Current Students & Alumni

Taylor Burg (she/her) is originally from Westport, Connecticut, and graduated from the University of Vermont in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science with a clinical concentration. During her undergraduate education, Taylor received her certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant. She began working part-time at a long-term care facility where she cared for residents experiencing mobility impairment and intellectual disabilities. The combination of learning innovative science in the classroom while practicing patient care at work ignited her passion for communicating with patients about the science behind diseases, ultimately drawing her toward genetic counseling. After graduating, Taylor accepted a position performing apheresis procedures as a Medical Technologist in the Cellular Therapeutics Department at Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center in Denver, Colorado. Over the three-plus years in this position, Taylor assumed leadership roles within her department, such as charge and preceptor for her team. While working full-time at P-SL, Taylor became involved at the Crisis Text Line as a crisis counselor to hone her communication skills with patients in distress, a skill crucial in cancer care. Taylor's professional and volunteer experiences only enhanced her desire to pursue a career incorporating patient relations and scientific advances, including genetic testing for disease, which led her to genetic counseling. To pursue this dream, Taylor engaged in genetic counseling shadowing opportunities, observing in both a pediatric neurogenetics clinic and a maternal-fetal health clinic. In the future, she aims to explore the breadth of genetic counseling and hopes to continue serving oncology patients, which is the initial inspiration behind her journey. In her free time, Taylor enjoys anything involving the outdoors, such as hiking, skiing, camping, and backpacking. When she isn't outside, Taylor is likely tending to her many houseplants or FaceTiming with her parents and three younger siblings.

Mai Ly Tran Burke (she/her) was born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and graduated from Stanford University with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Psychology. Her passion for genetic counseling was first sparked by her volunteer work with children battling cancer in Vietnamese public hospitals. This experience laid the foundation for her commitment to bridging genetic advancements with the needs of underserved communities like her own. Her long-term goal is to integrate genetic counseling into Vietnamese healthcare, addressing the country’s shortage of geneticists and improving the health of her community. Passionate about teaching, Mai Ly served as a volunteer tutor in East Palo Alto, supporting middle schoolers from resource-limited communities, and now teaches Vietnamese to a young child with autism. When she’s not teaching, she’s a volunteer peer counselor at The Bridge, offering compassionate guidance to her fellow students. Throughout her academic journey, Mai Ly has been deeply involved in genomics research, ranging from studying microbial communities in Brazilian cloud forests to investigating genome instability in cancer pathways. She also worked as a research trainee with Harvard Medical School’s Genomes2People (G2P) program, accelerating the ethical integration of genetic data into healthcare. Mai Ly enjoys working on projects related to global health and biodesign. In South Africa, she collaborated with a medical device startup improving healthcare accessibility in the region. In Vietnam, she worked with the country’s largest private hospital to help integrate genetics into their oncology department. She finds joy in promoting global education and advising students through her role as a Student Ambassador for Stanford’s Bing Overseas Studies Program. Some of Mai Ly’s hobbies include painting, being in nature, attending concerts and festivals, practicing yoga, cooking Vietnamese food, and traveling.

Alexandria (Alexia) Chilimidos (she/her) is originally from Oakland, California, and earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of San Diego in 2019. Her interest in science education was kindled through undergraduate volunteer work as a scholar-athlete peer tutor and at Montgomery School in Linda Vista, where she helped adapt biology curriculum for students with diverse educational needs. This experience led her to pursue a Master of Science (MSc) in Mental Health of Children and Young People at the University of Edinburgh. There, she compiled key findings from her dissertation on the neurodevelopmental impacts of in-utero Zika virus exposure in asymptomatic offspring for presentation at the 25th World Congress of IACAPAP in Dubai. After graduation, she sought to deepen her understanding of the biological underpinnings of disease and disorders through a certificate in Genetics at the University of Cambridge, where she became inspired to pursue genetic counseling. She continued her studies with an MSc in Psychiatric Research from King’s College London, where she examined impacts of dopaminergic modulation on working memory as a research assistant for the NECTAR Project at Hammersmith Hospital. Following her second Master’s, she focused on empowering young people’s educational and emotional development in her role as a lead teaching assistant at Harris Academy St John’s Wood in London. Shadowing genetic counselors in the United States and United Kingdom affirmed her passion and certainty in pursuing genetic counseling. As a genetic counselor, Alexia aims to continue to serve diverse communities by promoting mental health and access to genetic counseling services through innovative community outreach. In her free time, she enjoys Formula 1, pub quiz nights, hiking, and social gatherings with her friends and family.

Emma Draisin (she/her) is originally from San Francisco, California, and graduated from Tufts University in 2022 with a B.S. in Biopsychology and a minor in Philosophy. In her time at Tufts, Emma was an undergraduate researcher in the Neurocognition of Language lab and worked as a Biology teaching assistant. These positions deepened Emma’s interest in intentional communication and sharing her passion for Biology with her community. She was also a part of the Tufts Club Volleyball team and a member of the Action for Sexual Assault Prevention club. Through her education, Emma learned about genetic counseling and took every opportunity to learn more, through career days, shadowing, informational interviewing, and assisting a genetic counseling professor in the creation of a new variant interpretation curriculum. After graduating, Emma spent two years as a clinical research assistant at the Boston Center for Endometriosis at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she coordinated longitudinal studies to learn more about the impact of endometriosis across the lifespan, and interventional studies to explore novel treatments. In this role, through speaking with patients about their health, providing the knowledge and resources to explore a new treatment, and ultimately supporting their decision-making nonjudgmentally, she cemented her interest in pursuing a career in genetic counseling where she hopes to help patients find autonomy in their healthcare decisions. In her free time, Emma enjoys reading, yoga, beach days, and cooking for her friends and family.

Grace Foley (she/her) is from Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from Imperial College London in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry with a Year in Industry/Research. Her interest in genetics was first inspired by her cousin, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Grace’s desire to help people like her cousin motivated her to complete a year-long research placement with the Gene Therapy Group at the National Heart and Lung Institute in London during her time as an undergraduate. She worked to evaluate a novel method of gene delivery to the lungs and explored a non-viral gene therapy approach to treating autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Grace has also enjoyed volunteering roles that emphasize providing emotional support to people. As President of Imperial College’s Catholic Society, Grace implemented a weekly volunteering program for students to participate in activities like being pen pals for children with serious illnesses, delivering food to and having conversations with people experiencing homelessness, and writing Valentine’s Day cards to residents of a nursing home. At St. Charles Hospital in London, she supported patients in person by having conversations with them during their renal dialysis treatment, and as a Telephone Befriender with Methodist Homes (MHA), she has weekly conversations over the phone with an older person to help prevent feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Most recently, Grace worked as a Genetic Counseling Assistant within the High-Risk Cancer Genetics Program at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, and she has cherished her time working alongside genetic counselors and directly with patients. Grace enjoys flower-shopping, reading, going to diners with her friends, and drinking Irish breakfast tea with her family.

Sara Gerber (she/her) grew up in Aurora, Ohio. She attended Case Western Reserve University, and received her Bachelor’s degree in 2024 with a major in Biology and a minor in French. As an undergraduate, Sara worked as a genetic counseling assistant at University Hospitals, where she assisted a team of genetic counselors and medical geneticists in general, prenatal, and cardio genetics. In this role, Sara confirmed her desire to become a genetic counselor and had the opportunity to correspond with patients, coordinate with insurance, communicate with labs to coordinate testing, and shadow a wide range of specialties. During her senior year, she became a Research Lead for a community-based culinary medicine clinical research project led by Dr. Catherine McManus at CWRU, where she grew in her leadership skills. The project helped to teach underserved Cleveland youth with Type I diabetes about nutrition and how to prepare healthy meals to manage their condition. Her love of spending time with children in the community also led her to volunteer at Fieldstone Farms, a therapeutic riding center for children with health conditions and challenging life circumstances. She serves as a volunteer on the Crisis Text Line, where she has shared many meaningful one-on-one moments and practiced active listening and counseling skills. Sara was also a research assistant on a literature review project conducted by Dr. Hadley Stevens-Smith at Harvard University, which focused on the health-related quality of life and wellbeing among families of children with genetic disorders.  Sara is a passionate learner in many areas, and her love for learning the French language inspired her to study abroad for a semester in Nice, France, where she gained a deeper understanding of intercultural communication. Sara is interested in bioethics, and was a leader on the executive board for the Undergraduate Society for Bioethics and Health Humanities, where she fostered discussion and collaboration on topics in bioethics, a dialogue she hopes to continue to engage in throughout her education and career. In her free time you can find her playing her guitar, exploring new places near and far, trying new recipes, and spending time with her friends and family.

Molly Heck (she/her) grew up in Sammamish, Washington, and graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Biological Sciences (with a concentration in genetics, genomics, and development), and a minor in Education. Since she was young, Molly was drawn to the world of teaching and education, becoming a teaching assistant and a tutor throughout high school and college. During her time at Cornell, she was a teaching assistant for an introductory genetics laboratory course, focusing on the use of CRISPR in Drosophila melanogaster. Additionally, she worked as an undergraduate researcher for Dr. David Deitcher’s laboratory, tracing lineages of Drosophila with epilepsy to find the genetic cause of their seizures. During the summer of 2021 before returning to Cornell for her senior year, she worked as a research assistant for Dr. Mo Weng’s laboratory at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, to study the role of Ajuba protein in the cell-cell junction during the cellularization stage of embryogenesis. Apart from her research and teaching experiences as an undergraduate, Molly also took leadership roles in her social organizations, such as New Member Educator for her sorority, Delta Delta Delta. Following graduation, she took a position as a genetic counseling assistant at Igenomix, a pre-implantation genetic testing laboratory. Throughout her 2 years at this position, she helped patients directly through their reproductive journeys with PGT and CGT screenings, as well as worked closely with providers at fertility clinics nation-wide, including prenatal genetic counselors. During this time, she also took part in Columbia’s Pre-Genetic Counseling Experiential Practicum, where she was able to shadow and speak with many genetic counselors in different specialties of the field. She continues to volunteer as a baseline annotator for ClinGen, helping with variant curation for variants associated with Rett and Angelman-like conditions. Molly is passionate about educating patients through genetic counseling, to ensure they have full understanding and informed consent of the genetic services they are being/have been offered. She is excited to further explore the field of genetic counseling at Stanford’s program. In her free time, she enjoys running, crocheting, reading, line dancing, spending time with friends and family, and watching reality competition shows.

Emily Kohl (she/her) is originally from Bellevue, Washington, and graduated from UCLA in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and Society and a minor in Global Health. During her time as an undergraduate student, she worked as a research assistant in the Soragni Lab, where she lead a project to establish patient-derived cutaneous neurofibroma organoids for Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), establishing a high-throughput screening platform to test various drugs to slow organoid, and thus patient tumor, growth. Her experience learning about patients diagnosed with NF1 inspired her interest in rare genetic diseases and sparked a profound curiosity in the field of genetic counseling. Apart from research, Emily also served as a member and director for the Student Alumni Association (SAA), where she fostered connections between students and alumni through professional networking and event planning. Upon graduating, Emily continued her journey in disease research by working as a research technician at Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center, where she studied neuropathological changes in the cerebellum of patients diagnosed with Essential Tremor. Outside of working hours, she also served as a counseling volunteer for both Crisis Text Line and the Trevor Project. Most recently, Emily transitioned from research to the clinical sphere by working as a Genetic Counseling Assistant for Mount Sinai’s Cancer Genetic Counseling Program, where she has greatly enjoyed coordinating patient care and building meaningful relations with patients and their families. Emily is excited to widen her understanding of the field of genetic counseling at SUGC, where she hopes to advocate for increased accessibility and availability of genetic counseling and testing services for marginalized populations within healthcare. In her free time, Emily loves discovering musical artists and attending their concerts, perfecting her iced coffee recipe, brushing up on her Japanese language skills, and picnicking in the park with her friends.

Jannina Mock (she/her) grew up in Sunnyvale, California, and earned her B.S. in Cell & Developmental Biology from UC Santa Barbara in 2023. While pursuing her degree, she served as a board member and competitor of the UCSB Dancesport competitive ballroom dance team, and she hopes to continue dancing through grad school. Jannina also worked for the university as a teaching tutor, providing supplemental lectures for first- and second-year biology courses and serving as a mentor for her students. Her passion for science education stems from her ongoing work with Family Giving Tree, where she has been a dedicated volunteer for almost 20 years, helping to provide school supplies and holiday gifts to financially disadvantaged Bay Area families. With her combined interests in medicine, education, and community outreach, she was drawn to genetic counseling. Post-graduation, she confirmed her love for the career by completing Keck Graduate Institute’s Clinical Genetics and Bioinformatics program, and volunteered at her local medical center as a receptionist and patient escort. Jannina has since been working as a volunteer crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line while serving as a full-time caretaker for her mother who was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. She aims to continue to advocate for cancer patients and patients with chronic pain, and aims to make genetics care more accessible and inclusive, especially for the LGBTQ+ community. In her free time, you can find Jannina roller skating, bodyboarding, attending social dancing (West Coast Swing) conventions, exploring new bakeries, and spending time with friends and family.

Avery Phillips (she/her) was raised in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and completed her undergraduate studies at Boston University in 2022 with a B.S. in Health Science and a minor in Psychology. Her internship at Boston Children’s’ Hospital in the Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research and Beggs Laboratory fueled her passion for genetic counseling. Avery contributed to research aimed at understanding and addressing rare diseases. She also helped to consent patients and families from the NICU. After graduation, Avery joined the Genomic Health Clinic at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. As a genetic counseling assistant, Avery is a part of Vanderbilt’s eMERGE study, fostering an appreciation for the fusion of preventive medicine and the integration of genomic data into electronic health records. She also had the opportunity to work in East Africa, at the Rwanda Military Hospital alongside the esteemed Dr. Leon Mutesa, the country’s sole geneticist. Here, Avery found profound fulfillment in serving pediatric patients who had extremely limited resources. She played a pivotal role in introducing genetic counseling practices, sharing her expertise through educational initiatives on pedigree creation and psychosocial counseling techniques. In her free time, Avery loves running, cooking, listening to podcasts, and traveling. Her wanderlust has led her to visit eight countries over the past year.

Angelica Raney (she/her) is from sunny and beautiful Lakewood, California. She attended UC Berkeley and graduated in 2024 with a B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology: Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development. While attaining her undergraduate degree, she volunteered her time with the Crisis Textline and worked as a Peer Advisor at UC Berkeley for Re-Entry students like herself. Finding passion through life experiences, she worked as an undergraduate researcher for YAAH (Youth and Allies Against Homelessness) in the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, where important work was done to develop tools, plans, and policies for youth experiencing homelessness. Angelica has a strong interest in nutrition, environment, and their impact on epigenetics. All throughout her life she has had a love for science and particularly in genetics, this is largely due to a genetic mutation that has left her partially blind since birth. Through understanding genetics she has come to understand more about herself and how she can help others do the same. Besides school, Angelica has spent many years in the service industry, working as a waitress. Outside of responsibilities, she loves taking her golden retriever Major out, going to concerts, and painting. She finds freedom and happiness through those activities and can't wait to show Major all that Stanford has to offer.

Chloe Rome (she/her), originally from Long Island, NY, earned her Bachelors of Science from UCLA in 2022 in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, with a minor in Society and Genetics. Chloe first sought out her passion for genetics in a plant genetics lab at UCLA where she researched epidermal cell solidity in Arabidopsis Thaliana. Here, Chloe furthered her passion for genetics and found a deeper need to connect with others. With the help of her PI, she started interviewing genetic counselors, and strengthened her interest in the field. Eventually, Chloe started a position as a GC intern at both Weill Cornell Medicine and Keck Medicine of USC. In each position, she worked with talented genetics teams, and felt herself integrating into the field. Chloe also volunteers as a crisis counselor for the Trevor Project, where she has built meaningful connections with the LGBTQIA+ community and further developed her counseling skills. Additionally, she works as a GCA at UCLA where she oversees multiple clinics including 22q Disorder, hearing loss, and inpatient care. A favorite part of working in the 22q clinic for Chloe has been gifting stuffed animals to the patients of “Q.T,” the clinic’s mascot. Outside of work, Chloe teaches a fitness class for Gigi’s Playhouse where she has loved developing new lesson plans and working with her students to further their abilities. In her free time, you can find Chloe hiking, exploring, finding live music, crafting, and spending time with friends and family. She is excited to continue this learning and start a new journey at Stanford’s genetic counseling program!

Hallie Ryan (she/her) was born and raised in Shawnee, Kansas, where her family encouraged and inspired a curiosity about science and the world. She moved to Los Angeles, California, to study Biology at Loyola Marymount University. While there, involvement in student organizations dedicated to awareness and education about experiences of domestic violence committed her to a path grounded in connection with others. After graduating in 2020, Hallie pursued an English Teaching Assistant position through the Fulbright Program in Spain where she gained an appreciation for the connections built through education. Upon her return, a family genetic diagnosis personally guided her to the field of genetic counseling. Over the ensuing years, she worked in a DNA sequencing lab and California Fertility Partners’ IVF lab, learning more about preconception genetics and the spaces for compassionate education within the patient experience. Outside of work, Hallie enjoys traveling to visit family and friends, appreciating California’s landscapes from her bike, using the “skip-the-line” feature on Libby, and cooking for a crowd.

Jason Simmons (he/him) was born and raised in Dallas, Texas and moved to California to UC Santa Cruz where he obtained his B.S. in Biology in 2017. His first memory of genetics is from a family member’s neurofibromatosis diagnosis, and this started a pathway of discovery into the science field through which Jason would discover his passion for teaching and working with local bay area children creating STEM enrichment coursework. As an undergraduate, Jason worked as a team lead with the UCSC Sustainability Center and was privileged to participate as a member of the UCSC Carbon Fund working with the Santa Cruz City Council reviewing architectural and developmental projects. Additionally, he was a peer counselor in the Sexual Health Office provided by the UCSC Cowell Health Center to assist fellow students on campus in education and crisis sessions. After graduation, Jason began working in the industry for Color in their SARS-CoV-2 laboratory providing PCR testing before transitioning to Accessioning Lead. Through this he began to work with genetic testing samples via NGS techniques and assisting with the NIH All of Us Program testing. Jason continued his diagnostic CLIA laboratory experience working as a Clinical Laboratory Associate at CareDx which provides surveillance testing for Cardiac, Renal, and Pulmonary organ transplant patients. This provided Jason the space to develop his laboratory skills and become Pre-Analytical Laboratory Supervisor, being recognized for focus in patient centricity, and awarded the Patient First Marvel Award. Outside of his academic and professional work, Jason is an active member in his local community focusing on causes such as assisting with neighborhood clean ups in San Francisco’s Mission District, supporting families as a volunteer at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital during admissions, and participating in San Francisco pride as a parade participant and informed health adviser. He is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community and looks to expand awareness and research of genetics to be more inclusive of wider populations. Jason’s hobbies include being outdoors such as hiking and going to the beach, discovering new coffee shops, using his film camera, and he recently participated in a half marathon with friends in Colorado.

Lacey Williams (she/her) is from Seattle, Washington, and graduated from the University of Washington in 2023 with a B.S. in Biochemistry. As an undergraduate, she worked as a Clinical Research Assistant for two years at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, where she supported Dr. Stephanie Lee’s team investigating hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Through forming connections with patients struggling with this complex disease, she became inspired to work with patients facing difficult diagnoses as a genetic counselor. Following graduation, she joined Dr. Lee’s lab full-time for one year as a Clinical Research Coordinator and managed several clinical trials aimed at preventing GVHD and understanding how its manifestations impact patient long-term outcomes and quality of life. In this role, Lacey also worked on a study done by the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research investigating the clonal evolution of acute myeloid leukemia, where she analyzed how patient fluorescence in-situ hybridization, cytogenetics, and next-generation sequencing test results evolve over time post-transplant. During her time at the University of Washington, she was also a first-year interest group leader for a group of incoming freshmen students and served as a classroom volunteer at the UW Experimental Education Unit, a preschool for three-to-five-year-old children with and without disabilities such as autism and Down syndrome. She is passionate about improving women’s healthcare outcomes surrounding pregnancy and served as a volunteer for Postpartum Support International, a helpline for women suffering from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. In her free time, Lacey enjoys practicing hot yoga, skiing, trying new recipes, and spending time with her sister's yellow lab puppy, Skye.

Sophia Adelson (she/her) grew up in West Orange, New Jersey, and graduated from Wellesley College in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and French. As an undergraduate, Sophia served as the social media chair for Wellesley’s Blue Cancer Society, volunteered in a hospital playroom, and tutored students in grades K-12. Sophia began working as a research trainee with the Boston-based Genomes2People (G2P) research program the summer after her junior year, and conducted her senior honors thesis alongside the team the following year. For her thesis, Sophia explored how individuals in the Mass General Brigham Biobank talk to family members about their unanticipated genetic findings and how genetic counselors can support these conversations. Upon graduating, Sophia joined G2P full time as a genetic counseling assistant (GCA). In this role, she developed patient and research participant facing materials, recruited and enrolled individuals into clinical trials, and helped manage the daily operations of the Brigham Preventive Genomics Clinic. Passionate about teaching, Sophia also led the virtual educational program and curriculum for G2P trainees and served as a teaching fellow (TF) for the Harvard Catalyst Genomic Medicine in Clinical Practice online course. Working as a GCA and TF has shown Sophia the many roles a genetic counselor can have in clinic, research, and education, and has increased her enthusiasm to spend her career making genomic information and precision medicine more accessible to patients and the public at large. In her free time, Sophia enjoys hiking, barre classes, reading, spending time with friends and family, learning new board games, and traveling.

Carolyn Bell (she/her) is from Villanova, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Duke University with thesis distinction in 2020, receiving a B.S. in Neuroscience and minors in Chemistry and Biology. Growing up as a caregiver to her aunt with Spina Bifida fostered her appreciation for accessible, inclusive environments and led her to volunteer with Easter Seals, Project Sunshine, and hospice programs. In college, Carolyn found her passion for supporting individuals through challenging experiences and became a freshman advisory counselor and sexual violence prevention advocate. She was selected for a Bass Connections interdisciplinary research team that used a public health approach to develop and assess trauma-informed sexual misconduct policies, procedures, and prevention strategies. She received the Vertical Integration in Psychology fellowship to support her independent research, which culminated in two posters and a thesis and reviewed the distinct mechanism underlying freezing defense behavior, finding a significant association between freezing during trauma and the severity of post-trauma effects. Since graduating, she has expanded this research with the support of her mentor and grant funding, developing additional studies and co-authoring publications focused on personalizing treatment, educational materials, and psychosocial support for individuals who engage this defense response. Her interest in genomics, personalized medicine, and biology-based educational interventions to improve outcomes for populations with chronic, treatment-resistant symptoms inspired her to learn more about genetic counseling, connect with genetic counselors in a variety of roles, complete case series and other virtual events, and pursue the field. She also enjoys working with community organizations to tutor and mentor Spanish and English speaking students facing educational barriers. Carolyn can otherwise be found exploring with her dogs, Roo and Regina, tending to her 50+ tropical houseplants, listening to live music, roller skating, and spending time outdoors with friends.

Katie Comerford (she/her) is from Old Lyme, Connecticut, and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a B.S. in Diagnostic Genetic Science (DGS) with a concentration in cytogenetics. She is passionate about creating safe, inclusive and empowering spaces in patient care and her communities. As an undergraduate, she was a teaching assistant, a student representative for the DGS program, and a volunteer with Girls on the Run, Relay for Life and Special Olympics. Katie’s senior year, she completed a 6-month clinical practicum in cytogenetics at the Yale University School of Medicine. Her senior research project encompassed analysis of chromosomal distribution of regions of homozygosity by oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization and she was a co-author on the publication documenting the results. Upon graduation, she joined the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center in a clinical research role working with patients diagnosed with advanced solid tumor malignancies. During her time at UCSF, she co-managed a team of clinical research coordinators, supported investigators’ independent research projects, and served as the principal liaison between industry sponsors and UCSF investigators. After UCSF, she joined Genentech, Inc., managing clinical trials studying novel cancer immunotherapy treatments. Outside of her day-to-day role at Genentech, she was a new hire mentor, a member of Enabling Patient Access and Inclusive Research committee, and led a national D&I program aimed to improve treatment center resources in underserved communities and increase awareness of barriers to accessing clinical trials as a treatment option. In her free time, you can find her hiking, listening to music and curating playlists, painting with watercolors, or reading.

Maheen Farooqi (she/her) is originally from Karachi, Pakistan, and moved to Waterloo, Canada, for undergraduate studies. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences from the University of Waterloo (2019)  and a Master’s degree in Health Research Methodology from McMaster University (2022). During her time in Waterloo, Maheen developed a passion for understanding how to alleviate inequities in healthcare – an interest sparked by the influx of Syrian newcomers to Canada. Maheen worked with refugees, government officers and refugee clinic workers to research how to better serve the healthcare needs of refugee women in the area. She presented this work at the 21st Annual International Women’s and Children’s Conference. To further her research training, Maheen completed her Master’s thesis – this time studying how to improve existing definitions of the frailty syndrome to better identify frailty in ethnically diverse cohorts. This work is one of the largest longitudinal studies of frailty performed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
During the course of her research, Maheen learned that just like frailty, there are many common hereditary conditions not well studied in ethnic minorities and low-income populations. She now hopes to combine her passion for clinical counseling with genetics research to address this gap. Maheen has interned with the cancer genetics team at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and volunteers as a phone counselor for the Crisis Support Services of Alameda County. Maheen lives in the Bay Area with her husband and 2-year old son. She enjoys traveling, cooking/baking, reading, and exploring all the natural trails California has to offer.

Emily Huang (she/her) is from San Jose, California, and graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2021 with a B.S. in Genetics & Genomics. As an undergraduate, she conducted research on alpha-synuclein induced proteotoxic stress & its linkage to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Through her experiences in research, she learned of how much she loved teaching and interacting with her community. Her passions of genetics, teaching, and interacting with her community, led her to genetic counseling. After graduating, Emily was a volunteer caseworker for the American Red Cross, and worked with various nonprofits to provide shelter, food, and resources to community members who were recovering from local disasters. She also worked as a Medical Assistant at her local urgent care where she communicated closely with patients and providers. These experiences allowed  her to familiarize herself with the type of care and awareness that's needed when approaching difficult conversations. To further develop her understanding of genetic counseling, Emily took part in the Genetic Counseling Immersive Program held by Color Health, met with numerous GCs in her area, and attended various conferences, such as the 2022 NCCGC (Northern California Coalition of Genetic Counselors) Conference. In her free time, she is waitressing at her family’s restaurant and spending time with her family. Some of her hobbies include bowling, puzzling, and exploring new food spots!

Sarah Huang (she/her) is from Lafayette, Colorado, and graduated from UCLA in 2023 with a B.S. in Human Biology & Society. As an undergraduate student, she worked as a Campus Tour Guide and an advisor for Pathway, a program supporting college students who identify as neurodiverse. She was also an editor and writer for FEM Newsmagazine and a member of the Student Alumni Association (SAA). Research has been a large part of Sarah’s journey: she worked as a second coder for a UCLA genetic counseling student’s capstone project studying the rare disease experience, and spearheaded a project developing a computable phenotype for Turner syndrome with the eXtraOrdinarY Kids Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She further grew her love of genetic counseling through her involvement on the board of the Genetic Counseling Prospective Student Network (GCPSN) and being mentored by members of the Minority Genetics Professional Network. Sarah is passionate about disability justice, mental health in Asian American communities, and improving the accessibility of genetic counseling for diverse patient populations. In her free time, you can find her listening to music, drinking a matcha latte, hiking, writing in her journal, doing the NYT mini crossword, and exploring local farmer’s markets and bookstores.

Esha Mahal (she/her) grew up in Bothell, Washington, and graduated from the University of Washington in 2023 with a B.S. in Public Health-Global Health. During her time as an undergraduate, she helped conduct clinical research that aimed to hone treatments for pediatric patients with chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis. Esha's enjoyment of children also led her to work as a camp counselor for kids with disabilities. In this position, she gained insights into the lived experiences of people impacted by disability and strives to use those stories to inform her future practice. This experience sparked her interest in advocacy, which she had the opportunity to engage in as a student ambassador for the United MSD Foundation. Here, she heard from families and created resources to help them better understand the newborn screening process. In order to further her communication and counseling skills, she served as a crisis counselor with Crisis Textline, and had the privilege of interacting with youth experiencing homelessness as part of her senior capstone. As a genetic counselor, she hopes to increase awareness of the field in the South Asian community and is passionate about accessibility and ethics issues. In her free time, Esha enjoys making her own clothes, being outside with her dog, playing volleyball, and trying new things with friends.

Amanda Mitchell (she/her) grew up in Orange County, California, and graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2023. She majored in Molecular and Cellular Biology and minored in Psychology, as well as Leadership Studies. During her time as an undergraduate, Amanda helped conduct research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine to investigate links between the anxiety phenotype and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). She also was involved in the Baltimore community through Thread, where she mentored a student from an underfunded, local high school for four years. Amanda was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Eta Epsilon Chapter, which partnered with Baltimore National Alliance on Mental Illness for fundraising and ambassador opportunities. After growing up as a competitive dancer, Amanda was inspired to analyze the leadership styles of competitive dance teachers and how these styles impact dancer well-being for her Leadership Studies Capstone Project. Amanda continued to dance in college on the Jaywalk Dance Team and served as Social Media Chair and Treasurer. Amanda has a heart for working with children; during her summers, she virtually instructed STEM subjects and programming games with Dreams for Schools. Some of Amanda’s other teaching experiences include being a lead one-on-one tutor for We Tutor-U and being a course assistant in the undergraduate Johns Hopkins business course, Foundations of American Enterprise. Upon having her own lived experience with a genetic diagnosis, Amanda has become passionate about guiding, empowering, and educating patients. She was able to put this passion into practice during her internship with the Johns Hopkins Human Genetics department. This virtual internship program affirmed Amanda’s interest in genetic counseling by exploring the field through lectures, career development activities, support group panels, and mentorship projects. In addition, she participated in the Columbia Pre-Genetic Counselor Experiential Practicum, where she had the opportunity to observe and reflect on genetic counseling appointments. As a genetic counselor, Amanda will strive to be an advocate and a partner to those navigating the intricacies of genetic information. In her free time, Amanda loves to bake, dance, sew, shop, hike, read, and explore coffee shops!

Jazmine Newson (she/her) is originally from Berkeley, California, and graduated from Gonzaga University in May of 2023. She has a bachelor’s degree in Biology and minors in Special Education and Entrepreneurial Leadership. Her work in the Honors Program allowed her to craft an interdisciplinary education that considered how science education can be taught in inclusive,  culturally relevant and responsive, and accessible ways. For her Honors Senior Project, Jazmine combined her interests in science, inclusive pedagogy, and meaningful connection to author an undergraduate science class that demonstrated an authentic embodiment of equity-based teaching in the sciences. With a career in genetic counseling, she hopes to utilize people’s stories to “humanize the science” and assuage historical mistrusts in the healthcare system. Jazmine was awarded the Peter G. Pauw Award for Distinction in Biology for co-founding and leading the Gonzaga chapter of SACNAS (the Society for the Advancement of Native American and Chicanos in STEM) and supporting a diverse STEM community on the Gonzaga campus. Off campus, Jazmine supported and served children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families at Joya Child and Family Development Center. Through this experience, she hopes to provide her future patients with reassurance and insight into services, supports, and communities they may encounter in the future. In her free time, Jazmine enjoys making new friends, crocheting, dancing, cooking, and baking.

Leah Rossi (she/her) grew up in Mill Valley, California. She graduated from UC Davis in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Genetics and Genomics and minors in Human Rights and Public Health. As an undergraduate, she worked at the UC Davis Medical Center as a clinical trial research assistant for two years where she assisted with the coordination of on-going clinical trials within the division of pulmonology, critical care, and sleep medicine. Throughout her senior year, Leah served as president of the UC Davis Genetic Counseling Club where she led a team of officers in providing exposure, resources, and support to the UC Davis undergraduate community interested in pursuing genetic counseling. In addition, Leah was a member of the sorority Pi Beta Phi, a peer-mentor for AggieMentors, and as a campus tour guide. Leah’s interest in travel provided her with an opportunity to conduct research for eight weeks at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. There she was able to discover her passion for neurogenetics as she worked on Alzheimer's disease in organoids in Dr. Orly Reiner’s laboratory. With a career in genetic counseling, Leah intends to focus on building trust with patients through a safe and communicative environment with the hopes of making healthcare more inclusive for all. In her free time, you can find Leah spending time with family and friends, going to concerts (especially Taylor Swift shows), and exploring new restaurants in the Bay Area!

Armando Sánchez-Conde (he/him) is from St. Louis, Missouri, and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2022 with a B.A. in Environmental Biology and a minor in Psychology. He is a community-oriented person who has always been passionate about making a positive impact in his hometown. For the past couple of years, Armando has worked as a job coach for formerly-incarcerated individuals in the St. Louis area through the St. Louis University Transformative Workforce Academy. He has also frequently volunteered with Missouri Special Olympics and the St. Louis Special Needs Soccer Association (SPENSA), and has worked as a high school tutor and community soccer coach. As an undergraduate at WashU, Armando was a member of the men’s soccer team and an undergraduate teaching assistant for the Human Genetics course. In his junior year, Armando began conducting research at the Washington University School of Medicine exploring the importance of non-coding genetic variation on Differences in Sex Development (DSD) Phenotypes. He presented a poster of his work at the 9th International DSD Symposium in Bern, Switzerland in July of 2022. Following graduation, Armando worked as a clinical assistant at Kindbody - St. Louis, a fertility and reproductive health clinic. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer with friends, hiking, cooking, playing cards, and finding great places to eat!

Fiona Seung (she/her) is from Seattle, Washington, and graduated from the University of Washington with a B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. As an undergraduate, she was involved in systematic research that identified barriers to genetic testing and genetic counseling services within diverse Asian populations. This research experience solidified her interest in genetic counseling and helped her recognize her position to address the barriers that prevent her community from accessing said genetic services. Post-graduation, Fiona joined the Clinical Genomic Analyst (CGA) Team at the University of Washington Medical Center as a genetic counseling assistant (GCA) where she became familiar with laboratory genetic counseling roles and was introduced to ConnectMyVariant (CMV), a public health education initiative where she served as a Family Outreach Navigator. Within this role, she supported individuals with hereditary cancer risk by providing resources to locate relatives and communicate with those relatives about their own hereditary cancer risk and genetic testing. In her free time, Fiona enjoys going to live concerts and music festivals.

Caitlin Silva is from North Salt Lake, Utah, and graduated from Brigham Young University in 2023 with a B.S. in Genetics, Genomics, and Biotechnology. As an undergraduate, Caitlin participated in pharmacogenomics research investigating the effect of ancestry on drug-induced liver injury risk in patients with multiple sclerosis. Caitlin has volunteered with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for 14 years and has been involved with fundraising, advocacy, and research efforts on behalf of the cystic fibrosis community. She participated in five visits to Washington DC to advocate for legislation that improved medical management and care for patients with genetic conditions. This experience inspired her to remain involved in public policy efforts that benefit underrepresented patient populations. Additionally, acting as a liaison between policy makers and patients fostered Caitlin’s passion for translating scientific concepts to formats that are accessible and understandable for all audiences. She further developed these skills as a genetic counseling intern for the Johns Hopkins Summer Internship program where she created patient resources for the Johns Hopkins Cystic Fibrosis Clinic. After shadowing genetic counselors as an intern at the Intermountain Cardiovascular Genetic Counseling Clinic, Caitlin developed her own counseling skills as a crisis counselor at Crisis Text Line and a therapeutic harp music volunteer at Primary Children’s Hospital. In her free time, Caitlin enjoys playing the harp, dancing, discovering local food trucks, and spending time with her family.

Arnhildur Tómasdóttir is from Kópavogur, Iceland. She graduated in 2022 from the University of Iceland with a Bachelor's in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. During undergrad, she worked as a research assistant in a genetics lab at the university. There she helped a Ph.D. student with their project on the mild hypothermia pathway, identifying new genes in the pathway as well as finding drugs that could activate this pathway without the cooling itself to get the clinical benefits of mild hypothermia and exclude the side effects that the cooling can cause. In her third year of undergrad, Arnhildur served as vice president of the student organization in her program, organizing networking events and advocating for students. To gain counseling experience, Arnhildur volunteered as a phone friend for the Icelandic Red Cross, where volunteers are paired with socially isolated individuals and call them once a week and give social support. After undergrad Arnhildur started working as a genetic counseling assistant at Landspítali University Hospital. There she got the opportunity to shadow genetic counselors and geneticists and gained valuable exposure to the field and the work genetic counselors do. In her free time, Arnhildur loves strolling through second-hand stores, running, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Allie Zahn (she/her) grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and considers herself a Bay Area transplant. She graduated from Santa Clara University in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and a minor in Public Health Sciences. As an undergraduate, Allie volunteered as an EMT for SCU’s student-led EMS organization, and she was elected to serve as the Health and Wellness Officer for her fellow EMTs. Through her EMT encounters Allie discovered her interest in caring for individuals enduring traumatic health-related events. After interning for The Health Trust, she experienced a first-hand understanding of the health issues facing members in her community, which formed her strong devotion to implementing community-based healthcare. After graduation, Allie worked at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease in San Francisco for 2 years where she researched the role of TREM2 in Alzheimer’s Disease-related Network and Synaptic abnormalities by conducting electrophysiology monitoring, genetic manipulations, and neuronal synaptic density measurements in a rodent model. Through this research she found a love for understanding the genetic components of disease, which, combined with her passion for helping patients, led to her interest in the field of Genetic Counseling. Allie is very passionate about increasing access to genetic counseling services to individuals who are typically excluded from the benefits of preventative healthcare. In her free time, you can find Allie rollerblading, listening to true-crime podcasts, spending time with friends and family, and taking photos (both film and digital)!