Genetic Counseling Research Symposium 2024
Welcome
Hosted by the Master of Genetic Counseling degree program at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and the Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, the inaugural Genetic Counseling Research Symposium will feature talks from guest speakers and presentations from the Vandy MGC class of 2024, the program’s research fellows, and the first participant in the new Advanced Research Training for Genetic Counselors (ART-GC).
Friday, April 5, 2024
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
VU Light Hall 202
Register by March 22, 2024
Featured Speakers
Robin Hayeems, PhD
Dr. Hayeems is an associate professor at the University of Toronto and scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. She studies the delivery, evaluation and governance of genomic screening and diagnostic tools in the prenatal, newborn, and early childhood periods.
Jehannine Austin, PhD, MSc
Dr. Austin is the Canada Research Chair in Translational Psychiatric Genomics at the University of British Columbia. They use a clinical genetics perspective to inform development of novel interventions that can improve outcomes for individuals with psychiatric disorders and support their families.
Symposium Agenda
Welcome Session
- 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. – Breakfast and Registration
- 9:00 a.m. – Introduction to Symposium Theme & Schedule by Martha Dudek, MS & Opening Remarks by Gillian Hooker, PhD.
Session 1: Student Presentations and Invited Guest Speaker
- 9:15 a.m. – Guest speaker Robin Hayeems, PhD
- 10:15 – 10:30 a.m. – Break
- 10:30 – 10:50 a.m. – Cecilia Kessler, introduction by Mackenzie Mosera, presentation and questions
- 10:50 – 11:10 a.m. – Lianna Paul, introduction by Lucas Richter, presentation and questions
- 11:10 – 11:30 a.m. – Mikaela Bradley, introduction by Emily McQuillen, presentation and questions
- 11:30 – 11:50 a.m. – Joan Kornkven, introduction by Terry Jo Bichell, presentation and questions
Lunch
- 12:00 – 1:15 p.m.- Lunch
Session 2: Student Presentations and Invited Guest Speaker
- 1:15 – 1:35 p.m. – Makenna Martin, introduction by Kate Mittendorf, presentation and questions
- 1:35 – 1:55 p.m. – Serena Fleming, introduction by JaLisa Decker, presentation and questions
- 1:55 – 2:15 p.m. – Mary Hurley, introduction by Katie Lang, presentation and questions
- 2:15 – 2:30 p.m. – Break
- 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. – Guest speaker Jeahannine Austin, PhD
Session 3: FIGOR & ART-GC Scholar Presentations
- 3:30 – 4:00 p.m. – Lucas Richter, MM, CGC
- 4:00 – 4:25 p.m. – Jill Slamon, MA, MS, CGC
- 4:25 – 4:45 p.m. – Toni Lewis, MS
Wrap Up
- 4:45 – 5:00 p.m. – Vanderbilt Genetics Institute Director Nancy Cox, PhD
Reception
- 5:00 -5:45 p.m. – Reception, Light Hall north lobby
About
Support for the symposium is included in grant funding (1R25HG012915) awarded to MGC Director Martha Dudek and VGI Director Nancy Cox, PhD, in 2023 by the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health to establish a research fellowship for genetic counselors that will prepare them to contribute more fully to the advancement of personalized medicine.