Interns & Alumni

Dominique (Nikki) Alexander is a recent graduate of the University of Nevada-Reno Neuroscience Program, where she also obtained minors in Biology and English: Cinema and Media Studies. Following her completion of our Grad School Prep Program, she joined our Newsletter and Blog Team. Her first piece expanded on her showcase project, exploring the work of Arielle Silverman and the unique role genetic counselors have in disability advocacy and reproductive autonomy. Her second piece brings together findings from fellow intern Brian Earle's showcase project on The New Eugenics by Judith Daar, with discussions our internship had during a watch party of the 1997 film Gattaca, and the role genetic counseling has in shaping dialogue and conceptualization about the uses of genetic testing. She has recently moved into a staff position at Advocate Genetics as our Newsletter and Blog Editor, where she has written numerous blog posts, including Genetic Counseling Graduate School Applications: How to Stand Out, Genetic Counseling Admissions: Match Insights and Advice from Applicants of the 2023 Cycle, and #GradSchoolSoWhite: Efforts To Diversify a Homogenous Field. Nikki is starting graduate school in Fall 2023 at Rutgers University.

Dorothy Li is a current graduate student at the UCSF Genetic Counseling Program, and previously completed her BA in Molecular Cell Biology with a minor in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley. During undergrad, she worked as a Student Instructor for an introductory chemistry course and a student-led cancer class. After graduating, she obtained her ASCP certification and CGMBS licensure and worked as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist at various genetic testing companies. During her experience in the Grad School Prep Program, Dorothy wrote a blog article on The Great PGT-A Debate, and later co-facilitated a weekly discussion group in the Fall 2022 cohort. Dorothy continued as a leader at Advocate in the roles of showcase mentor and flex team participant in 2023, and has recently joined our team as a part-time Genetic Counseling Assistant. Dorothy was born in China and raised in Southern California. In her free time, she enjoys playing board games, traveling, and watching reality TV shows. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and has basic knowledge in Korean.

Yasaman Lorkalantari is a recent graduate of UC Irvine who majored in Genetics. She loves how the field of genetic counseling focuses on the human impact of genetics and on supporting patients. She completed her undergraduate thesis on students’ experience with virtual education. Yasaman is also very interested in the ethical aspects of genetic counseling and has worked on an article regarding the ethics of PGT-P testing as part of her internship with Advocate Genetics. After finishing the Grad School Prep Course, Yasaman was offered the position of Genetic Counseling Assistant at Advocate Genetics, where she keeps our genetic counselors sane! She has also presented journal clubs for Advocate on the views of parents/patients with genetic disorders on expanded carrier screening and on the concerns of Iranian women regarding infertility and egg donation. She is beginning graduate school in Fall 2023 at the University of California, Irvine. She intends to continue pursuing a career in genetic counseling and research after completing a Master’s degree.

Alexandra is an international student from Haiti pursuing a degree in biological health sciences at the University of South Florida. She has extensive volunteer experience in her community, including assisting doctors and interpreting in a hospital setting. She's involved in research, co-founded a pre-genetic counseling club, and served as a transfer mentor. She currently volunteers as Launch mentor to students on the Autism Spectrum. During her time at the advocate genetics prep course she developed a showcase project on a Guide on how to counsel Haitian patients in order to help address the disparities and cultural implications faced by this community. She was also part of a collaborative showcase project about International genetic counselors, where the collaborators interviewed 12 Genetic counselors from around the world to understand different counseling approaches and barriers. Lastly, she was also the shadowing manager at Advocate for the summer 2023 cohort. Alexandra aspires to be a genetic counselor to help represent and fight disparities in her underserved community by addressing the cultural communication barriers with health education related to genetic risk.

Brian Earle is currently a 3rd year undergraduate at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in Genetics and Genomics. He has previous experience as a COVID-19 Contact Tracer, and currently works as a peer mentor with UT’s Freshman Research Initiative in a Biomanufacturing lab. During his experience in Advocate’s internship program, he completed a showcase project focused on the ethics issues discussed in Judith Daar’s The New Eugenics: Selective Breeding in an Era of Reproductive Technologies. In the Fall 2022 cohort, Brian pursued his interest in medical humanities on the News Curation team by focusing on researching the realities of race in reproductive medicine in conjunction with his degree’s certificate in Ethics and Leadership in Healthcare. This work also inspired Brian to read Candace Trinchieri’s memoir, Dream Redefined: The Struggle and Success Through Infertility as a Woman of Color, after which he interviewed Candace and published his blog post Race, Reproductive Medicine, and Dream Redefined on the Advocate Genetics blog. He has served on the Blog/Newsletter and Flex Teams since Spring 2023. In his free time, Brian likes to play the violin, read, and play board games.

Deenpal Kaur is from the California Central Valley and attended UC Davis for her undergraduate degree in Human Development and Genetics. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Health and hopes to apply her public health experience as a genetic counselor, working to increase access to genetic services in marginalized communities. Deenpal further explored the relationship between genetic counseling and public health through her showcase project in the Grad School Prep Program. She served on the Discussion Leaders Project Team in Spring 2023 and in Summer 2023, she helped workshop future projects concerning genetic risk triage and education at the fertility clinic level. In addition to her passion for genetics and public health, Deenpal enjoys taking her husky on walks, learning classical Sikh music, and practicing martial arts.

Henna Kaur is a recent graduate of UC Davis, where she completed her BS in Genetics and Genomics. During undergrad, she worked as a crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line and was involved with two research labs at UC Davis as a research assistant. She also served as a peer tutor for an Introduction to Genetics course, and led a student club called MannMukti, which focused on South Asian mental health awareness. She previously worked as a Medical Assistant at an ENT clinic in San Francisco, and is starting a GCA position with UCLA. During the Prep Program, she completed her showcase project on the impact of BRCA mutations on fertility, and followed that up with a formal journal club presentation on the same topic to the Advocate Genetics clinical team. She has always had an interest in genetics, and she is drawn to the field of genetic counseling because it combines her love for genetics with patient care and advocacy. She is excited to be part of this cohort of Advocate Genetics and to learn and grow in this career journey!

Jordan Mende-Gibson is a recent graduate from the University of Toronto with a double major in Biology and Psychology. She discovered genetic counseling during her second year of undergraduate study and knew it was the perfect career for her, combining her love of genetics and psychosocial care. Jordan works part-time as an assistant to a newborn photographer/doula, and has a growing interest in reproductive genetic counseling after hearing her client’s birth stories. She is currently a volunteer at local women's centre, where she provides peer support, and at a respite home for children with medically complex illnesses. She also has a great interest in psychiatric genetic counseling and raising awareness of this specialty within genetic counseling, which inspired her showcase project as a student in the Grad School Prep Program. Jordan continues her work with Advocate as a member of the Discussion Group Leader Project Team. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her pets, going on hikes with her friends and family, and traveling around Canada.

Kim Nguyen is a current undergraduate student at the University of South Florida, who double-majors in Cell & Molecular Biology, and Psychology. She currently serves as the President and is the co-founder of the Pre-Genetic Counseling Club at the University of South Florida. Kim also currently volunteers as a Health Buddies Volunteer, where she empowers older adults with chronic conditions to better manage their health conditions. Because of her interest in genetics, she also works as a Genetics Lab Learning Assistant. During the Grad School Prep program, Kim completed a showcase project focusing on existing barriers faced by Asian-Americans in genetic testing & counseling that also included creating an English-Vietnamese GC Glossary. She is also greatly interested in cross-cultural/international genetic counseling. Kim has addressed this interest by collaborating with other interns on a project where they interviewed genetic counselors working in different countries. She now is involved in Advocate Genetics' Outreach Team since Spring 2023. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting and reading.

Kirun is a third year undergraduate at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he studies biotechnology. He works at a plant biology laboratory where he uses molecular biology techniques to investigate the genetic causes of pollen sterility. Additionally, he instructs prospective students on the college admission process as a student ambassador. In his free time, he enjoys rock climbing, cooking, and hiking. For his Showcase Project during the Prep Program, Kirun explored tangential career paths to genetic counseling. He served as the Social Chair and Newsletter Contributor during Summer 2023.

Lia DelVecchio graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2020 with a degree in Biology and Environmental Studies. She was a university tour guide and had various internships in environmental sustainability before discovering genetic counseling in her junior year. After doing informational interviews with genetic counselors and seeing how much advocacy and education matter in the field, she knew this was the career she wanted. Lia worked as a behavior technician for children with autism after graduating. She moved to Seattle in 2022 and currently works at a clinical research center in Seattle that focuses on women’s health studies. In her current position, she educates and interviews interested patients about clinical studies with indications such as endometriosis, lichen sclerosis, and hot flashes. She was promoted to Recruitment Specialist Lead in June 2023, Outside of work, she volunteers for the Crisis Text Line and at an equine therapy organization. Her showcase project centered on abortion restrictions and their impacts on reproductive genetic counseling. After completing Advocate Genetics Prep Program, Lia stepped into the role of Discussion Group Leader as an intern for Summer 2023, and is excited to continue that role for the Fall 2023 cohort. She spends her free time exploring the outdoors, baking, and spoiling her dog and two cats.

Madeline Harrison is a graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in Integrative Physiology with a minor in sociology. She discovered genetic counseling while listening to a podcast in 2021 and realized it was exactly what she was looking for in a career - a combination of her love for science and passion for educating people. As a Grad School Prep Program student, Madeline created a showcase project exploring a pilot program that aimed to implement genomic screening in primary care settings. She participated on a project team to create a clinical service model for Donor Conceived People (DCP), and continues with Advocate Genetics as our Project Team Leader, where she coordinates collaboration between different Project Teams to contribute to shared goals. She spends her free time tiring out her dogs, reading, and spending time outdoors.

Madison Atchley is an alumnus of California State University, San Marcos, achieving Summa Cum Laude honors with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Throughout her undergraduate studies, she delved into significant research as a dedicated research assistant, exploring the potential genetic origins of Myotonic Dystrophy Type II (MD2). Utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 techniques, she heightened single-stranded DNA rates in yeast to evaluate DNA instabilities that cause MD2. In addition to her academic pursuits, Madison actively participated in extracurricular activities during her time as an undergraduate. She played club soccer and volunteered at UCSD Health within the cardiovascular procedural treatment unit. Since completing her undergraduate studies, Madison has commenced her career as a predictive testing coordinator and laboratory assistant at the UCSD Huntington's Disease Clinical Research Center. Outside of her professional commitments, she volunteers for the Huntington's Disease Society of America, works as a server in a restaurant, engages in soccer, and cherishes moments with friends and family. Eager to continue her academic journey, Madison looks forward to applying to genetic counseling programs and is excited about the prospect of attending graduate school.

Maithili Patel is a graduate of UC Davis majoring in genetics and genomics and minoring in psychology. She attended various speaker events at the UCD Genetic Counseling Club and fell in love with the profession, which focuses on proactive healthcare and patient autonomy to make health care choices by providing them with right education, support, and unbiased counseling. Besides genetic counseling, Maithili is passionate about doing research to uncover the intricacies of science and bridge the gaps in our knowledge. She previously worked in the Hunter Lab at UC Davis investigating errors during homologous recombination that cause congenital disorders, miscarriages, and infertility. Maithili also lead a Real Vegan cheese research project that aimed to make environmentally and economically sustainable vegan cheese using yeast. In addition, she volunteered at the crisis lifeline. During the Grad School Prep Student program, Maithili crafted a showcase project exploring the rising trend of single motherhood through assisted reproduction in India. She created written content for Advocate Genetics as a member of the Newsletter/Blog Project Team. In her free time, Maithili enjoys catching pretty sunsets, going to cafés, painting, and dancing.

Michele Palermo is a College of Staten Island Graduate, where she studied Medical Laboratory Science. After graduating with double honors and another 6 awards Michele passed her MLS(ASCP) board certification and received her CLT licensure for NYS. She continued her education with certificates in CRISPR, NGS, and advanced methods in PCR. She works as a Blood Transfusion Scientist in her hometown. Prior to this Michele started working in neurotoxicology research at 15 in high-school with concentration in autism spectrum disorder. She continued after high-school as a research assistant aiding students in competition, designing experiment protocols, and using immunohistochemistry to analyze brain tissue. While in undergrad, Michele, worked in a state facility in Placental Modulation and Analytics first as a research assistant then as a manager. She also wrote two papers TH17 expression in invasive cancers and Naive T cell differentiation in three invasive cancer varients. Michele was first introduced to genetic counseling when volunteering in the NICU with a Warrdenberg syndrome case. During her time in the Prep Program, Michele completed a showcase project on stem cell therapy in sickle cell disease. She continues her work at Advocate Genetics as a member of our Outreach Team and our Flex Team.

Michelle Gray is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied biochemistry. She currently works as a genetic counseling assistant in a hereditary cancer clinic, and volunteers as an advocate for survivors of sexual assault. During the Advocate Genetics Prep Program, she completed a book review highlighting the history of artificial insemination and donor conception ethics. She is looking forward to taking on a larger role within Advocate as an intern for Fall 2023. In her free time, she loves to play tennis and paddleboard with her dog.

Norhafizah Binte Abdullah, originally from Singapore, is a first-generation college graduate who studied at The University of Western Australia. In 2018, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science. With a background in population studies focusing on ethnic Asian cultures and genomic medicine, she has gained knowledge in personalized medicine. Her professional experiences have given her confidence in the potential of individualized healthcare to assist patients and their families in making informed decisions. Her interest in genetic counseling grew from the possibilities of applying scientific knowledge to practical solutions that benefit patients. Her dedication and curiosity led her to navigate time zones and participate in the Advocate Genetics Prep Program to further her career in this field.

Pravalika Rayala is an international student from India, currently doing a dual degree in Cell and Molecular Biology & Psychology in University of South Florida. She is currently a Comfort Companion Volunteer at Moffitt Cancer Center, where she supports dying patients and their families and is also volunteer at the Clinical Research Unit of Moffitt Cancer Center. She is level 1 certified CRLA tutor and works as a part-time Organic Chemistry and General Chemistry tutor at her university's Academic Success Center, loves tutoring and helping her fellow college students. She also worked in Dr. Pollenz's lab at USF where she did both wet-lab research and bioinformatics research on bacteriophages. She recently did an international genetic counseling showcase with two of the alumni of Advocate Genetics and interviewed genetic counselors from 13 countries outside the United States. She aims to contribute to the future of cross-cultural and international genetic counseling. In her free time, she loves running with friends, part of her university's running club and/or watching series, movies and documentaries.

Shelby Millar Flores is a 2020 graduate from UT Austin with a BSA in Biology and minor in History. She currently volunteers with the Autism Society and works as a genetic counseling assistant at GeneDx. As a student in the Grad School Prep Program, Shelby completed a showcase project that included a patient guide for patients considering PGT-A testing, providing an explanation of PGT-A testing, the benefits and limitations to testing, questions patients may consider asking their REI, and questions for patients to reflect upon. She served as a member of the Discussion Group Leader and Flex Project Teams in Spring 2023, and in Summer 2023, she helped workshop future projects concerning genetic risk triage and education at the fertility clinic level. Shelby’s experience working in a fertility clinic has given her unique insight into the patient experience, which she carries into her work at Advocate. Shelby loves discovering new places to eat and going on hikes in her free time.

Shelby Phillips is from Lowell, MA. She graduated from University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) in 2020 with her undergraduate degree in Biology and a letter of specialization in Developmental Disability and Human Services (DDHS). As an undergraduate, Shelby conducted research in a genetics laboratory and learned about the impact of disability on family, international perspectives of disability, and she supported individuals living with disabilities at a recreational program. She graduated from UMass Amherst with her master’s degree in Animal Biotechnology and Biomedical Science (ABBS) in 2022, where she studied the effect of single gene knockouts in early mouse embryo development. Her experiences in graduate school sparked her interest in reproductive genetics and led to her involvement with the Advocate Genetics Prep Program. During the program, she completed her showcase project on the disposition of cryopreserved embryos post-separation/divorce. Shelby currently serves as an AmeriCorps member supporting the Epilepsy Foundation of New England and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) where she builds rapport with individuals and families affected by epilepsy. Shelby will be a GC re-applicant and looks forward to being involved in advocacy and the creation of educational materials.

Abbey Leff is a Biology student at the University of Nevada, Reno. She has spent most of her life pursuing her passions in fitness and wellness, from playing volleyball, working at schools, coaching, and personal training. She strives to help people achieve their heath goals both in the gym, and as an aspiring physician. Abbey is passionate about a life of discovery. Working as an undergraduate lab assistant allowed her to develop important laboratory skills such as cell culture, PCR, western blotting and gel electrophoresis, and explore the gut microbiome. In the Advocate Genetics Grad School Prep Program, Abbey contributed to a showcase project that examined egg donor classification criteria, compiling helpful resources and visual aids in understanding the process, and joined the newsletter and blog project team as an intern.

Alyssa Hoelscher is a second year student at the Augustana-Sanford Genetic Counseling Program and is on the San Diego track. She received her BS in Biology from Suffolk University in 2020. Alyssa worked as a medical assistant after graduating and volunteered at a hospice organization, enhancing her communicative skills, and allowing her to have hands-on, personal experience with patients. As a student of the Grad School Prep Program, she explored the book We Are Family by Dr. Susan Golombok, gaining insight on different types of family structures and how the parents and children fare in these types of families. Alyssa served as a member of the Outreach Project Team and a contributor to the Junior Internship Program for Advocate Genetics. In her free time, she likes to spend her free time hiking and going to new coffee shops.

Alyssa Virola-Iarussi is a senior at Illinois State University majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She has spent the last 3 years working in a genetics lab on her campus studying the mechanisms behind neurological diseases, and was drawn to genetic counseling because of her interest in genetics and compassion for people. Through the Grad School Prep Program, Alyssa created a showcase project on a proposed survey she would like to run assessing the discrepancies in care LGBTQIA+ patients encounter. She continued her work with Advocate Genetics as a member of the Social Chair Project Team and as Project Team Manager. Some of her other interests include traveling, crushing escape rooms, anything Fall/Halloween related, and watching horror movies.

Ava Henson is a fourth year student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham pursuing a BS in Genetics and Genomic Sciences and an MS in Multidisciplinary Biomedical Sciences with a Genetics concentration. Genetics has always been a passion of hers and reproductive/fertility genetics is one of her favorite disciplines of the field. As a GC Prep Program student, Ava pursued a Showcase Project that aimed to examine embryo donor classification, compiling a set of helpful resources and visual aids in understanding the process. During her time at Advocate Genetics, Ava was a member of the Outreach Project Team where she helped build a Junior Outreach program aimed toward early undergraduate students who are unfamiliar, but interested in exploring, the field of genetic counseling. She is entering grad school in Fall 2023 at the University of Texas Health Houston. Her hobbies include reading, dancing, and spending time with her family back in Houston, TX.

Catherine Buttner is a former teacher who has taught high school biology as well as middle school life science and math courses. She always enjoyed teaching the genetics units and knows many people in her personal life who have benefited from meeting with genetic counselors. These experiences prompted her to consider a career change to genetic counseling. Catherine was a stellar contributor and leader within our program for the two years she participated, having written a blog article on prioritization of mosaic embryos, and helping to build out and implement our curriculum for our third cohort of the program, but ultimately felt that a move to college counseling was the better fit for her next step. She is a gifted writer, and is currently pursuing a related career change. Since she knows the ins and outs of the genetic counseling application process and the Advocate Genetics team and philosophy, don’t be surprised if she’s back in a new capacity at some point!

Christian Pareja is a recent graduate of Butler University, where he majored in Biology and minored in Psychology and Neuroscience. He is currently a Genetic Counseling Assistant at RGI, a lab that specializes in preimplantation genetic testing. He has previously worked as a medical intern with Volunteers Around the World and as a therapist intern for a summer camp, where he worked with children with developmental and behavioral disabilities. During his time with Advocate Genetics, Christian collaborated on a team showcase project examining egg donor classification, pulling together resources and visual aids for understanding the process. Christian is beginning graduate school in Fall 2023 at the University of Utah.

Courtney Cross is originally from Fayetteville, AR and graduated from Baylor University in May 2021. She has always been specifically intrigued by genetics units in school, from extracting strawberry DNA in pre-AP biology to Medical Genetics her last semester in college. She knew genetic counseling was for her because she found it to be a perfect mix of healthcare, humanism, education, and advocacy. She showed her eagerness to contribute from the beginning of the Grad School Prep Program, volunteering in the early weeks to join our social media team when a spot opened! Courtney’s showcase project was a book review on "Scattered Seeds" by Jacqueline Mroz. This book is an exploration of the history and effect of sperm donation, from the perspectives of donor-conceived people, sperm donors themselves, and parents who build their families with donor sperm. Courtney served as both a discussion leader and member of the social media team during her time at Advocate Genetics, and will be starting graduate school for genetic counseling at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences-Northwest in Fall 2023.

Devan Snyder is a 2022 graduate of Youngstown State University where she received a B.S. in Biology. As an undergraduate student, she also acted as an event lead for her university’s Relay For Life event and started a genetics club on campus. Living in Wooster, Ohio granted her the opportunity to work at Ohio State University’s Agricultural Research and Development Center as a research assistant studying the winter hardiness of barley crops. She currently works as a JV volleyball coach and substitute teacher. As a student in the Grad School Prep Program, Devan explored consumer-driven whole exome and whole genome sequencing through her showcase project and now serves on a Project Team that aims to create a clinical service model for Donor Conceived People (DCP). She is starting graduate school at Vanderbilt University in Fall 2023. In her free time, Devan loves going to her favorite coffee shop, traveling, and watching her fiancé play football.

Eliana Katzin is a second-year Health Science and Psychology student at Northeastern University. As a student of the Grad School Prep Program, she created a book review of Hacking Darwin written by Jamie Metzel, exploring genetic engineering and the future of the human species. In her free time, she loves to be active, read, and spend time with friends.

Estella Roster is a third year biology student at UT Austin concentrating in genetics and minoring in science communication. She is involved in a campus wellness group called the Longhorn Wellness Peer Educators and she volunteers weekly at the Texas Youth Helpline. As a student of the Grad School Prep Program, Estella explored the specialty of psychiatric genetic counseling through the book How to Talk to Families About Mental Illnesses and Genetics, roughly calculating her own risk for developing a psychiatric disorder. She continued her work with Advocate Genetics as a member of the Shadowing Manager Project Team, helping students gain direct exposure to the field. In her spare time, Estella loves taking her dog on hikes, making coffee, and traveling wherever she can.

Hannah Grant is a recent graduate of the University of Oregon, with double degrees in Neuroscience and Psychology and a minor in Chemistry. While in college, she worked at an Integrative Perception lab on campus. During her experience in the Advocate Genetics Grad School Prep Program, she co-wrote a blog article on the safety of testing embryos. Hannah is entering graduate school in Fall 2023 at Augustana University. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and spending time with friends and family.

Jade Frye is a recent graduate of Purdue University, where she studied Genetics and Psychology. During undergrad, she was involved in research that focused on expanding diagnostic services to underrepresented communities. Additionally, she has worked with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and has volunteered with a crisis hotline. As a student in the Grad School Prep Program, Jade completed a showcase project on socioeconomic barriers for patients pursuing IVF treatment. Jade was a true leader in the internship program during Spring 2023 as Social Chair and Shadowing Manager while also interviewing for graduate school. She envisioned, organized, and facilitated eight social events to promote community among our Prep Course students. She is entering grad school in Fall 2023 at Indiana University.

Jenna Peterson is a graduate of St. John Fisher University in Rochester, NY where she majored in Biology with minors in Psychology and Chemistry. She is passionate about helping people understand the complexities of genetics and take charge of their own healthcare. Jenna is also a crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line. As a student in the Grad School Prep Program, Jenna created a showcase project that focused on the benefits, limitations, uses, and importance of expanded carrier screening in the reproductive setting. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, skiing, and spending time with her dog. Jenna participated as a Discussion Leader and Flex Team Member at Advocate and is entering graduate school in Fall 2023 at the University of South Florida.

Juliana Cranley is a recent graduate of Saint Louis University where she completed a BS in Forensic Science with minors in Spanish and Biology. During undergrad, she served as a Teaching Assistant for a genetics course and a forensic biology course. She also contributed to research investigating the mechanisms of G-protein signaling. In her current role as a Clinical Research Coordinator, Juliana conducts enrollment visits for participants in the All of Us Research Program (AoU). AoU is an NIH funded study which aims to equitably expand precision medicine through the creation of a biobank and a database of health information available to researchers and community partners to use in their discoveries. Juliana completed a literature review to understand the experience and perspectives of Spanish-speaking patients with genetic counseling for her showcase project. She also created a Spanish version of an Advocate Genetics video explaining how gamete donors should prepare for family history appointments. In the Fall of 2022, Juliana co-facilitated weekly discussions for the internship program and created content for the social media team in Spring 2023. Juliana will begin graduate school in Fall 2023 at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Junghun Kim is a recent graduate of Penn State University, with a degree in Biology and a minor in Entomology. He has participated as an undergraduate researcher in molecular research. He is fluent in Korean, and has been an army trainer and peer counselor in the Korean Army, as well as an English teacher for children ages 5 to 12. Junghun’s showcase project for the Grad School Prep Program was a book review of GenEthics and Religion, providing a fascinating analysis and background of how people of different religious philosophies might come to view decisions in reproductive medicine.

Karen Liu is a Biology graduate from Hamilton College pursuing a career in research at Rockefeller University, where she works as Research Assistant at the Heintz Molecular Biology Lab. In this role, she continues to enrich her life with science and hopes to create a pathway into genetic counseling. Her main hobbies include making food, learning about scientific achievements, finding cute cafes, and exploring NYC for food, culture, and nature.

Kaylin Williams is a recent graduate from the University of Rochester where she majored in Molecular Genetics and minored in Psychology. Currently, she lives in her hometown of Basalt, Colorado, and works as an apprentice pro at Challenge Aspen, volunteers as a crisis counselor at Crisis Text Line, and coaches club volleyball in addition to applying to genetic counseling programs. As a student in the GC Prep Program, Kaylin created a Showcase Project exploring epigenetics in genetic counseling. Kaylin is entering graduate school in Fall 2023 at Keck Graduate Institute. In her free time, Kaylin can be found enjoying the mountains with her dog.

Kristen Lewis is a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where she studied Biology and minored in Psychology. She is a prospective genetic counseling student reapplying next cycle. Kristen is interested in reproductive genetic counseling and has a strong background in this area with experience working in a fertility clinic as a lab tech, as a GCA at a pediatric hospital, and in volunteer positions at both an after abortion recovery talkline, and EM•POWER, an embryo donation organization. During her experience in the Advocate Genetics Grad School Prep Program, Kristen researched and presented her showcase project on the Connection Between Genetics and Fertility. She is continued as a member of the Advocate Social Media team, conducting informational interviews with the intern alumni to highlight them on social media platforms.

Lauren Ellingwood is from Seattle, Washington and currently works at a genetic testing and diagnostic company. She is passionate about genetic counseling because she believes it combines her love of genetics and connecting with patients on a deeper level. Inspired by her time volunteering for Huntington's Disease Society of America (HDSA), Lauren created a showcase project in the Grad School Prep Program investigating reproductive decision-making for patients at risk for Huntington's Disease. She was a member of the Outreach Project Team and Flex Team at Advocate Genetics. She is entering grad school in Fall 2023 at Boston University. In her free time, Lauren loves to bake, read, and exercise.

Maddy Armstrong is a recent graduate of the University of Alabama with a B.S. in Psychology, minors in Biology and Neuroscience, and a passion for all things genetic counseling. Right after graduating, she worked individually with a boy with cerebral palsy and currently works as a genetic counseling assistant. During her time in the Advocate Genetics Grad School Prep Program, she conducted an investigative research project about postmortem genetic testing and the genetic counselor’s role in helping families going through either sudden cardiac death (SCD) or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants, traveling, and seeing friends and family.

Mahnoor Fatima is originally from Pakistan and is a recent graduate from Carnegie Mellon University, Qatar where she majored in Biological Sciences and minored in Psychology. She hopes to pursue a career in genetic counseling where she can promote diversity in the field and work on achieving racial health equity. As a student in the Grad School Prep Program, Mahnoor created a showcase project exploring how adult adoptees utilize direct-to-consumer genetic testing, and served on a Project Team that aims to create a clinical service model for Donor Conceived People (DCP). Mahnoor will begin graduate school in Fall 2023 at MGH Institute. In her free time, Mahnoor loves traveling, baking, and making art.

Megan Gron is a recent graduate from the University of Michigan where she majored in Biology, Health, and Society. While she takes a gap year before applying to genetic counseling programs, she is working as a behavioral technician for autistic children and volunteering at a local crisis center. Her specific academic/GC interests are the therapeutic approaches of genetic counselors, recent or potential breakthroughs in research and testing, pedigree construction and analysis, and the prospects for psychiatric genetic counseling. As a student of the Grad School Prep Program, Megan crafted a showcase project exploring ethical and moral perspectives of individuals who considered/used preimplantation genetic testing. In her free time, she loves to paint and draw, go on nature walks, and listen to music.

Mythili Merchant is a current first-year genetic counseling student at Columbia University. She was born in Portland, Oregon and raised in Bangalore, India. She received her BS in microbiology and cell science with a minor in bioinformatics from the University of Florida. Prior to graduate school, she worked as a postbac research fellow at the NIH in the neuro-oncology branch and was a part-time wedding planning assistant. Mythili has experience as an academic partner mentoring underrepresented high school students and as a patient advocacy volunteer for Chrysalis Initiative. In the Advocate Genetics Grad School Prep Program, Mythili pursued a showcase project that aimed to examine egg donor classification, compiling a set of helpful resources and visual aids in understanding the process. In her free time, she loves to travel, go to concerts, watch TV, and eat good vegetarian food.

Olivia Anderson is a current graduate student at the Stanford University Genetic Counseling Program, and previously completed her BS in Genetics with a minor in Cellular Biology at the University of Georgia. Olivia served as a volunteer helping with social media engagement for EM•POWER with Moxi in 2021, and then became the Genetic Counseling Assistant for Advocate Genetics from 2021-2022. During her experience in the Advocate Genetics Grad School Prep Program, she co-wrote a blog article on the safety of testing embryos. Originally from Canada, Olivia competed as part of the Canadian National Swimming team for several years, competing at four World Championships and two Olympic Trials. Having recently retired from sports, she is excited to spend more time involved in the world of genetic counseling.

Rachel Hendricks is a graduate of Davidson College in North Carolina, where she studied Biology and Data Science. She is also a crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line and a Cancer Research Training Award (CRTA) fellow at the National Cancer Institute. Rachel supports gene discovery efforts for clinical studies including inherited bone marrow failure syndromes and transplant outcomes for aplastic anemia. Additionally, she works to determine the prevalence and penetrance of hematological malignancy predisposition genes through multiple population- and cancer-based sequencing cohorts. As a student in the Grad School Prep Program, Rachel completed a showcase project that included a patient-friendly written guide for individuals who recently were diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer, who learned of a BRCA carrier status but have not been diagnosed with cancer, or who have a family history suggesting they carry a BRCA variant. In our internship program, Rachel co-facilitated a weekly discussion group in the Fall 2022 cohort and served as mentor/alumni buddy to our Spring 2023 cohort. She is starting graduate school in Fall 2023 at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Samantha Field is a recent graduate of Keene State College with a BS in Biology and minor in Chemistry. Currently, she is applying to GC programs and working as an inpatient staffing coordinator at a local hospital in Southern New Hampshire. Samantha was inspired to pursue a career in fertility/prenatal genetic counseling because of an experience she had as a Resident Advisor (RA) in college when she counseled a student through decisions around abortion. As a student of the Grad School Prep Program, Samantha created a showcase project on the visibility of genetic counselors among the American public. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing stories, knitting, going on long runs, and ice skating.

Selina Dall’Anese-Murillo is a graduate student for Genetics and Molecular Biology at the University of Costa Rica. She's part of Psychiatric genetics research group and very active in student life matters. She is a transgender Latina aspiring geneticist and would love to provide reproductive care for same-sex couples as well as for trans and non-binary individuals such as herself. This interest inspired Selina’s showcase project as a student of the Grad School Prep Program, where she investigated how to make pedigree symbolism more inclusive and explored how to better serve the trans and non-binary communities in healthcare. Selina served on the Advocate Genetics Discussion Group Leader Project Team. During her free time, she's a gamer and loves spending time with her Nonna and her 2 mothers.

Shivi Sinha is a recent graduate from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with a degree in Biological Sciences. Shivi is passionate about entering genetic counseling because she understands the power of upcoming science and compassionate, socially conscious practitioners when fused together. During her time in the Grad School Prep Program, she completed a showcase project centered around Progyny's "This is Infertility" podcast series exploring the diverse stories and challenges people face when accessing ART. This exposure introduced Shivi to some of the ethical intersections within ART and how genetic counselors can advocate for their patients during this process. Shivi joined the Advocate Outreach team where she helped build a Junior Outreach program aimed toward early undergraduate students who are unfamiliar, but interested in exploring, the field of genetic counseling. She is entering graduate school in Fall 2023 at the University of Washington.

Stephanie Alsay was born and raised in the Philippines and she moved around all over Asia growing up. She moved to Miami to complete her undergraduate degree after transferring from a university in Malaysia. Stephanie’s nomadic upbringing shaped her global identity and passion for diversity of both patients and providers in clinical genetics. She currently works for a healthcare technology company where she focuses on building and installing electronic medical software all over the US. As a Grad School Prep Program student, Stephanie’s showcase project was a clinical role play, acting the role of a GC seeing a 3-time egg donor who was recently diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). She served as a showcase mentor during her time as an intern. In her free time, she loves to travel, try out new restaurants, and go scuba diving.

Susie is a graduate of the University of Michigan where she studied secondary biology and psychology education. She stumbled into Genetic Counseling her senior year and is taking a gap year to build up her resume before applying to Genetic Counseling programs. She currently is a volunteer at a local youth crisis center, assists in educational research at the University of Michigan, and tutors students in most subjects k-12. She loves that genetic counseling is the perfect intersection of her passions of service, science, and education. Her showcase project focused on Insurance Access for Assisted Reproductive Technology in Michigan.

Taylor Stumpf is a graduate of the University of Georgia, with a degree in Biology. She is currently working as a clinical research coordinator at Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute focusing on lung cancer research and enjoying learning more about the clinical research process. She previously worked as a scribe in a pediatric ophthalmology practice with patients impacted by genetic disorders. Taylor also served as Director of Outreach for Feed the Frontlines GA. During her time in the Grad School Prep Program, Taylor presented a journal club and wrote a blog post on the science of PGT-P, a quickly developing genetic screening test for embryos that estimates the risk of developing adult-onset, multifactorial conditions by looking at the combination of specific variants.

Victoria Galbreath is a recent graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX, with a degree in Biology and a minor in Health Studies. She is currently working as a clinical informatics specialist (CIS)/Scribe as part of Oak Street Health and volunteers as a crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line. During her time at Advocate Victoria was a member of the blog/newsletter and journal club teams. For her showcase project, she created a presentation and developed discussion questions about how identity is discussed in the book, The Lost Family: How DNA Testing Is Upending Who We Are by Libbey Copeland with a focus on how new familial/cultural connections revealed through genetic testing influenced how people considered their identity.

Zainab Aldhamen was born in Saudi Arabia and obtained a BS from Michigan State University in Genomics and Molecular Genetics. After graduating, she lived in California and volunteered at the Art of Life Cancer Foundation. More recently, Zainab was an intern for a cytogenetics laboratory and worked at a genetic counseling clinic where she had the opportunity to see patients from various specialties. She believes genetic counseling is the perfect career for her and is excited to see how it progresses with new discoveries in science and technology. As a student in the Grad School Prep Program, Zainab created a showcase project investigating the outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies. In her free time, she enjoys baking, listening to audiobooks, and spending quality time with her family.