#111: NSGC 2019 Recap

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 hosts other healthcare podcasts including Working For Health, Advancing Dentistry, and Insight Says: A Mental Health Podcast. Kira is a member of National Society of Genetic Counselors’ Digital Ambassador Program (aka #NSGCGenePool). She received her in Bachelor's of Science degree in Diagnostic Genetics with a Cytogenetics concentration 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.

Want to learn more about Sarah Lawrence College’s Genetic Counseling Program? Come to our open house this Friday (November 15th) from 6-8pmET.

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 info@DNApodcast.com.