DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast

Greenwood Genetics Center’s Ray Louie and Kellie Walden join the show to discuss epigenetics. Dr. Ray Louie is an Assistant Director in Greenwood’s Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory. His background is in large scale genetic screening in model organisms and in solid tumor genetics and radiobiology. Dr. Louie is interested in the diagnosis of Mendelian disorders and in the identification of novel genes involved in neurodevelopmental delay and hydrops fetalis. Kellie Walden is Greenwood’s Director of Diagnostic Development and a genetic counselor by training. She oversees areas of growth for the labs including new test offerings and industry contracts. She also continues to be involved in marketing activities for the Diagnostic Lab. Kellie is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. EpiSign is the first clinical assay validated to detect unique epigenetic signatures and methylation abnormalities for recognized genetic conditions. Right now, EpiSign tests for over 40 conditions that have signatures. Version 3 will be launching in the spring with even more conditions! This test was developed by London Health Sciences Centre in Ontario, and our lab at the Greenwood Genetic Center performs the bench work and the data is analyzed by the team in Canada. The National Human Genome Research Institute named EpiSign one of the 10 most significant advances in genomic medicine in 2019! On This Episode We Discuss: Defining epigenetics Epigenetic disorders (Prader–Willi, Angelman, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome) Testing for epigenetic conditions through EpiSign Indications to order epigenetic testing Variant of Uncertain Significance (VUS) clarification with EpiSign Current research on epigenetic conditions New versions of EpiSign Calculating biological age with epigenetics Learn more about Greenwood Genetic Center’s EpiSign here. You can also check out their incredibly popular genetic counseling visual aids. Enter our giveaway on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to win a pair of bluetooth, noise canceling headphones from Greenwood. Giveaway ends on April 11th. Ray and Kellie showcased how complex pediatric genetics can be, so it’s understandable that people are often confused about the role genetics play in health conditions. The genetic counselors over at Advanced Tele-Genetic Counseling (ATGC) specialize in areas of genetics like pediatrics. So if you find yourself having questions about your own genetics, or want to know more about adding the expertise of AT-GC’s certified genetic counselors to help support your own practice, reach at AT-GC.com. You can also hear Elizabeth Turner on Episode #143 where she shares more about telehealth and what ATGC has to offer. Stay tuned for the next episode of DNA Today on April 16th, which explores whole exome sequencing with QuantGene’s Jo Bhakdi! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can binge over 140 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Brand new in 2021, episodes are now also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

This episode of DNA Today continues our mini series about telehealth in genetics. Last episode we heard from the founder of Advanced Tele-Genetic Counseling, Elizabeth Turner, who shared her expertise in telehealth. Her company provides a scalable telehealth platform for genetic counseling services, where genetic counselors can help patients navigate through areas of genetics like genetic testing, and ultimately understand their own genetics. So if you want to know more about adding the expertise of AT-GC’s certified genetic counselors to help support your own practice, reach out through their website at at-gc.com, again that’s at-gc.com. In part two of our telehealth series, Orion Buske, PhD, joins host Kira Dineen to discuss genomic digital tools. Dr. Buske strives to empower patients, doctors, and researchers through new tools and technologies. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Toronto, where he specialized in algorithms for genome analysis and rare disease patient matchmaking. At various times, he led the technical developments of: PhenomeCentral, the Matchmaker Exchange, PatientKind, and RareConnect. On This Episode We Discuss: Inspiration to start PhenoTips Genomic Health Records Benefits of Digital Tools for patients and providers Digital vs paper pedigrees Auto pedigree builder Speeding up the diagnostic odyssey Future of genomic digital tools Hear more from PhenoTips and our host Kira Dineen through the PhenoTips Speaker Series. This a monthly live webinar where Kira interviews genetic experts about topics and skills specifically for genetic healthcare providers. All previous installments have been recorded and are available on demand here. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on April 2nd! We will be joined by Greenwood Genetic Center to discuss epigenetics including their unique genetic test, EpiSign. Don’t miss their bluetooth, noise cancelling headphones giveaway on our Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month (with some bonus episodes like this one!). In the meantime, you can binge over 140 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Brand new in 2021, episodes are now also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

To kick off our mini series in telehealth genetics fellow genetic counselor, Elizabeth Turner joins our host Kira Dineen. Elizabeth is the cofounder and Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Tele-Genetic Counseling (AT-GC). Elizabeth’s team, one of the first tele-genetic companies to enter the industry, provides comprehensive genetic counseling services via telemedicine. Elizabeth has practiced in the areas of oncology, pediatrics, reproductive health, and general genetics, and holds a current certification from the American Board of Genetic Counseling. Did you know most people are visual learners? That’s why visual aids are critical during genetic counseling appointments. As we explore in this show, genetic concepts can be really complex to understand, which is why the Greenwood Genetic Center created genetic counseling aids. And now their 7th edition is available, including an app for iPads. In telehealth appointments it can be incredibly helpful to share your screen with these visual aids from Greenwood, so download this vital tool for your daily practice here! We receive a lot of emails from listeners interested in genetic careers and we love connecting and providing resources. One of those is Keck Graduate Institute’s genetics programs in Southern California. KGI offers a master’s degree in genetic counseling, and a first-of-its-kind graduate program in genomic data analytics. This two-year master’s program gives students the opportunity to work side-by-side with applied life scientists and future genetic counselors while gaining hands-on experience with the technologies and information that are revolutionizing the future of medicine. Learn more about KGI’s programs by visiting kgi.edu/dnatoday. On This Episode We Discuss: Motivation to start AT-GC Initial hurdles to telehealth COVID-19’s impact on telehealth Telehealth affecting disparities in genetics Languages AT-GC offer for sessions Specialties in genetic counseling AT-GC provides Scenarios where telehealth is preferable to in person Coordinating samples for genetic testing Genetic counseling telehealth internships and rotations Future of telehealth Learn more about Elizabeth Turner and her company, Advanced Tele-Genetic Counseling (AT-GC) on their website. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today dropping next Friday (March 26th)! This will continues our mini series in telehealth genetics. The CEO of PhenoTips, Dr. Orion Buske, will be sharing his expertise on digital tools in genetic counseling. New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can binge over 140 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Brand new in 2021, episodes are now also recorded with video so you can watch the show on our YouTube channel. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

Dr. Barbara Fortini joins our host Kira Dineen, to discuss the growing career opportunities in Genomic Data Analytics. She is the Program Director for the Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genomic Data Analytics program at the Keck Graduate Institute. She also teaches their genetic counseling students. Her research interests focus on colorectal cancer, the third most common cancer in the US. Genome-wide association studies have now identified dozens of common genomic variants linked to small increases in colorectal cancer risk. Her research group seeks to identify the functional variants responsible for the increased cancer risk at GWAS-identified loci and to understand the role of these variants in cancer etiology. Previous work has shown that many functional variants lie in gene enhancer elements, leading to allele-specific gene expression of both known cancer-associated genes and novel genes. By comprehensively characterizing risk loci, her team hopes to identify additional novel genes involved in colorectal cancer and better understand the role of enhancers in gene expression in healthy and cancer cells. On This Episode We Discuss: Career paths in genetics outside of genetic counseling Defining big data in a genetic context Area of research impacted by data analytics Career opportunities in the healthcare industry Challenges in labs and pharma companies addressed by genomic data analytics Genome wide association studies (GWAS) Colorectal cancer research via GWAS Genomic data analytics vs bioinformatics master’s degrees In-demand skills for data analysts Pre-requisites to apply to master’s programs, epscally KGI Advice for students applying to programs Content and skills taught in the data analytics program Employers of alumni of the data analytics program Check out the article we mention in the episode about what you can do with a degree in data analytics. Here you can find further information about KGI’s genomic data analytics program. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on March 19th, 2021! We will be joined by another one of our sponsors, ATGC, to kick off our telehealth series. New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can binge over 140 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Brand new in 2021, episodes are now also recorded in video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

Biotech titan Dr. Stan Crooke joins host Kira Dineen to celebrate rare disease month! Dr. Crooke was the Founder of IONIS Pharmaceuticals, with extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry developing more than 20 marketed drugs. He has published nearly 500 scientific publications, edited more than 20 books, and has numerous patents. Dr. Stan Crooke is now the Founder and CEO of n-Lorem Foundation, a new San Diego-based organization with an incredible mission of developing individualized RNA targeted medicines for patients with ultra-rare diseases, and providing those treatments for free, for life. These patients have extremely unique mutations and are often only one of 30 people in the entire world to have the disease. After only one year as a foundation, they’ve already made great progress for the ultra rare community, having received 50 applications from patients with ultra rare genetic mutations. Out of those 50, they have greenlighted treatment plans for nearly 20 patients - greatly exceeding application and acceptance rate expectations. On This Episode We Discuss: Rare diseases vs ultra rare diseases Challenges treating patients with ultra rare diseases and genetic mutations Standard process and cost of drug development n-Lorem’s new approach to drug development for ultra rare diseases Antisense therapies (ASOs) n-Lorem’s charitable and scalable model n-Lorem’s relationship with IONIS Pharmaceuticals People eligible for n-Lorem’s treatments How to contact n-Lorem’s for potential treatment Drugs currently in development at n-Lorem Insight on the development of SPINRAZA® for spinal muscular atrophy Learn more about n-Lorem on their website. Check out the UConn Podcast Symposium, our host Kira Dineen will be on the interdisciplinary panel taking place on February 22nd at 4PM EST. You can register to attend for free here. UConn students will be provided a Zoom link to engage in a live Q&A. The panel will also be streamed publicly via Facebook and YouTube. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on March 5th, 2021! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can binge over 140 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Brand new in 2021, episodes are now also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

To kick off rare disease month, author Patti M. Hall joins host Kira Dineen to discuss her memoir Loving Large which chronicles her son’s rare disease diagnostic odyssey. Her life was pitched into an abyss of uncertainty when a golf ball–sized tumour was discovered in her teenage son’s head and he was diagnosed with gigantism, a disease of both legend and stigma. After scrambling to access a handful of medical experts in the field, Patti learned that her son could grow uncontrollably, his mobility could be permanently limited, and his life could be cut short without timely and aggressive treatment. Patti’s attention shifted fully to her son, away from her relationships as well as her own career and health. Her new normal sees her step into a dozen additional roles, including nurse, researcher, advocate, risk assessor, and promise maker, while she struggles and fails to rebuild her life as a recently divorced woman. When the unthinkable strikes, parents Love LARGE. Now, Patti serves as an advocate for the rare disease community by serving as a member of the Board of Directors for AcromegalyCanada. Enter our giveaway here to win your own copy of Loving Large! For additional entries head over to our Instagram post. This episode is brought to you by Picture Genetics, a unique DNA testing service, with tests designed for every stage of life -- including family planning. With a Picture Parenting carrier test, you can uncover genetic conditions that may be passed on to your kids (such as cystic fibrosis or fragile X syndrome). Unlike other companies, this is actually a clinical grade test where physicians and genetic counselors are involved. It’s easy to order and understand with good looking reports! To order your Picture Genetics test, go to picturegenetics.com and use code “DNATODAY” for 25% off and free-shipping! Get actionable genetic insights today to benefit your family of tomorrow. On This Episode We Discuss: Diagnostic Odyssey “From sore knees to a brain tumor” Symptoms of gigantism Gigantism vs Acromegaly Joining the rare disease community Mother son relationship through diagnosis and treatments Filtering medical information for rare disease kids Impact of a rare disease on siblings Genetic research for gigantism Sequel to Loving Large Learn more about Patti Hall on her website and stay updated with her writing and advocacy on her Instagram. Her podcast, “Reframe your Life” addresses issues relevant to women beyond career building and child-rearing. Don’t forget to enter our giveaway for a copy of Loving Large here. You can also get extra entries through our Instagram! Continue our rare disease month celebrations with the next new episode of DNA Today on February 19th! You can also hear 20+ rare disease interviews on previous episodes of the show listed here. New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can binge over 130 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

Enter the our “Inheritance” book giveaway on our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Author Dani Shapiro joins host Kira Dineen to discuss her instant New York Times best selling memoir, Inheritance, which is being adapted into a film. Her other books include the memoirs Hourglass, Still Writing, Devotion, and Slow Motion, and five novels including Black & White and Family History. She teaches writing workshops around the world, including Columbia, New York University, and the Sirenland Writers Conference in Italy. Dani is a fellow podcaster in collaboration with iHeartMedia to host Family Secrets. An Apple Top 10 podcast, the series features stories from guests who—like Dani— have uncovered life-altering and long-hidden secrets from their families’ past. Her show is also being adapted to the screen! She lives with her family in Litchfield County, Connecticut. On This Episode We Discuss: Premise of her memoir Inheritance Understanding DTC (Ancestry/23andMe) test results using GEDmatch First reaction to finding out her father was not her biological father Discussing non paternity with family and friends Tools and methods to track down her biological father Approach to contacting her biological father Egg/sperm donation in the 1960s Altering family health history Advice for those considering DTC testing Don’t forget to enter the book giveaway for a copy of Inheritance! Further details on our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Check out Dani’s iHeartMedia podcast, “Family Secrets”. You can learn more about Dani Shapiro on her website and keep up with her through her Instagram. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on February 5th! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can binge over 140 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

To kick off 2021, we have a big announcement! All episodes of the show will now be recorded in video as well as audio. You can watch this episode on our YouTube channel here or search “DNA Today Podcast”. In this episode three genetic counselors share their experience and advice taking the American Genetic Counseling Board exam. Boards Topics Discussed: Structuring material with a study plan Areas to focus on including Prenatal, Metabolic, Cancer, Neuro, Cardiac, Quant, and Psych Taking the exam in February vs August Studying while working vs before working Boards Course overall, price, and CEUs Resources including “A Guide to Genetic Counseling”, NSGC Practice Guidelines, Top 100 Genetic Diseases, and more Study groups including social media (Feb Boards 2021) Study Tips When studying the inheritance pattern, think which are on carrier screening to figure out if it’s autosomal recessive Look for the unique findings for less common conditions Look at difference between types of conditions or similar conditions Insight on practice exam Perspective on retaking the exam (You are not alone!) The Panel Ally Abbott is an American Board certified Pediatric Genetic Counselor at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Biology from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA in 2017. In undergrad, she took a seat as a senator in student government and focused on educating the campus about mental health and the stigma surrounding mental health disorders. She later founded Active Minds at LMU, a club devoted to this purpose. Ally has always loved working with kids and found a passion for children with genetic conditions while working at The Painted Turtle, a nonprofit, free-of-charge, camp for children with serious medical conditions such as skeletal dysplasia, hemophilia, metabolic disorders, and muscular dystrophy. After graduation, she moved to New York and worked in a preschool before earning her Master of Science in Human Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY in 2020. Ally is a Phoenix native and is happy to be back in valley at PCH, where she spent her Sundays in high school volunteering. In her spare time, she likes cozying up with her cat and a good podcast as well as spending time with her family. You can keep up with Ally on her instagram. Dani Kupperman is an American Board certified Cancer Genetic Counselor at Danbury Hospital. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Behavior Science and a minor in Business Administration from the University of Delaware in Newark, DE in 2016. During her undergraduate studies, she interned at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center genetic counseling clinic where she discovered her love of cancer genetics. Dani pursued her Master of Science in Genetic Counseling at Long Island University-Post in Brookville, NY in 2018. In her current role, Dani has enjoyed the pleasure of meeting with patients to help guide them through their decision making process as to whether to pursue genetic testing. She has also expanded her role to include student supervision, research, community education, participation in the hospital’s ethics committee, and is currently starting a Patient and Family Advisory committee to improve patient experience. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, attending live concerts, and binge watching the television show, “Friends”. Kira Dineen, MS, LCGC, CG(ASCP)CM is a certified prenatal genetic counselor at Maternal Fetal Care, PC in Stamford, CT. Kira also has 10 years of online media experience in digital marketing and podcasting/radio including 5 podcasts. She started her main show “DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast” in 2012 which became a radio show in 2014. The podcast has since produced over 130 episodes interviewing experts in the field. “DNA Today” recently won the People’s Choice Podcast Awards for the Best 2020 Science and Medicine Podcast. Kira is also the host of the PhenoTips Speaker Series, a live webinar interviewing genetic experts attended by over 700 genetic counselors around the globe. She writes a monthly blog series, “Explained By A Genetic Counsellor” for Sano Genetics. Kira was selected and currently serves as a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors’ Digital Ambassador program (#NSGCGenePool). She received her Diagnostic Genetic Bachelor’s of Science degree at the University of Connecticut and is a certified Cytogenetic Technologist. Kira received her Master’s of Science in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College in New York. You can keep up with Kira on Twitter. For more Genetic Counseling Boards insider info, listen to Episode 126 with Adam Buchanan. He was the President of the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 2020 and shared his insight and advice on the Boards exam including taking the exam in the online format. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on January 15th, 2021! New episodes are released on the first and third F

This episode we are exploring medical interpreting in genetic counseling and other areas of healthcare. Joining me are Genetic Counselor Nina Harkavy and Interpreter Lorraine Way. Nina is a prenatal genetic counselor at Columbia University. She graduated from the John Hopkins University/ NHGRI genetic counseling training program. Lorraine is a Spanish Instructor, medical interpreter and the President of Language Way, a language service company. She has a master’s in French from Middlebury College where she also studied Spanish. On This Episode We Discuss: Improved counseling experience speaking in Spanish Difference between translation and interpretation How healthcare providers can alter their communication with non-native English speakers Tips for working with interpreters Standard for interpretation especially with family members Maintaining cultural sensitivity when belief systems may impede the decision-making process Concepts that are challenging to interpret into Spanish and ways to phrase differently Approaches to check in with patients about their understanding Miscommunications between healthcare providers and interpreters Handling an interpreter who is not accurately interpreting Training to be a professional interpreter Qualities to look for when hiring an interpreter Learn more about Lorraine way business through her website, thelanguageway.com Imagine a health record system that’s actually designed for genomics, available in 6 different languages, and complete with pedigree drawing, diagnostic insights and more. Well stop imagining and start using, because PhenoTips is nothing like your EHR, it’s the world’s first Genomic Health record system that captures family history seamlessly, regardless of the language patients are comfortable with. Because clear communication is the root of supportive care. Visit phenotips.com to learn more. Check out our sponsor at PhenoTips.com to learn more. Also sponsoring this episode is Genobank, the first anonymous DNA storage and sharing platform that is completely controlled by you with blockchain technology. Here’s the really cool aspect about Genobank, you can choose who you are sharing your DNA with including researchers. You can be a partner in research by choosing specific institutions who can use your DNA in their research projects. Genobank has officially launch at genobank.io, where you can learn more and purchase a kit. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today the first week of January. New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can listen to over 130 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

Our profession has evolved over the last 50 years from a small dedicated group of genetic counselors to over 5,000 individuals in the United States, with sister organizations in Canada, Europe and Australia. Just as the field of genetics has evolved over the last 40 years, so has the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) and genetic counselors. In this podcast episode, Linda Robinson joins host Kira Dineen to highlight what hot topics, historical accomplishments, challenges, barriers and opportunities during the last 50 years of genetic counseling. Linda Robinson is a retired genetic counselor. She worked primarily prenatal and cancer roles at UCLA , University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the California Department of Health. Linda retired as the Assistant Director of Cancer Genetics at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and is currently a consultant grant writer there. She has a long list of publications, grants and awards. Linda has been a very active member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) on countless committees, currently she is in the Late Career SIG. On This Episode We Discuss: Importance of Genetic Counseling History Roots of Genetic Counseling at Sarah Lawrence in 1969 Need for the Profession Coining Term “Genetic Counselor” and Runner Up Titles The First Genetic Counseling Jobs, Speciality and Tests National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) Foundation Evolution in Last 50 Years: Challenges, Technology Advancements, Licensure etc. NSGC Online Timeline Current Number of Genetic Counselors and Programs Future of Genetic Counseling Don’t forget to check out NSGC’s interactive timeline here! Stay tuned for the last DNA Today of the year on December 25th, 2020. New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can listen to over 130 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

The National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) hosted its annual conference virtually this past weekend with a new record for attendance. In this special extended installment of DNA Today we are recapping and reflecting on a few sessions from the conference. Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, PhenoTips. Imagine a health record system designed specifically for genomics. Cause let’s be honest, electronic health records are not built for genetics. Now you can stop imagining and start using, because PhenoTips is just this! PhenoTips is the world’s first complete Genomic Health record system with pedigree drawing, standardized symptom capture, diagnostic insights and more, all in one place. Check them out at PhenoTips.com. Timestamps Aishwarya Arjunan 1:30-24:20 Rebekah Hutchins 25:17-38:50 Courtney Studwell 38:50-53:05 Ashlyn Enokian 53:05-56:05 Presentations Recapped/Recommended Drawing the line with ECS: When does expanded carrier screening turn into excessive carrier screening? Live Tweet Threads by DNA Today and Aishwarya Arjunan More Than Just Raising Our Voices: Confronting Injustices in Patient Care Beyond common aneuploidies: Expanding existing chromosome testing technologies and subsequent prenatal care Live Tweet Thread by DNA Today Transfer of Mosaic Embryos following PGT-A: Updates, Ethics, and Implications Live Tweets by DNA Today (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) 2020 Janus Lecture: Ovarian Cancer: A Model for Progress in Genetics Pariah or Pioneer? Stories of Expansion Into New and Emerging Genetic Counselor Roles Mastering the Art of Advocacy through Media Relations The Panel Aishwarya Arjunan, MS, MPH, CGC, CPH graduated with degrees in genetic counseling and public health genetics from the University of Pittsburgh in 2013 and was certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 2014. She currently works at Myriad Women's Health (formerly Counsyl), a women's health genetic testing and genetic counseling company, as the Clinical Product Manager for the Foresight Carrier Screen. Prior to joining Counsyl/Myriad, Aishwarya was a clinical genetic counselor at the Sarnoff Center for Jewish Genetics and Ann & Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital in the Department of Genetics, Birth Defects, and Metabolism. Within the Northwestern Genetic Counseling Program, Aishwarya is a core faculty member and serves as a thesis advisor/committee member and has participated in the Admissions Committee and Internet Resources Task Force. Aishwarya is actively involved with the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) as the 2019 co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force and incoming Director At Large for the NSGC Board of Directors. She is also involved locally with the Illinois Society of Genetic Professionals (ISGP) and is a past-president of ISGP. At NSGC 2020 she was honored with the Leader in Cultural Advocacy Award. You can follow Aishwarya on Twitter. Rebekah Hutchins, MS, GC is a perinatal genetic counselor. Currently, she practices at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and previously in Hawaii Pacific Health in Honolulu, Hawaii. She received her M.S. in Human Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College’s Joan H. Marks Program. Rebekah has always been passionate about social justice and identifying, dissecting and combating health disparities in marginalized communities. Now as a healthcare professional she identifies innovative ways to bridge those gaps in her work. During her time at Sarah Lawrence College, she developed a cultural competency course for genetic counselors which she has presented twice. You can follow Rebekah on Twitter. Courtney Studwell, MS, CGC, MB(ASCP)CM is a licensed certified genetic counselor at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston and is also certified as a Technologist in Molecular Biology through the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). She counsels patients in the CFMRG and participates in the development and management of genetic testing platforms in the CAMD. She earned her master's degree in Genetic Counseling from Boston University School of Medicine and undergraduate degree in Diagnostic Genetic Sciences from University of Connecticut. You can follow Courtney on Twitter. Ashlyn Enokian, MS, GC is a prenatal genetic counselor at High Risk Pregnancy Center in Las Vegas, NV. Her journey into the field of genetic counseling began with advocacy work through Crisis Text Line and Help Pregnancy Crisis Aid. She worked as a genetic counseling assistant in cancer genetics at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital, pediatric genetics at the University of Michigan, and laboratory genetics at Progenity, Inc. Ashlyn was previously a genetics graphic design intern at My Gene Counsel. Her professional interests include prenatal, ART/fertility, education, and strategies to increase diversity in the field. She earned her B.S. in Biology and a minor in Criminal Justice from Grand Valley State University in 2017. Followed by her M.S. in Human Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College’s J

Please keep our 2020 Best Science and Medicine Podcast Award momentum going and vote for “DNA Today” for Podcast Magazine’s “Hot 50” Podcasts! You can take 60 seconds to vote here now. Dr. Kat Arney is our guest in this episode of DNA Today. She is a fellow genetics podcaster! She is an award-winning science writer, author, presenter, broadcaster, and public speaker. Her voice will probably be familiar to you as she has appeared on radio and TV around the world including BBC Radio 4, the Naked Scientists and Naked Genetics podcasts, and more recently as the host of the Genetics Unzipped podcast. She has written for outlets including the Times Educational Supplement, BBC Science Focus, the Daily Mail, Wired, BBC Online, The Guardian, and New Scientist. Dr. Arney has authored three popular science books: “Herding Hemingway’s Cats: Understanding How Our Genes Work”, “How to Code a Human” and her new book, “Rebel Cell: Cancer, Evolution, and the New Science of Life's Oldest Betrayal”. Enter our giveaway to win a copy of the book on our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. On This Episode We Discuss: Cancer from an evolutionary lens Evolutionary origins of cancer at the start of multicellular life Cancer identified through DNA from fossilized skeletons Cancer in other species, species without cancer Correlations between cancer development and species relationship Conservation of cancer genes Peter Nowell’s 40 year old paper, “The Clonal Evolution of Tumor Cell Populations” Definition of a cancerous cell EV-001 reveals the complexity of cancer development Overestimate of of cancer after the development of Gleevec Cancer evolutionary perspective adding in precision medicine Search “Genetics Unzipped” in your podcast player to hear Dr. Arney’s show. This is a crossover episode as our host Kira Dineen, was also a guest on Genetics Unzipped in September, where she was interviewed about prenatal genetic counseling. Check out the episode titled, “Podcast Rare Genetic Disorder and Pregnancy—Navigating an ’Emotionally Challenging’ Journey.” Learn more about the book at RebelCellBook.com and keep up with Kat on Twitter, @Kat_Arney and @geneticsunzip. In 2016, Elizabeth Turner saw a need to increase access to genetic counseling. This was the inspiration for her to start Advanced Tele-Genetic Counseling. Now during a pandemic there has never been a better time to book a telehealth genetic counseling consult! Cancer genetics is one of many areas that AT-GC specializes in. Their team of genetic counselors are specifically trained to help understand, interpret, and navigate complex genomic information. All genomes have a story to tell. If you are ready to learn yours head over to AT-GC.com to book your appointment with a genetic counselor today. We receive a lot of emails from listeners interested in genetic careers and we love connecting and providing resources. One of those is Keck Graduate Institute’s genetics programs in Southern California. KGI offers a master’s degree in genetic counseling, but for those of you looking for something slightly different - KGI also has a first-of-its-kind graduate program in genomic data analytics. This two-year master’s program gives students the opportunity to work side-by-side with applied life scientists and future genetic counselors while gaining hands-on experience with the technologies and information that are revolutionizing the future of medicine. Learn more about the program by visiting kgi.edu/dnatoday. Stay tuned for the next new episodes of DNA Today released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can listen to over 130 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Don’t forget to vote for “DNA Today” for Podcast Magazine’s “Hot 50” Podcasts! You can take 60 seconds to vote here now. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

This episode is the last installment of our 7 part direct-consumer genetic testing series. Joining for this episode is guest Melanie Hardy, Assistant Director of JScreen Genetic Counseling Services, which is part of Emory University School of Medicine. Melanie has been an active member in The National Society of Genetic Counselors and the American Board of Genetic Counseling, including chairing multiple committees, workgroups and programs. She has also served on capstone committees for genetic counseling students at multiple universities. On This Episode We Discuss: Number of conditions on carrier screening Different methods of carrier screening Conditions more common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent Conditions where carriers can have symptoms Limitations of carrier screening Conditions identified on newborn screening Potential differences between saliva and blood sample If carrier screening should be repeated Genetic counseling session about carrier results Reproductive options for carriers During this COVID-19 pandemic many patients and healthcare providers have turned to telehealth services. One of the first genetic counseling companies in this space was Advanced Tele-Genetic Counseling in 2016. AT-GC was conceptualized and grown by genetic counselors so that patients like you could access a genetic counselor no matter where you live. Their services are more important than ever to reduce your exposure during the pandemic. Learn more and book your appointment today with a board certified genetic counselor at AT-GC.com. Learn more about JScreen on their website, JScreen.org. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on November 6th, 2020! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can binge over 130 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

Exciting Announcement: This week “DNA Today” won the Best 2020 Science and Medicine Podcast in The 15th Annual Podcast Awards! This is thanks to each and every listener who nominated and voted for the show. THANK YOU for being such loyal listeners for the past 8 years. We’ve been nominated for four years, and it’s incredible to win this year! For those that aren’t familiar, The Podcast Awards are the longest running podcast awards event open to shows worldwide, this year there was 250,000 people who nominated shows. Michael Schnall-Levin joins host Kira Dineen on this episode to explore genetic testing technology including next-gen sequencing, single cell sequencing and bioinformatics. This episode is part 6 of our ongoing direct-consumer genetic testing series, check out our previous episodes for other deep dives into DTC topics. Michael is the Senior Vice President President of Product, Research and Development and Founding Scientist at 10x Genomics. Before joining 10x Genomics, Michael was an NSF postdoctoral fellow with Eric Lander at the Broad Institute where he worked on developing novel applications of DNA sequencing technologies. Prior to that, Michael worked at Foundation Medicine, where he developed some of the early algorithms to accurately detect mutations in patient tumor samples. Michael earned his PhD in Mathematics from MIT with Bonnie Berger, where he was both a Hertz fellow and NDSEG fellow, and his BA in Physics from Harvard College. On This Episode We Discuss: Steps to Sequence DNA/RNA Sanger and Next Gen Sequencing Single Cell Sequencing Process, Accuracy, Advantages Ultiziting in Cancer, Immunotherapy Bioinformatics Future of Genetic Testing Learn more about 10X Genomics on their website, Twitter and Facebook. Picture Genetics is our sponsor for this DTC genetic testing series and offers a unique DNA testing service. These tests are designed for every stage of life, from family planning and newborn health, to personal wellness and disease risk. Unlike other companies, this is actually a clinical grade test where physicians and genetic counselors are involved. The test sequences entire genes that are medically actionable. It’s easy to order and understand with good looking reports! To order your Picture Genetics go to picturegenetics.com and use code “DNATODAY” for 25% off and free-shipping! Get actionable genetic insights today to benefit your family of tomorrow. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on October 23th where we continue our direct-to-consumer genetic testing podcast series! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can listen to over 130 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

This episode is part of our ongoing direct-consumer genetic testing series. Joining the show is an award-winning journalist, Libby Copeland. Copeland, who writes about culture, science and human behavior, is the author of a new book, “The Lost Family: How DNA Testing is Upending Who We Are,” which explores the personal, familial and ethical implications of recreational DNA testing. Copeland was a reporter and editor at The Washington Post for eleven years, has been a media fellow and guest lecturer, and has made numerous appearances on television and radio. Enter our giveaway to win a copy of Libby Copeland’s book, “The Lost Family” on our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Also be sure to enter our mentor session giveaway with our host Kira Dineen who will be meet with the winner in an hour zoom call to discuss applying to genetic counseling schools including essays and resumes. On This Episode We Discuss: DTCs Topics explored in “The Lost Family” Approach and implications of Yaniv Erlich’s 2013 groundbreaking study identifying “anonymous” male DNA donation to research Ancestry information revealed through the Y chromosome Companies that offer Y and mitochondrial DNA testing Previous genetic database techniques to catch criminals Databases and techniques used to catch the Golden State Killer How CODIS works for law enforcement Companies with the largest databases Changes to GEDmatches policy after catching the Golden State Killer Law/protections to prevent law enforcement from using genetic genealogical databases The relationship between FamilyTreeDNA and the FBI Status of DTC genetic testing companies opt in/out policies The amount of the American American population that could be identified from the DTC databases Picture Genetics is our sponsor for this DTC genetic testing series and offers a unique DNA testing service. These tests are designed for every stage of life, from family planning and newborn health, to personal wellness and disease risk. Unlike other companies, this is actually a clinical grade test where physicians and genetic counselors are involved. The test sequences entire genes that are medically actionable. It’s easy to order and understand with good looking reports! To order your Picture Genetics go to picturegenetics.com and use code “DNATODAY” for 25% off and free-shipping! Get actionable genetic insights today to benefit your family of tomorrow. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on October 2nd, 2020 where we continue our DTC genetic testing series! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can listen to over 130 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube, including our book giveaway! Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

As part of this episode, 23andMe giving away a free DNA kit! To enter, go to DNA Today’s Twitter/Facebook (@DNApodcast) and Instagram (@DNAradio) and look for the post of a picture of a 23andMe kit with the simple instructions to enter. Don’t miss your chance to win this free DNA kit! Anne Greb, MS, CGC joins the show to share her expertise on direct-to-consumer genetic testing as part of our ongoing series on DNA Today. She is a genetic counselor and serves as lead of the medical education team at 23andMe. In this role, she is responsible for developing educational initiatives that equip healthcare professionals to better integrate personalized genetic information into the everyday care of their patients. Previously Anne was the program director of 3 genetic counseling programs, Wayne State University, Long Island University and Sarah Lawrence College. She also directed the medical genetics course taken by first year medical students at Wayne State University. On This Episode We Discuss: Consumers’ motivations to pursue direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing Potential integration of DTCs into routine medical care Accuracy of DTCs (Ambry Paper) BRCA testing of 3 variants Recommendations on Utilizing Results Educating Consumers on Result Implications Advice for Genetic Counselors with Patients Presenting DTCs Extra Information from Raw Data 23andMe Research Protection of Consumers’ Data Future of 23andMe Are you looking for COVID-19 testing? Our sponsor of this DTC genetic testing series is Picture Genetics, who is now offering FDA-authorized test kits. And you don’t have to leave the house, the kits are shipped directly to your home. Ordering takes only a few minutes by answering some questions about any exposures or symptoms you may have had. You can order your kit directly at picturegenetics.com. For more information about 23andMe you can check out their website, follow on Twitter, and like on Facebook/Instagram. Healthcare providers can also visit 23andMe.com/medical for further information. Don’t forget to enter our giveaway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram! Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today next month which continues our DTC genetic testing series! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can listen to over 130 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

Picture Genetics Kit Giveaway! Enter to win your own free kit on our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Guests for this episode are from Fulgent Genetics (offering Picture Genetic kits), which is the sponsor of this new Direct To Consumer Genetic Testing Series. Jessica Shiles is a genetic counselor and Dr. Samuel Strom is the lab director. Jessica serves as Fulgent’s Clinical Genetics Marketing Specialist. Her main role is to provide clinical training and expertise to help develop marketing material that is used to educate, support, and inform the patients and providers Fulgent serves. With Jessica’s strong passion for patient advocacy, she also leads Fulgent’s community outreach. She is a fellow Sarah Lawrence College’s alumni where she received her Masters of Science in Human Genetics. Previously Dr. Strom was an assistant professor at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine where he pioneered interpreting genomics results in the context of clinical diagnostic testing for rare inherited diseases and cancer. At Fulgent, he is continuing to forward this new science at an industrial scale. He is also an accomplished researcher in the fields of neurogenetics, ophthalmic genetics, and molecular diagnostics, with publications in top journals such as Science, JAMA, Genetics in Medicine, and Human Molecular Genetics. On This Episode We Discuss: Overview of Picture Genetics’ approach to DTCs (including genetic counseling) Difference between DTC genotyping and sequencing Conditions on carrier screening (Picture Parenting) Ideal time for carrier screening Newborn testing for healthy vs sick babies Newborn testing vs newborn screening Conditions on newborn testing (Picture Newborn) Value of newborn testing after negative carrier screening ACMG59 qualification of conditions (Picture Wellness) Purpose of ordering testing on the ACMG59 genes COVID-19 DTC testing, including FDA approval There is one correction during the episode, Jessica mentioned ACMG when she meant to say ACOG. As a DNA Today listener you can order your kits with code “DNATODAY” for a 25% discount and free shipping. Order at picturegenetics.com and the kit will be delivered right to your home! Thanks for Picture Genetics for sponsoring this DTC series. Don’t forget to enter our Picture Genetics Kit Giveaway on our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on September 4th, 2020! New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month with some bonus episodes thrown in there. In the meantime, you can listen to over 125 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or streaming on the website. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

Dr. Adam Rutherford is our guest for this second installment of our Direct-To-Consumer Genetic Testing series. He is a geneticist, author, and broadcaster. Dr. Rutherford has a PhD in Genetics, a degree in evolutionary biology, and is an honorary Research Fellow at UCLA. He was an audio-visual content editor for the journal Nature for a decade, and is a frequent contributor to the newspaper The Guardian. On radio, he is the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s flagship science program, Inside Science, as well as many documentaries. On TV, he has presented multiple BBC series including The Beauty of Anatomy, The Gene Code, and award winners Playing God and The Cell. Dr. Rutherford has also been a scientific advisor to films including Biophilia Live, World War Z, The Secret Service and Ex Machina (2015). He has authored multiple books including, “A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived” and the book we will be discussing today, “How to Argue With a Racist: What Our Genes Do (and Don't) Say About Human Difference” which is being released this August! Enter our giveaway for a copy of his book on our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. On This Episode We Discuss: How genetics is woven into the history of race Discrepancy of papertrails and ancestry reports from DTCs between European and non-European descent What DTC companies can do to address this racial disparity How genetics of ethnicity contradict Dawkins’ “tyranny of the discontinuous mind” concept How is it possible to not be genetically related to an ancestor What we can learn by comparing the genomes of African and African-American people How consumer ancestry genetic testing affects how we think about our genetic differences Olympics reveal of the limitation genetic predisposition DTCs contribution to racial reification Sponsoring this episode is Advanced Tele-Genetic Counseling (AT-GC) which provides virtual appointments to meet with a certified genetic counselor. These one-on-one conversations can help you understand how your own genetics may play a role in your health. Access to healthcare should not be dependent on where you live, which is why ATGC was founded! You can schedule your telehealth appointment directly on their website. As mentioned in the episode, you can signup here for the next free Phenotips Speaker Series on August 12th at 12pmET. Our host Kira Dineen will be interviewing Ellen Matloff about “The Evolving Role of Genetic Counselors in Precision Medicine”. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on August 21st! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can binge 125 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. And don’t forget to enter the giveaway! If you can’t wait to see if you've won, head over to Amazon to order your copy. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

Last chance to nominate DNA Today in the Podcast Awards for the best Science and Medicine. Please take a few minutes to support the show! This episode kicks off our Direct-To-Consumer (DTCs) Genetic Testing Series! Check out our previous episodes about DTCs including episode 116, 105, 91, 80, and 56. Over this brand new series, we are going to be interviewing a whole bunch of experts including authors Adam Rutherford and Libby Copeland about their new books exploring DTCs and we get to hear directly from companies like Fulgent Genetics, JScreen, and 23andMe. So much more to come over the next few months! This series is sponsored by Picture Genetics, who is now offering FDA-authorized COVID-19 test kits. And you don’t have to leave the house, the kits are shipped directly to your home. Ordering takes only a few minutes at picturegenetics.com. Use code “DNATODAY” for 25% and free shipping on all other kits! To start off this series, we are joined by Jeanette McCarthy, MPH, PhD, who is a UC Berkeley trained genetic epidemiologist with current faculty positions at UCSF and Duke. Her interests are in educating stakeholders in the area of precision medicine, including healthcare providers and consumers. In 2014, Dr. McCarthy helped launch the first consumer-facing magazine in this field, Genome, where she served as the founding Editor-in-Chief. Dr. McCarthy is also the founder of Precision Medicine Advisors, where she develops and delivers workshops and online courses related to genetic testing. On This Episode We Discuss: Top companies in the DTC genetic testing industry Differences between patient initiated, physician initiated, and/or medical/clinical grade Lesser known areas of testing including pharmacogenomics Role of FDA regulation Learn more from Dr. Jeanette McCarthy on PrecisionMedicineAdvisors.com. Check out this blog post we mentioned during the episode where Dr. McCarthy explains how the genetic testing industry has developed and some of the recent industry trends and factors impacting its growth. Join host Kira Dineen live on Zoom in the Phenotips Speakers Series on July 27th 12pmET! Kira will be hosting the first installment by interviewing Advanced Tele-Genetic Counseling’s Founder Elizabeth Turner about “Adapting to Virtual Care in Genetic Counseling”. Register for free here. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today’s DTC series on August 7th with Dr. Adam Rutherford where we discuss his book How To Argue With A Racist: What Our Genes Do (And Don’t) Say About Human Difference. New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can binge 125 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

Answering your listener submitted questions about the American genetic counseling board exam is the ABGC President, Adam Buchanan, MS, MPH, CGC! Aside from this role at American Board of Genetic Counseling, Adam is an associate professor, genetic counselor and Director of the Geisinger Genomic Medicine Institute. Previously, he was a research associate at Duke Cancer Institute. His clinical expertise includes intimate knowledge of recommended risk management for hereditary cancer syndromes. He is co-leading Geisinger’s MyCode genomic screening program for medically actionable genomic results, and is helping to develop a health services research portfolio on patient-participant, family, and system outcomes of this program. This episode is sponsored by PhenoTips. If you are still drawing pedigrees by hand, you are overdue for an upgrade! PhenoTips provides a free digital pedigree drawing tool. Not only is it intuitive and easy-to-use, it’s 2.5 times faster than your pen and paper. And we all know time is very valuable in the clinic. Give it a try at phenotips.com/signup. On This Episode We Discuss: Timeframe for the boards Structure of the exam Study resources Content on the exam Strategy to approach questions Percentage passing rate (Is there one?) Results and CGC status Accommodating for COVID-19 (Possible Remote Test Taking) Inclusivity boards price and questions Update: As teased by Adam in this episode, ABGC officially announce the boards exam is also being offered with remote proctoring in August 2020. Read more on their website here. Learn more on ABGC’s website, here is the content outline that was referred to throughout this interview. Here is the practice exam for purchase ($55) to access your strengths and weaknesses. Here is a page to learn more about the scoring of the exam and here is a page to see specific passing rates over the last few years. During the interview we also reference #ABGCListens tweetchat, which you can read here on Twitter. For other genetic counseling conversation read and participate in #gcchat on Twitter. You can also follow Adam directly on Twitter. Next episode of DNA Today is launching the brand new Direct-To-Consumer Genetic Testing series on July 17th! This series will be sponsored by Fulgent Genetics. New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month with some bonus episodes thrown in there. In the meantime, you can listen to over 125 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or streaming on the website including the previous series about infertility. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

Podcast Award Nominations begin July 1st, 2020! Please help DNA Today receive a fourth nomination (and hopefully a win this year!) by visiting PodcastAwards.com and selecting “DNA Today” in the Science and Medicine category. We can only receive a nomination if YOU nominate the show! This episode concludes DNA Today’s 7 part infertility series. The first episode kicked off with Lauren Isley who shared about fertility genetic counseling. The next two episodes featured a couple who went through reciprocal IVF to have their daughters (part 1 and 2). Filmmakers of fertility movie ANYA joined the show next. Dr. Kara Goldman followed discussing diagnostic fertility testing. Last episode, Genetic Counselor Jennifer Eccles explained the science behind PGT for polygenic conditions. This seventh and final infertility installment explores controversies surrounding fertility with genetic counselor and genetics podcast host, Nick Charles. He is the lead laboratory and quality control counselor at CooperSurgical, a preimplantation genetic testing lab. Prior to working in a laboratory position, he was a prenatal and reproductive genetic counselor at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, counseling patients with high-risk pregnancies and/or fertility issues in the Maternal Fetal Medicine practice. He earned his bachelor’s degree in pre-med biology from the University of Scranton and his master’s in human genetics and genetic counseling from Sarah Lawrence College. This episode is also one of our crossovers with another genetics podcast. So be sure to hear the other half of our conversation on Nick’s show, Gene Therapy Podcast. Roles are flipped on his show where Nick interviews Kira about how to utilize social media to learn about genetic counseling, and to network and build a career. Sponsoring this episode is Advanced Tele-Genetic Counseling (AT-GC) which provides virtual appointments to meet with a certified genetic counselor. These one-on-one conversations can help you understand how your own genetics may play a role in your health including fertility. Access to healthcare should not be dependent on where you live, which is why ATGC was founded! You can schedule your telehealth appointment directly on their website. On This Episode We Discuss: Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) Appropriate situations and where the line begins to blur Medical guidelines and recommendations Mosaic Embryos: Potential health concerns Regulations around implantation Situations to select and implant Success rate of pregnancies Current and future research Don’t forget to hear the other half of our conversation on Nick’s show, Gene Therapy Podcast. Just search Gene Therapy podcast in our podcast player or listen on his website. Keep up with the show by following on Twitter and Instagram. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today. New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month (with some bonus episodes thrown in there like this one)! In the meantime, you can listen to 125 episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or streaming on the website. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

This episode continues DNA Today’s series about infertility. Over the last five episodes of DNA Today, we talked with experts in fertility. On the first episode we heard from Lauren Isley, a genetic counselor about artificial reproductive technologies and the genetic counseling side. We also had the Baileys on the show to share their reciprocal IVF journey in part 1 and part 2. The following episode the filmmakers of ANYA, a science fiction film about fertility. Last episode, Dr. Kara Goldman shared her experience in diagnostic fertility testing. Sponsoring the series is LetsGetChecked, check out their home testing kits including fertility, sexual health and others. Receive your own kit for 20% off by using code “DNAToday”. Jennifer Eccles joins the show to discuss PGT-P, preimplantation genetic testing for polygenic conditions. She is the Head of Genetic Counseling at Genomic Prediction Clinical Laboratory. Jennifer has over 20 years of experience in reproductive clinical genetics at institutions like Columbia, Beth Israel Medical Center, and BioReference Laboratories. As a licensed and certified genetic counselor, Jennifer has spent her career discussing genetic testing with individuals and couples at various stages along the path to parenthood. In her current role, Jennifer provides genetic counseling services along with authoring clinical and marketing content. Jennifer's publication history is focused on the patient-facing aspect of genetics and clinical testing. She is also a fellow graduate of Sarah Lawrence’s Human Genetics program. On This Episode We Discuss: Types of PGT PGT-P for Polygenic Conditions Screening vs Diagnostic Testing List of Polygenic Conditions Screened Polygenic Risk Scores PGT-P Steps Cost and Insurance Genetic Counseling Learn more about Genomic Prediction and their PGT-P on their website genomicprediction.com and follow them on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Stay tuned for the next and final episode of the DNA Today Infertility series! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can binge 123 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNApodcast.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

DNA Today stands in solidarity with BLM and in doing so we wanted to share a few resources with you listeners where you can educate yourself by listening to Black voices in our genetics community. You can support BLM through donations to ActBlue here. Dr. Janina Jeff was a guest back on episode 117 where she shared her new podcast, “In Those Genes”, that uses genetics to uncover the lost identities of african descended americans through the lens of black culture. Please, listen and support her show along with other black podcasts like American Origin Stories, She Too STEM, PhDivas among many others. We also wanted to bring awareness to the Minority Genetic Professionals Network. This group supports minority medical genetic providers and trainees to increase the diversity in our profession and to serve minority communities. MGP also provides resources on how to support non-white patients and co-workers. You can also follow them on Twitter and Instagram. Learn more through Twitter accounts like @DecolonizeDNA and @BlackAFinSTEM, articles in AJMG and AACC. This episode continues DNA Today’s series about infertility. Over the last four episodes of DNA Today, we talked with experts in fertility. On the first episode we heard from Lauren Isley, a genetic counselor about artificial reproductive technologies and the genetic counseling side. We also had the Baileys on the show to share their reciprocal IVF journey in part 1 and part 2. The following episode the filmmakers of ANYA, a science fiction film about fertility. Sponsoring the series is LetsGetChecked, check out their home testing kits including fertility, sexual health and others. Receive your own kit for 20% off by using code “DNAToday”. This episode Dr. Kara Goldman shares her experience in diagnostic fertility testing. She is the Medical Director of Fertility Preservation at Northwestern Fertility Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Goldman received her MD from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, completed OB/GYN residency at Northwestern University, and trained in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at New York University where she went on to join the faculty. On This Episode We Discuss: When to pursue fertility testing Which tests are the first ordered Hormones that are measured and importance of timing Common causes of infertility Fertility implications of balanced translocation carriers Fertility preservation You can stay updated with Dr. Goldman on her Twitter account, @karagoldmanmd. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on June 19th! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of every month. In the meantime, you can listen to over 100 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or streaming on the website. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

This episode continues DNA Today’s series about infertility. Over the last few episodes of DNA Today, we talked with experts in fertility. On the first episode we heard from Lauren Isley, a genetic counselor about artificial reproductive technologies and the genetic counseling side. We also had the Baileys on the show to share their reciprocal IVF journey in part 1 and part 2. Sponsoring the series is LetsGetChecked, check out their home testing kits including fertility, sexual health and others. Receive your own kit for 20% off by using code “DNAToday”. It’s been so interesting to hear different perspectives about fertility as it impacts so many people’s lives. Currently 7.3 million Americans are facing infertility! I hope you all have learned a lot alongside us. Be sure to go back and listen to all the fertility episodes if you are interested! On this next installment of the fertility series two guests join the show, documentarian Jacob Okada and anthropologist Carylanna Taylor, PhD who wrote and produced ANYA, a fictional film about fertility. Through their company, First Encounter Productions, Carylanna and Jacob are committed to creating complex characters and compelling stories informed by anthropology, science, and current events. ANYA has had international screenings and was featured as a "Science and Diversity in Film" on Forbes. On This Episode We Discuss: ANYA Film Synopsis Inspiration for ANYA Keeping up with Genetic Technology and News Scientifically Accurate Script Writing Proper Lab Equipment Features Featured Genetic Technology PCR, Sequencing, UCSC Genome Browser, CRISPR Inclusivity in Science Fiction Films Forbes had a fantastic feature of ANYA exploring the diversity in the film. Dr. Ruth McCole, who was a scientist on the set, wrote up her experience here. Rotten Tomatoes gives ANYA a 93%. To explore more about First Encounter Productions you can visit their website. For more information about ANYA and to watch it go to anyamovie.com. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today. New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify and Apple/iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

This episode is part of DNA Today’s ongoing infertility series. The series was launched hearing from Genetic Counselor Lauren Isley, she shared about artificial reproductive technologies and infertility genetic counseling. Sponsoring the series is LetsGetChecked, check out their home testing kits including fertility, sexual health and others. Receive your own kit for 20% off by using code “DNAToday”. Last episode we heard from Katie and Christina Bailey. They were sharing their journey to parenthood through reciprocal In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). We continue this conversation on this episode, so if you haven’t heard the first part of our discussion, you are going to want to listen to the previous episode where Christina and Katie Bailey talk about the beginning of their story with IVF. The Baileys have a large following of nearly 100,000 on Instagram, so you can check them out @BabyBaileyMamaDrama. On This Episode We Discuss: Conceiving a Second Time Genetic Testing During Pregnancy Talking to Kids About Their Conception Direct-To-Consumer Genetic Testing Finding Biological Relatives Decision to Make Family’s Story Public Cost of IVF Future Kids and Names Advice for People Going Through Fertility Treatments If you are interested in more details about the cost, the Baileys provided a breakdown here. The Bailey’s story was also summed up here. Join nearly 100,000 others in following them on Instagram and Youtube both at @BabyBaileyMamaDrama. You can also check out their blog, babybaileymamadrama.wordpress.com. DNA Today’s infertility series continues on the next episode! New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month with some bonus episode thrown in there. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

This episode continues the DNA Today’s series about infertility. If you haven’t yet heard the episode with Genetic Counselor Lauren Isley, I highly recommend you go back and listen to learn more about the artificial reproductive technologies and the genetic counseling side. It’s a great preview into this episode. Sponsoring the series is LetsGetChecked, check out their home testing kits including fertility, sexual health and others. Receive your own kit for 20% off by using code “DNAToday”. Currently 7.3 million Americans are facing infertility, and this series is bringing awareness to infertility along with teaching the science and genetic side. On this episode, we are going to hear personal perspectives. Joining me are Katie and Christina Bailey. They share their journey to parenthood through reciprocal In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Christina and Katie have a large following of nearly 100,000 on Instagram, so you can check them out @BabyBaileyMamaDrama. This is part 1 of our conversation, for part 2, you will have to tune into the next episode to hear where the Bailey are today. On This Episode We Discuss: Deciding on Path to Parenthood Educating Friends and Family Choosing a Sperm Donor Hormones for IVF Techniques to Fertilize Eggs Considering Embryo Adoption To hear about the rest of the Bailey’s IVF journey you will have to tune into the next episode of DNA Today! In the meantime, join nearly 100,000 others in following them on Instagram and Youtube both at @BabyBaileyMamaDrama. You can also check out their blog, babybaileymamadrama.wordpress.com. Don’t forget to hear the rest our our conversation in the next episode of DNA Today! New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month with some bonus episode thrown in there. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

This episode is kicking off a series about infertility. The launch of this series is coinciding with infertility awareness week, April 19-25th, 2020. Over the next few episodes of DNA Today, we will be talking to experts in fertility these include genetic counselors, a couple who went through IVF, even filmmakers who produced a science fiction movie about fertility. Sponsoring the series is LetsGetChecked, check out their home testing kits including fertility, sexual health and others. Receive your own kit for 20% off by using code “DNAToday”. Currently 7.3 million Americans are facing infertility, and we wanted to bring awareness to this, but also education by having these conversations to learn about the science and genetic side, but also the patient side and hearing how infertility has impacted people’s lives and hearing their perspective. So many excited guests coming up! The first guest to launch this series is Lauren Isley, who is a genetic counselor that specializes in fertility and assisted reproductive technologies, known as ART for short. She is a Clinical Science Liaison at Generate Life Sciences (Formerly California Cryobank Life Sciences), a company that provides reproductive tissue and donor gamete services as well as newborn stem cell storage. Lauren is the Chair Elect of the Genetic Counseling Professional Group of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and former chair of the ART/Infertility SIG of NSGC. Lauren has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Missouri. She went on to earn her Masters of Science in genetic counseling from Wayne State University. On This Episode We Discuss: Roles of a Genetic Counselor in Fertility Fertility Technology Options Carrier Screening In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Types of Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT M, SR, A) Information and Limits of PGTs Egg and Sperm Freezing/Donating Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) genetic testing impact on gamete donation Next episode we will be continuing this infertility series. Again infertility awareness week is April 19-25th, 2020. You can learn more by going to RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. They are a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people challenged in their family building journey reach resolution through being empowered by knowledge, supported by community, united by advocacy, and inspired to act. Their website is resolve.org. You can also check out this blog post from the National Society of Genetic Counselors, “How Genetics Affects Infertility and Miscarriage”. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today’s infertility series on April 17th, 2020. New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month with some bonus episodes thrown in there. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

Zaki Sabet joins the show to discuss issues in the diagnostic process of hematologic cancers. Zaki has been with Precipio since co-founding the company in 2011 and currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer. He holds over 15 years of experience in laboratory management spanning all fields of reference laboratory operations primarily focusing on cancer diagnostics, which is the focus of our conversation on this episode. Prior to Precipio, Zaki has served as a consultant with the College of American Pathologists (CAP) for many years as well as several diagnostic companies in setting up their specialized cancer testing operations. Zaki holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. On This Episode We Discuss: Background on Hematologic Cancers including Subtypes Frequency of Hematologic Cancers Prevalence of Misdiagnosis Diagnostic Odyssey for Patients Misdiagnosis Impact on Treatment and Disease Course Impact of Physician’s Clinical Suspicions on Lab Tests Ordered Current Lab Tests to Diagnose Precipio’s Solution to Reducing Misdiagnosis with IV-Cell Learn more about Precipio on their website. You can also follow them on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Check out Picture Genetics, a clinical grade DNA testing service where physicians and genetic counselors are involved. These tests are designed for every stage of life, from family planning and newborn health, to personal wellness and disease risk. The test sequences entire genes that are medically actionable. It’s easy to order and understand with good looking reports, live chats, emails and even genetic counseling. To order your Picture Genetics go to PictureGenetics.com use code “DNATODAY” for 25% off and free-shipping! Stay tuned for the next episode of DNA Today on April 6th, 2020 which kicks off the fertility series! New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month with some bonus episodes thrown in there. In the meantime, you can listen to over 100 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or streaming on the website. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

This episode continues the crossover series with other podcasts. Joining the show is Dr. Janina Jeff, who is a Human Geneticist and the first African American to graduate with a PhD in Human Genetics from Vanderbilt University. She is currently a Senior Scientist at Illumina, a biotech company that creates technology for companies such as Ancestry.com and 23&Me. Her research career was focused on population genetics, specifically studying admixed populations (descendants with African ancestry) and discovering population specific genetic risk factors of common disease. Her podcast, “In Those Genes”, is a hip-hop inspired show that uses genetics to uncover the lost identities of African Americans. On This Episode We Discuss: Inspiration to pursue genetics career Diversity advancing research Unique aspects of African genomes Disparity of health and medicine in Non-European populations Ancestry’s Horrendeous Advertisement Romantizing Slavery Dr. Jeff’s 46 Chromosomes and a Mule Article Real Cost of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Becoming the Primary Shareholders of our Genetic Information Dr. Jeff’s TEDtalk “In Those Genes” Podcast Dr. Janina Jeff won Spotify’s “Sounds Up Bootcamp” which helped to launch her new podcast, “In Those Genes” available on Spotify, Apple and all major podcasting apps. Or you can go straight to their website, Twitter, or Instagram (@inthosegenes). Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today. New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month with some bonus episode thrown in there. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

By the end of 2020, roughly 100 million people will have taken an at-home DNA test, according to MIT Technology Review. To put that into perspective, that’s more than the combined populations of Texas, California and Florida! In this podcast episode we explore considerations of direct-to-consumer genetic testing. Guests joining the episodes are from DNA ALLY, the matchmaker between direct-to-consumer genetic test consumers and genetic counselors. Nargol Faravashi, is the Co-Founder of DNA ALLY with a background in genetics and business. She had over 20 years of experience in launching clinical products for genomic companies along with an extensive background in business and marketing. Christin Coffeen has been a licensed certified genetic counselor for almost 20 years. She has a background in cancer and prenatal genetic counseling in the clinical setting as well as extensive industry background in medical affairs. She is also a member of DNA ALLY’s board of advisors. On This Episode We Discuss: Comprehensiveness of direct to consumer (DTCs) genetic testing tests Types of information from genetic testing including BRCA1/2 testing Alzheimer’s disease Carrier status for conditions like Cystic Fibrosis Possibility of genetic testing becoming routine testing Healthcare provider’s ability to counsel patients on DTCs Read more on DNA ALLY’s Blog Post DNA ALLY’s solution to the overwhelming demand of counseling on DTCs Opportunities for genetic counselors Learn more about DNA ALLY on their website and receive 15% off with promo code “DNAToday” on your direct-to-consumer genetic testing session with a genetic counselor. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on March 6th with Dr. Janina Jeff talking about her brand new genetics podcast, In Those Genes! New episodes are released on the first and third Friday of the month. In the meantime, you can listen to over 100 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or streaming on the website. Don’t forget to check back in April for the launch of the first ever series on the show about fertility! Its launch is timed to coincide with infertility awareness week, April 23–29. I’ll be speaking with voices in fertility to explore topics like personal journeys, IVF, conceiving via a donor, media portrayal, genetic counseling, and fertility testing. Sponsoring the series is LetsGetChecked, check out their home testing kits including fertility, sexual health and others. Receive your own kit for 20% off by using code “DNAToday”. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

Dr. Daria Julkowska joins the show for Rare Disease Month as the Coordinator of the European Joint Program on Rare Diseases. This organization was newly established in January 2019. Daria is of Polish origin but she has lived and worked in France for the last 18 years. She has a PhD in molecular biology and is involved in rare diseases research and management for the last ten years. The European Joint Program on Rare Diseases represents 89 partners across the EU and beyond. Internally, the partners include research funders, research institutions and infrastructures, hospitals and of course patient organizations. The program is financed by the EU and the states participating in the project. On This Episode We Discuss: Motivation to Start the Organization Goals for the Rare Disease Community Countries Represented Rare Disease Visual Platform Advancing Rare Disease Research Ongoing Research Projects Funding for Research Combating Exorbitant Costs of Treatments (Ex: Spinraza) Rare Disease Day/Month Involvement Happy Rare Disease Month! If you are in the US you can get involved by going to the National Organization for Rare Disorders’ website, rarediseases.org. You can find ways to get active on social media and in person events. Learn more about The European Joint Program on Rare Diseases by visiting their website. Want to hear more from the rare disease community? Check out all the 20 rare disease episodes of DNA Today here! Recent episodes include #102 Seth Rotberg on Huntington Disease, #98 Lydia Seiders on Aplastic Anemia, and #95 Kieger Family on Familial Adenomatous Polyposis. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today. New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month with some bonus episode thrown in there. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

Genetic Counselor Matt Burgess join the first episode of 2020 to talk about Australian genetic counseling and being a clinical science liaison. He built one of Australia’s most successful genetic counseling private practices in Melbourne. Matt provided versatile genetic counseling services using a broad scope of knowledge including hereditary cancer, neurogenetics, prenatal genetics, adult, pediatric and cardiac genetics. He earned a graduate degree in genetic counseling from the University of Newcastle and a Masters of Applied Positive Psychology at The University of Melbourne. He is currently a Clinical Science Liaison at Baylor Genetics. Matt also hosts another genetics podcast, “Demystifying Genetics”, which makes this is episode part of my crossover series with other genetic podcasts. On This Episode We Discuss: Australian Genetic Counseling Number of Genetic Counselors and Programs Main Areas of Practice Healthcare System Compared to the United States Private v. Public Health Facilities Insurance and Hospital Structures Certification Process Private Practices Requirements to See A Genetic Counselor Industry Speciality Role of a Clinical Science Liaison The Advantage of a Clinical Background How to Support Sales Education Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today! New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month with some bonus episode thrown in there. In the meantime, you can listen to 113 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or streaming on the website. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

This episode is part of the crossover series with other podcasts, today’s episode is a crossover with “Advancing Dentistry” also hosted by Kira Dineen. Lauren Winter joins host Kira Dineen on this episode exploring the genetics of dentistry. They are both genetic counseling graduate students, Lauren attends the University of Pittsburgh and Kira attends Sarah Lawrence College. Lauren is a Research Assistant involved in the COHRA2/COHRA Smile Projects at the Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics. Lauren and Kira discuss this project and dental genetics in general. On This Episode We Discuss…. Role of Genetics in Oral Health Potential Uses of Genetic Testing in Dentistry Factors Contributing to Oral Health Disparities in Appalachia Data Collecting and Analysis of Human Genetics, Oral Microbiome, Oral pH etc. Participant Requirements and Advantages to a Longitudinal Approach Relationships Between Genetic Factors, Dental Caries/Cavities and BMI Potential Ways for Dentistry and Genetics to Merge Learn more about Lauren’s experience in her role as a graduate research assistant at the Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics in this blog post. Stay updated by following the CCDC on Facebook and Lauren on Twitter. Want to learn more about dentistry? Be sure to check out “Advancing Dentistry” podcast on Apple, Spotify, and AdDent.com. You can also follow on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. If you are a dentist or part of a dental team take a look through AdDent’s dental instruments and use code “ADPOD15” for 15% off in the store. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today released on the first Friday of the month with some bonus episode thrown in there. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

On this episode, we explore the pediatric speciality of genetic counseling. Guest Sam Toy is a pediatric genetic counselor at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She earned her BS in Biology and MS in Professional Biology from Indiana University. She went on to earn her MS in genetic counseling from Indiana State University. On This Episode We Discuss: The role of a pediatric genetic counselor Outline of a genetic counseling session Unique aspects of pediatric genetic counseling Genetic testing whole genome/exome vs specific genes Genetic testing results’ give a diagnosis, change medical management, and insurance coverage Psychosocial aspects of counseling Transitioning from grad school to being a genetic counselor full time Application deadlines are approaching for genetic counseling grad schools, if you are working on your applications check out episode 87 which features tips from genetic counseling students on applications. Then episode 97 has advice on the other half of the application process (interviews, ranks, and match) once January/February rolls around. Next week is Thanksgiving in the US, and that means it’s National Family Health History Day, so if you have an opportunity with family this holiday ask them about health history, it’s the best genetic test we have! Variant classification and interpretation have become important skills for genetic counselors. But it takes so long! Even if it’s just a VUS you want to double check. To make it streamlined check out franklin.genoox.com/DNAToday. You can access so much information about a variant including relevant publications, automated ACMG classifications, annotations and phenotypes/disease. Best part? It’s free! All this data about one variant is compiled at your fingertips. No more sifting through PubMed! Join the future of variant interpretation. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on December 6th, 2019. New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month with some bonus episode thrown in there. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

The National Society of Genetic Counselors celebrated 40 years at this year’s annual conference! In 2019, we surpassed having 5,000 genetic counselors in the US/Canada! We now have 45 genetic counseling graduate programs in the US and 40 more international. In this podcast episode we recap highlights from the sessions and tips for new attendees next year. Below are some of our talking points and resources we mentioned in the episode. Also check out #NSGC19 on Twitter to read more insight from the conference. Should All Women With Breast Cancer Be Offered Genetic Testing? Panel: Dr Mark Robson from MSK, Dr Peter Beitsch from the Dallas Surgical Group, Sue Friedman founder of FORCE. Moderators: Dr. Lisa Madlensky from UC San Diego and Dr. David Euhus from Johns Hopkins Main points of the talk included… Clinical utility Informed consent vs informed assent Research vs diagnostic Concordant vs discordant results Accessibility and information giving Provider education and utilization of genetic counseling skillset NCCN Guidelines Emerging Therapies for Adult-Onset Neurologic Diseases: Possibilities, Pitfalls And Patient Impact Dr. Sonia Vallabh Prion Alliance’s Website WIRED’s article, “One Couple’s Tireless Crusade to Stop a Genetic Killer” The Guardian’s article, “The Lawyer Who Became A Scientist To Find A Cure For Her Fatal Disease.” Enabling The Beautiful Uncertainty of Life: My Journey With PGT-M Lee Cooper, JD Lee’s article in STAT News, “Genetic Testing Plus IVF Can Sidestep Genetic Disease And Reduce The Need For High-Priced Therapies.” The Institute For Genetic Disease Prevention In Utero Stem Cell Transplantation: Historical Context, Present State And The Future Of Fetal Molecular Therapies Billie Rachael Lianoglou, MS, UCSF Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine TIME Magazine Feature, “Scientists Are Developing New Ways to Treat Disease With Cells, Not Drugs.” Clinical Trial for Alpha Thalassemia Major UCSF Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine’s Website Hot Topics In Teratology: Zika, Marijuana, and Maternal Therapies For Genetic Disease Victoria Wagner, MS, CGC, Myla Ashfaq, CGC, Jennifer Lemons, CGC all from McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health CDC’s Zika General Resources and Pregnancy Resources Mother To Baby (DNA Today Interview with MTB) Marijuana in Pregnancy Fact Sheet Conference Tips Exhibit hall for networking, free genetics apparel, job board, professional and fun photos. Wear layers because lecture halls are freezing. Lunch sessions are free and sponsored by labs. Prioritize select sessions, there is too much to do everything. Attend a Special Interest Group (SIG), you don’t have to be a member. Follow and join conversations on Twitter (#NSGC19 and #gcchat) Students, job hunt utilizing the job board (in the middle of the exhibit hall) and hand out your resume. If there is a meet up with a specific company/hospital you are interested in working with/at, then go check it out! The Panel Michael Peneycad is a second year graduate student at the Joan H. Marks Program in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College, originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He earned his B.S. in Cell & Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan and spent time as adjunct faculty at Grand Valley State University before relocating to New York City in 2014. Michael has been involved in many industries including entertainment, events, automotive, and health care in his time before entering graduate school, working with companies such as Spectrum Health Medical Group, Mazda, Jaguar/Land Rover, Chanel, Google, and Target. Michael has also spent years performing in musicals, commercials, and voice-overs during the time between his academic studies. His professional interests include cancer genetics, patient and provider education, and public health initiatives. You can follow Michael on Twitter and Instagram. Go Blue! Ashlyn Enokian is a second year genetic counseling student from Brighton, Michigan. She earned her BS in Biology and a minor in Criminal Justice from Grand Valley State University in 2017. Her journey into the field of genetic counseling began with advocacy work through Crisis Text Line and Help Pregnancy Crisis Aid. She worked as a genetic counseling assistant in cancer genetics at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital, pediatric genetics at the University of Michigan, and laboratory genetics at Progenity, Inc. Ashlyn was previously a genetic graphic design intern at My Gene Counsel. Her professional interests include fertility, neurogenetics, and strategies to increase diversity in the field. She acts as a student representative of Sarah Lawrence College’s Class of 2020. You can follow Ashlyn on Twitter.. Kira Dineen hosts DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast (and radio show), which was founded in 2012 and features over 100 episodes interviewing genetic counselors, patient advocates and other genetic experts. The show was nominated in the 2015, 2016 and 2019 Podcast Awards. She also ho

It’s been 22 years since THE genetic thriller was released…. Gattaca. How has the film aged with genetic technology, society, ethics, and more? Find out in this episode! If it’s been a while since you’ve seen the film, refresh yourself with the plot summary below. Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke) has always fantasized about traveling into outer space, but is grounded by his status as a genetically inferior "in-valid." He decides to fight his fate by purchasing the genes of Jerome Morrow (Jude Law), a laboratory-engineered "valid." He assumes Jerome's DNA identity and joins the Gattaca space program, where he falls in love with Irene (Uma Thurman). An investigation into the death of a Gattaca officer (Gore Vidal) complicates Vincent's plans. On This Episode We Discuss Ethical Questions Like... How has our understanding and appreciation of the film changed throughout our careers? Do you think the way Vincent exfoliates and environment would stand up to our current technology? How accurate did the film predict fertility technologies like PDG? What is the true goal of genetic perfection? What is the cost? What types of polygenic risk scores are being offered today? How well can laws really prevent genetic discrimination? How much can you protect your own genetic information? How accurate is the film in regard to the society effects of the “haves” and “have nots”? What was the alternative ending of Gattaca? What does it warn society? Do you have more thoughts about Gattaca? We want to hear from you, tweet @DNApodcast to share your insight! Too long for a tweet? Email in at [email protected]. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today in early November where I will be b joined by a few guests to discuss the National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Conference. New episodes are typically released on the first Friday of the month. Often I’ll have a second episode later in the month. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

Shenela Lakhani is the Director of Genetic Counseling and Clinical Engagement for the Center of Neurogenetics at Weill Cornell Medical College, in New York City. In this role she studies the genetics of neurodevelopmental disorders and neurological disease of aging and adulthood. Before this role, she was the first certified genetic counselor in Qatar, a country in the Middle East. Shenela established the profession in the country and promoted genetics within the Middle East by speaking at international conferences. In Qatar she helped to establish high-risk breast cancer screening guidelines and a high-risk gastrointestinal clinic while contributing to local testing and screening guidelines. On this episode we explore what it was like to be the first certified genetic counselor in a country and how she was able to start the profession there and make an impact in public health in Qatar. On This Episode We Discuss: Inspiration and Motivation to Move Across the World Challenges of Starting Genetic Counseling in A New Country Common Genetic Disorders in Qatar Genetic Stigma and Public Perspective of Healthcare Genetic Carrier and Newborn Testing in Qatar Adaptations to Counseling in A Different Country Learn more about Shenela Lakhani on her LinkedIn Profile and Weill Cornell’s Center for Neurogenetics website. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on October 24th, 2019. In this special installment my peers Ale Cantu and Catherine Mayo join me to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the genetics film Gattaca by discussing its relevance today in the field. New episodes are released on the first and third Fridays of the month. See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

On this episode Dr. Becky Winslow, a Doctor of Clinical Pharmacy, shares her insight about pharmacogenomics. She is a Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium Member, a Registered Pharmacogenomics Education Provider and a pharmacogenomics implementation specialist as the owner of inGENEious RX, LLC. On This Episode We Discuss: Pharmacogenomics vs Pharmacogenetics Current Understanding of Pharmacogenomics Testing Available General Population Testing Areas of Healthcare Ultized Precision Medicine Approach to Prescriptions Mental Health, Cancer etc. Roadblock to Widespread Use Physicians Ability to Translate Test Results Genetic Counselors Potential Role Future of Pharmacogenomics Check out the first truly anonymous direct to consumer genetic testing company, Secret Sequence. The founders joined me on episode 105 to share about the company and what they offer consumers. For $25 off two or more DNA kits use promo code, “DNAToday” at secretsequence.com. See what else they are up to on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Have questions for them? Give them a ring at 833-Secret3. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today. New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month with some bonus episode thrown in there. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

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

This episode launches a new series within the show: crossover episodes! I’m teaming up with other genetics podcast to invite hosts of other shows to join me on DNA Today and sometimes I’ll be a guest on their show as well. Kicking off this new series is Dr. Patrick Short, the CEO of Sano Genetics. He is experienced in genomics research with a focus on large-scale genome sequencing projects and rare disorders. Previously he was at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge in England. We explore current understandings of genetics of autism and Sano Genetics’s studies. On This Episode We Discuss: Sano Genetics’ for Patients, Consumers and Researchers Eligible Participants For Sano Genetics' Studies Underlying Autism and Mathematical Ability Current Understanding of Autism Genetics Genetic Testing for Autism University of Cambridge’s Autism Research Studies Largest Study of Psychological Sex Differences and Autistic Traits This episode is one part of our conversation, to hear the other half of our conversation check out their podcast, “The Genetics Podcast”. On that episode, Dr. Patrick Short interviews me about genetic counseling and cytogenetics. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today next week on Friday September 6th. New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month with some bonus episode thrown in there, like this one! See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected]. This summer I was interviewed on a few podcasts including In EyeSight talking about impact social media’s impact on the rare diseases community and on Dr. Mara Karpel’s Your Golden Years sharing about genetic counseling and testing.

This episode launches Secret Sequence as the new sponsor for the show! Joining me on the episode are the founding team of Secret Sequence, Jason Corbiere and Austin Maier. On This Episode We Discuss Genetic Privacy: - Secret Sequence’s Genetic Testing Kits - Data Security of Genetic Tests - Major Data Breaches - GEDmatch’s Role in Identifying the Golden State Killer - Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) - Data Privacy Responsibility of Genetic Testing Companies (DTC and medical grade) - Continued Explosion of Direct To Consumer Genetic Testing (100 million consumers by 2021) - Kira’s Experience with Secret Sequence Genetic Testing Kits For $25 off two or more kits use promo code, “DNAToday” at secretsequence.com. See what else they are up to on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Have questions for them? Give them a ring at 833-Secret3. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today or go back and listen to over 100 other episodes! New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month with some bonus episode thrown in there. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

Listeners, I have a big favor to ask from all of you. The Podcast Award nomination season has begun! It’s a people’s choice type of award. In order to be in the running I need listeners like you to nominate the show. DNA Today was nominated back in 2015 and 2016. It would be such an honor to be nominated again. In order to be in the running though, I need 2 minutes of your time. It’s very simple… Go to PodcastAwards.com and enter “DNA Today” for the Science and Medicine category. That’s it! Now this closes July 31st, 2019. Don’t forget, if you can please go nominate the show if you enjoy listening! It really helps to increase visibility so other people can also benefit from learning through the show. Thanks in advance! I really appreciate the support for the show. The Camden Opioid Research Initiative has a three pronged approach as outlined below. 1) A biobank for blood and brain samples taken from people who have died from overdose as well as family members who are interested in donating. 2) A prospective clinical study of chronic pain patients to determine the interplay between genetic and biological risk factors for opioid addiction. 3) A clinical study of people currently being treated for opioid addiction to investigate what treatments work best for different genetic makeups. Three scientists from the project join me: Dr. Stefan Zajic, the scientific lead on the project. Dr. Kaitlan Baston, the director of Addiction Medicine at Cooper University Health Care. Dr. Russ Buono, a Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. On This Episode We Discuss: -Types of Genetic Testing for Opioid Susceptibility -Non-Genetic Factors to Opioid Dependence -Brain Biobank of Opioid User Tissues -Brain Differences of Opioid Users -Potential Uses of Opioid Genetic Research Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today. New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month. With a few bonus episodes here and there. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to Kira Dineen at [email protected].

On This Episode We Discuss: Services WatershedDNA Offers Motivation Behind Writing “The DNA Guide for Adoptees” Differences in Genealogical Research for Adoptees Compared to General Population Preparing to Meet New Biological Family Members Advice for DNA Testing Adoptee Related Searches DNA Testing for Children/Minors to Find Biological Relatives Insight for Adoptee’s Seeking Medical Information via DNA Testing Non-DNA Methods to Search for Lost Biological Relatives My Heritage’s DNA Quest Project for Adoptees Listen to episode #80 with My Heritage’s Rafi Mendelsohn to learn more. Since recording this project has expanded to offer more free kits! Resources for the Adoptee/Donor Community Facebook Groups: DNA Detectives and Adoption Search and Reunion AdopteeRightsLaw.com Look out for our “The DNA Guide For Adoptees” book giveaway in the next couple days on social media (links below)! Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today. New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to Kira Dineen at [email protected].

Seth Rotberg, a rare disease patient advocate and motivational speaker, joins the show to share his perspective on Huntington Disease (HD). From 2011 – 2015, Seth served on the boards for the HDSA National Youth Alliance (NYA) and HDSA Massachusetts Chapter to continue his efforts in the HD community. He became the President of the HDSA NYA in 2012 and HDSA Massachusetts Chapter in 2013, where he led a group of dedicated volunteers to plan and execute fundraising and educational events. Seth is still an active member of the Huntington Disease community and currently sits on the Board of Trustees for the Huntington’s Disease Youth Organization (HDYO). As a member of the working board, he connects young people to the proper social, emotional, and educational resources needed when coping with HD. His hope is to be a mentor for young people who face adversity by sharing how taking control of his HD journey has given him opportunity, fulfillment, and hope. On This Episode We Discuss: -How Huntington Disease Affects the Body and Mind -Seth’s Journey with Huntington Disease -Seth’s Family’ History and Experience with Huntington Disease -Genetic Testing Process and Seth’s Advice -Importance of a Support System -Inspiration Behind Seth Becoming a Patient Advocate To read and hear more from Seth check out his website, follow him on Twitter, watch his TED Talk and listen to his own podcast, Rare Unplugged. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today. New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

Happy Genetic Counseling Match Day! Today we are celebrating the genetic counseling graduate program match day by discussing how to prepare and what to expect during the first year. We also provide advice for applicants that didn’t match in this cycle and offer inspiration to apply next round. In a way this is a follow up episode from the application process discussions. If you are thinking about or planning on applying to genetic counseling grad schools check out those episodes. Episode 87 was the first part of this conversation where we discussed how to gather the experience and classes to have a competitive application. We also surveyed over 50 incoming genetic counseling students (enrolling Fall 2018) who went through the last application process, which was also the first time the Match System was used. In episode 97, the panel discussed the second portion of the application cycle: interviews, ranking, and matching. On This Episode We Discuss: Classes to Take to Fulfill Prerequisites before Enrolling Managing the Finances Loans, Financial Aid, Budgeting, and Jobs Extra Steps for International Students Healthcare, Visa, Moving Finding Housing and Roommates First Year Classes Rotations Disability and Genetic Counseling Thesis Student Mentor Program The Panel Karl Krahn is a first year genetic counseling student at Sarah Lawrence College. He earned his BS in Biology from the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada at the end of 2017. During his undergraduate career, Karl performed research in bioethics at UFV and research on food systems in Nairobi, Kenya at Aga Khan University. He volunteered at a genetic counseling office and was a mentor for his community’s youth mentorship program. His professional interests include, oncology, variant research, and, his personal favourite, the murky waters of how athletic performance is intertwined with genetics. Maria van Noordenne is from British Columbia, Canada. She earned her BS in Psychology (with a Biology focus) and a minor in Statistics, as well as her MS in Cognition and Brain Sciences from University of Victoria in 2017. She spent time her time volunteering at a transition house crisis line and at medical genetics in Victoria General Hospital. She also worked as a crisis counselor at a youth shelter in addition to contracting research projects, including a few months in Nunavut, Canada. She is excited to be completing her first year of genetic counseling at Sarah Lawrence College. Ashlyn Enokian is a first year genetic counseling student from Brighton, Michigan. She earned her BS in Biology and a minor in Criminal Justice from Grand Valley State University in 2017. Her journey into the field of genetic counseling began with advocacy work through Crisis Text Line and Help Pregnancy Crisis Aid. She worked as a genetic counseling assistant in cancer genetics at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital, pediatric genetics at the University of Michigan, and laboratory genetics at Progenity, Inc. Her professional interests include fertility, neurogenetics, and strategies to increase diversity in the field. She acts as a student representative of Sarah Lawrence College’s Class of 2020 and is a genetics graphic design intern at My Gene Counsel. Kira Dineen hosts DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast (and radio show), which was founded in 2012 and features over 100 episodes interviewing genetic counselors, patient advocates and other genetic experts. The show was nominated in the 2015 and 2016 Podcast Awards. She also hosts other healthcare podcasts including Advancing Dentistry and Insight Says: A Mental Health Podcast. Kira is the Communications Lead at My Gene Counsel, a digital genetic counseling company. She is also a member of National Society of Genetic Counselors’ Digital Ambassador Program (aka #NSGCGenePool). Kira received her in Bachelor's of Science degree in Diagnostic Genetic Sciences with a concentration in Cytogenetics at the University of Connecticut, and has a certification as a cytogenetic technologist. Along with Ashlyn, she is a student representation in Sarah Lawrence College’s Genetic Counseling Class of 2020. Interested in getting in contact with a current student at a specific school? Shoot us an email ([email protected]) and we will work our networks to connect you. Don’t hesitate, we love networking with fellow future genetic counselors! Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on May 3rd, 2019 with patient advocate and motivational speaker Seth Rotberg who shares his experience with Huntington Disease in honor of awareness month. New episodes are released on the first Fridays of the month and sometimes there are bonus episodes, like this one, on other Fridays! See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. All questions, comments, and inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

This show is a landmark episode, number 100! I want to sincerely thank all you listeners, new and old, for tuning in. It’s been such a fantastic experience over the last 7 years to share news and interviews with you all and learn along with you. I hope you’ve enjoyed listening to the shows as much as I have have enjoyed recording and producing them. Author Carl Zimmer joins me to discuss new and old hereditary concepts. He writes the Matter column for the New York Times and has contributed to The Atlantic, National Geographic, Time and Scientific America. He has won the Stephen Jay Gould Prize among many other honors for his journalism. Zimmer teaches science writing at Yale University. His books include Parasite Rex, Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea, Microcosm: E. coli and the New Science of Life, and his latest, She Has Her Mother’s Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity which we discuss on this episode. She Has Her Mother’s Laugh has been named the 2018 science book of the year by the Guardian and Amazon. It was also included in 2018 book lists on The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Review, Mental Floss, Science Friday among others. On This Episode We Discuss: Early History of our Understanding of Hereditary Ever Changing Definition of Hereditary Types of Hereditary including Vertical vs. Horizontal Percentage of Shared DNA (or lack thereof) between Relatives Human Interest in Ancestry Learn more about Carl Zimmer on his website and stay updated with his writing by following him on Twitter and Facebook. You can also check out his book, She Has Her Mother’s Laugh on Amazon as well as the book he mentioned, “The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life” by David Quammen. If you are interested in joining a genetic counseling book club check out Book Zebras! Their April book is Resurrection Lily by Amy Byer Shainman who I interviewed back in episode 25 of the show. If you enjoy this show, you might also be interested in the other healthcare podcasts I host and produce, Advancing Dentistry Podcast and Insight Says: A Mental Health Podcast. They are both monthly podcast where I interview experts in their respective fields. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on May 3rd, 2019. New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

Two leaders from the Coriell Institute for Medical Research join the show to discuss biobanking. Nahid Turan, Chief Laboratory Officer, and Alissa Resch, Chief Scientific Officer, lead separate aspects of the Institute scientific efforts. Coriell is known for its impact in the world of biobanking. If you’ve ordered biological materials in the past for research, there’s a good chance you’ve ordered from them before. In its 65 year history, Coriell has partnered with many federal, private and nonprofit organizations, offering expertise in the collection, processing, storage and distribution of biological materials, and in the process built one of the most diverse and important collections of biomaterials in the world. It’s because of their collection that endeavors like the Human Genome Project were possible and that the science of personalized medicine thrives today. On This Episode We Discuss: Definition of Biobanking and Process Sample Tissue and Species Types Number of Samples Disease Representation Approach to Finding Specific Samples Research Access and Shipment Organizations, Institutions and Projects Supplied Including the Human Genome Project and the 1,000 Genomes Project! Managing Big Bio Data To learn more about Coriell head over to their website, specifically their biobanking page. Stay updated with their latest news by following them on Twitter. Stay tuned for the next new episode on April 5th, 2019. This will be the 100th episode of DNA Today! To celebrate I interview Carl Zimmer, a popular science writer for the New York Times and has also contributed to The Atlantic, National Geographic, Time and Scientific America. He has won the Stephen Jay Gould Prize Among many other honors for his journalism. Zimmer teaches science writing at Yale University. His books include Parasite Rex, Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea, Microcosm and his latest, She Has Her Mother’s Laugh which we will be discussing on next month’s episode. So tune back in on April 5th to hear the interview! New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Any questions/inquiries are welcome and can be sent to [email protected].

To celebrate and honor Rare Disease Awareness month (February) Lydia Seiders joins me on the show. She is a volunteer Maryland State Ambassador for NORD, the National Organization for Rare Disorders, through NORD’s advocacy arm the Rare Action Network. Her daughter was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a form of bone marrow failure. This motivated Lydia to become an Ambassador for NORD. In this role, she leads about 200 network members across the state to raise awareness for approximately 600,000 patients affected by a rare disorder. Lydia leads educational initiatives and develops state-based campaigns to increase patient awareness. She partners with advocates nationwide to act on policy impacting the rare disease community. Lydia also works closely with the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation and the national bone marrow registry - Be the Match. She assists patients and families globally obtain reputable resources for bone marrow failure. Most recently she began collaborating with RARE Revolution Magazine, a dedicated free rare disease publication. She will help to share in the direction of the Rare Revolution movement. On This Episode We Discuss: Her daughter, known as #EmmaStrong, diagnosis of aplastic anemia Diagnostic journey Aplastic anemia symptoms and cause NIH’s role in Emma’s treatment Current research for aplastic anemia Lydia’s role as a state ambassador for NORD Educational initiatives and campaigns for the rare disease community NORD’s resources for parents and caregivers Advice for parents and caregivers of a loved one with a rare disease Resources Mentioned During The Show: National Organization for Rare Disorders (RareDiseases.org) RareAction.org When signing up, their system will link you to your state’s RAN by your zip code The Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation Maryland’s Rare Action Network Facebook Page RAN is active in all 50 states, listeners can find their state to get involved Be The Match (Emma’s Page) Learn how to join the bone marrow registry Learn more about Emma in this blog post part 1, part 2 and part 3. Stay updated with Lydia by following her on Twitter and connecting with her on LinkedIn. Don’t forget to raise awareness this month (and every month) for rare diseases, especially on Rare Disease Day which is on Thursday, February 28th 2019. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on March 1st. New episodes are released on the first Friday of the month. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Questions/inquiries for my guest, Lydia Seiders, or myself can be sent to [email protected]’t hesitate, we love hearing from listeners.

A panel of four incoming genetic counseling graduate schools discuss the application process. This is part two of two podcasts, discussing the second portion of the application cycle: interviews, ranking, and matching. Episode 87 was the first part of this conversation where we discussed how to gather the experience and classes to have a competitive application. We also surveyed over 50 incoming genetic counseling students (enrolling Fall 2018) who went through the last application process, which was also the first time the Match System was used. Their feedback has also been summarized on episode 87’s blog post . We hope prospective and applying students find this summary and these two episodes helpful! On This Episode We Discuss: Overall Application Timeline Schools Applied vs Interviews Invites Received Preparation Strategies for Interviews A Typically Interview Day Schedule Types of Interview Questions Methods to Keep Track of Schools/Interviews How the Match System Works Factors Used to Assess and Rank Programs Reasons for Our Number 1 Pick Match Outcomes The Panel Kira Dineen hosts DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast (and radio show), which was founded in 2012 and features nearly 100 episodes interviewing genetic counselors, patient advocates and other genetic experts. The show was nominated in the 2015 and 2016 Podcast Awards. She also hosts other healthcare podcasts including Advancing Dentistry and Insight Says: A Mental Health Podcast. Kira is the Communications Lead at My Gene Counsel, a digital genetic counseling company. She is also a member of National Society of Genetic Counselors’ Digital Ambassador Program (aka #NSGCGenePool). Kira received her Bachelor's of Science degree in Diagnostic Genetic Sciences with a concentration in Cytogenetics at the University of Connecticut. She is in Sarah Lawrence College’s Genetic Counseling Class of 2020. Brynna Nguyenton is a first year genetic counseling student at The Keck Graduate Institute. She earned her BS in Biology with a minor in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience from San Diego State University in 2016. Brynna’s professional interests include accessible healthcare, neuropsychiatric and cancer genetics, and promoting scientific literacy and education in the community. She is also the lead staff contributor of the genetic counseling blog, Maps and Genes. Outside of genetic counseling, she enjoys thrift shopping, traveling and trying new foods, and spending time outdoors with her Husky/Shepherd puppy, Kenobi. Katie Church is a member of the 2020 Genetic Counseling class from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Originally from Colorado, in 2017 she graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biology with minors in Psychology and Spanish from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Throughout undergrad she spent time volunteering with adaptive recreation and a domestic violence hotline, helping with research, shadowing various genetic counselors, and staying active in her sorority. Post graduation she worked as a research assistant in a fly genetics lab and a high school cheer coach. Brianna Van den Adel was born and raised in the small northern town of Kitimat, B.C., Canada. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Psychology at The University of Northern British Columbia in 2017. With her acceptance into the Master of Genetic Counselling program at The University of British Columbia, she looks forward to completing her degree and working towards introducing the field of genetic counselling to Prince George, and serving the northern communities of British Columbia. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on February 1st. As announced last month, the updated 2019 release schedule is new episodes on the first Friday of every month. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. Don’t forget to check out the first part of this conversation in episode 87 where we discuss how to gather the experience and classes to have a competitive application. Questions/inquiries about the application process for the four of us can be sent to [email protected]. Interested in getting in contact with a current student at a specific school? Shoot us an email and we will work our networks to try and connect you! Don’t hesitate, we love networking with fellow future genetic counselors. We look forward to seeing some of you at your interviews!

Jim Cavan, CEO and President of Backpack Health is featured on this episode. He has great passion for helping healthcare companies tackle systemic problems, and 20 years of executive health research and startup leadership experience. The development of Backpack Health is the result of several key goals of his, including improved access to and control of medical information, and less obtrusive collection of research data. Backpack Health is a mobile and cloud-based app that helps people with chronic, serious and rare health concerns better manage their health journeys. The Backpack Health mission is to empower patients by making it easy for them to access, own and control all their health information to support better health for themselves, their loved ones and their communities. Just like a real backpack, the portable, multimodal, multilingual app allows users to carry around what matters most – their personalized, comprehensive medical information and documents – in one central location. Backpack Health also provides a platform for organizations to engage patients, collect up-to-date data and build communities around the globe. On This Episode We Discuss: How Backpack Health Started Jim’s Role at Backpack Health Backpack Health’s Services for Patients and Caregivers Specific Groups to Benefit Languages and Countries Covered How Users Can Access and Edit Their Information Data Security and Sharing Backpack Health’s Role In Research Patient Advocacy and Resources Learn more on Backpack Health’s website and stay updated with them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on January 4th, 2019. This episode is part 2 of the discussion about the genetic counseling graduate school application process. In part 1 on episode #87 we discussed preparing for applications, how to apply to programs, and general advice. We also surveyed over 50 incoming students to capture more insight. I will be joined by the same panel of guest who are fellow genetic counseling students and we pick up where we left off by discussing the second half of the application process: interview, rank, and match. The show will be shifting to a new release schedule for 2019 by releasing episodes on a monthly basis on the first Friday of every month. See what else I am up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and iTunes. As always it’s great to hear from listeners, so feel free to send your questions and inquiries to [email protected].