providing care for diverse patient populations with high-complexity, high-acuity reproductive genetics indications. I am engaged in research initiatives centered around a wide variety of topics including fetal hydrops/effusions, genomic education for community health workers, the intersection of reproductive & oncology genetics (what I have coined as “repro-oncology”), reproductive justice & abortion advocacy, non-traditional cell-free DNA screening, expanded carrier screening, incidental findings, and promoting access to genetic testing across the reproductive arc for all patient populations.

My professional and personal values are grounded in a commitment to equity, patient-centered care, and dismantling barriers to reproductive healthcare. As a clinician-researcher, I recognize my privileged position to shape both the patient and research experience, and I aim to use that privilege to amplify underrepresented voices, question norms that perpetuate inequity, and advance change in genomic medicine.

Area of expertise:

• Prenatal and preimplantation genetic testing
• reproductive justice and abortion advocacy
• exome/genome sequencing
• complex congenital anomalies.

Amy Shikany, MS, CGC (she/her)

Genetic Counselor, The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

I am a white, currently able-bodied, cisgender woman. My research interests include cardiovascular genetics, implementation science and genetic counseling outcomes.

Area of expertise:

• Cardiovascular genetics

Kelly Taylor, MS, CGC (she/her/hers)

Senior Associate in Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

I am a cancer genetic counselor committed to advancing the practice of genetic counseling through clinical practice, research, collaboration and training the next generation of genetic counselors. As a cancer genetic counselor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), I work with a multidisciplinary team to offer personalized risk assessment, genetic testing, counseling, and follow-up recommendations. As a faculty member for the Vanderbilt Master of Genetic Counseling Program, I teach students and am a thesis advisor for genetic counseling thesis projects. My own research focuses on genetic susceptibility to lung cancer and genetic counseling for lung cancer risk. I utilize quantitative methods and take advantage of Vanderbilt's DNA BioBank, BioVU, and Synthetic Derivative (SD), a fully de-identified database of clinical information curated from Vanderbilt's electronic medical record. All aspects of my work are informed by my various identities — cis-gender, straight, white, disabled, female – and acknowledging the privilege that I have.

Shelly Weiss McQuaid, MS, CGC (she/her)

Genetic Counselor, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Lecturer, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

As a white, cisgender, able-bodied, Jewish, family member of an individual with a genetic condition, I am to utilize my positionality and privilege to provide allyship and uplift groups marginalized by both society and the healthcare system. Currently pursuing a Master’s Certificate for Advanced Research Training for Genetic Counselors (funded by the Warren Alpert Foundation), my research focuses on the impact of cancer genetic information throughout the lifespan, specifically in the context of gender diversity and gender-affirming care.

Areas of expertise:

• Cancer genetics
• genetic counseling education
• psychosocial aspects of genetic counseling