DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast

#239 Duty To Warn with Janice Berliner

We are joined again by Janice Berliner joining us again on DNA Today. She was a guest on Episode 152 where we talked about her debut novel, Brooke’s Promise. In this episode we are chatting about her second novel, In Good Conscience, which features genetic counseling!
 
Aside from being a novelist, Janice Berliner is a board certified genetic counselor with more than 32 years of experience. In her roles as both a clinician and as the Director of the Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program at Bay Path University. Her novels derive from her expertise working with families facing the risk of disease, and the intensely personal and life-altering nature genetic illness can have on family relationships. 
On This Episode We Discuss:
How Janice’s genetic counseling experience influenced and inspired her while writing In Good Conscience
The concept of “Duty To Warn” and how this applies in the genetics space
Protections that celebrities have against people sharing their private information in public media spaces
Support and resources available to genetic counselors when facing complex situations involving the duty to warn
How advancements in genetic testing technologies and the availability of direct-to-consumer genetic testing impact the duty to warn
Tease of Janice’s next novel
Advice for applicants on matching from a program director
 
During the interview Janice mentioned a few cases of breached health data from healthcare workers. In 2007, Palisades Medical Center in New Jersey suspended 27 employees for a month for looking at George Clooney’s medical records after he had been treated for injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident (NY Times). In 2008, UCLA Medical Center fired or suspended more than 25 employees, including 6 physicians, for snooping in Britney Spears’ medical records during her stay in their psychiatric unit (LA Times). Again in 2010, UCLA Medical Center was fined $95,000 for failing to stop employees from accessing Michael Jackson's records. Two hospital workers and two contract employees were terminated (LA Times). 
 
Janice also mentioned the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) Code of Ethics. We both recommended GC Prep (one of our sponsors) for mentorship and resources on genetic counseling graduate school application process. GC Prep’s Mikayla Stoecker and Janelle Villiers were guests on Episodes #193 and #194 sharing application advice. DNA Today’s Patreon also includes one-on-one mentorship with our host Kira Dineen, you can sign up here. 
 
Kira also mentioned a few other DNA Today episodes including #234 Genetic Counseling History: 1st NSGC Conference and #235 Genetic Counseling History: ABGC Formation, 
 
To learn more about Janice and In Good Conscience, visit her ​​website, or check her out on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. 
 
We will also give away 5 copies of her book on our social media channels. Search @DNATodayPodcast to enter on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter! There’s a pic of our host, Kira, with the book on the beach, yes it’s a great beach read! Can’t wait to see if you won, buy the book here on Amazon (don’t forget to leave a review there and on Goodreads). 
 
Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on June 9th, 2023. New episodes are released every Friday. In the meantime, you can binge over 235 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes since 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel.  
 
DNA Today is hosted and produced by Kira Dineen. Our social media lead is Corinne Merlino. Our video lead is Amanda Andreoli. Our Outreach Intern is Sanya Tinaikar. Our Social Media Intern is Kajal Patel. And our Graphic Designer Ashlyn Enokian.
 
See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNAToday.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNAtoday.com. 
 
TrakGene has designed a genetics electronic health record. Here’s what it features: pedigrees, demographic data, genetics information, risk tools, and sophisticated reporting, all within a clinician designed workflow. It integrates within other clinical genetic software, databases, and hospital information systems to maintain accurate patient records. You can learn more in episodes 208, 210, and 237 of DNA Today! Use Promo code “DNATODAY” to get $800 off your subscription, that’s a discount of 80% exclusively to DNAToday listeners. Go check it out at trakgene.com. (Sponsored)
 
Did you know that among patients with documented mild cognitive decline, about one-third progress to a diagnosis of Alzhiemer’s Disease? As the Alzheimer’s and dementia field evolves, new diagnostics are being developed working to provide answers in more and more accessible ways. Quest Diagnostics is leading the way in making Alzheimer's testing accessible through assessing biomarkers like ApoE isoforms and Beta-Amyloid plaques with blood instead of spinal fluid. Learn more about Alzheimer's Disease including Quest Diagnostics’s newest risk assessments in DNA Today’s Episode 236. Learn more about Quest’s tests here. (Sponsored)
 
As a listener of DNA Today, you probably heard me talk about NIPT, non-invasive prenatal screening, that looks for extra or missing chromosome conditions during pregnancy. But did you know there is one that can also screen for recessive disorders (like cystic fibrosis) and fetal antigens? BillionToOne offers UNITY Screen, which does all this from one blood draw from a pregnant person. Visit unityscreen.com for more info. Listen to DNA Today Episode #224 Single Gene NIPT and #225 Fetal Antigen NIPT. (Sponsored) 

#238 Secondary Findings with Caralynn Wilczewski and Andrea Alvarez

We want to take a moment to express our appreciation to all our incredible listeners. We have been enjoying getting to know some of you through our Patreon. As a patron you can gain benefits that take your DNA Today experience to the next level including our exclusive monthly club, behind the scenes podcast views, input on future episodes including interview questions, one on one mentorship with me, physical merch, and more! 
 
Speaking of our patrons, we want to give a special shoutout to some awesome listeners who have already joined us: Matthew, Hannah, Lynn, Sanya, Molly, Emily, Amanda, Ash, Cristina, and Wesley. Your support means the world to us, and we couldn't be more grateful for your contribution. It helps support the show and builds our engaging community. So join us here! 
 
In this episode we are discussing secondary findings and a study exploring what they mean for the patients who receive them.
 
Joining us for this discussion is Caralynn Wilczewski who is a genetic counselor for the Reverse Phenotyping Core and the Genomic Services Research Program in the National Human Genome Research Institute in the National Institutes of Health. In her current role, she provides genetic counseling and coordinates clinical research that uses a genotype-first approach to advance the goal of predictive genomic medicine. She obtained her bachelor’s in Molecular Biology with Honors from Loyola University Chicago and her PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She then obtained a Master’s degree in Genetic Counseling from the joint program at Johns Hopkins University and the National Institutes of Health. 
 
Also joining us is Andrea Alvarez, a participant in the Genomic Services Research Program. Andrea joined a genetic sequencing study at Morehouse College and received an unexpected genetic test result which Alvarez will discuss in this episode!
 
In this episode we are discussing secondary findings, and a study exploring what they mean for the patients who receive them. Stay tuned as we will have another secondary findings installment coming soon to DNA Today!
 
On This Episode We Discuss:
Population health studies and how they help us understand the role of genetics in disease risk and prevention
Secondary findings and how someone might receive one
Opting in/out regarding the reveal of secondary findings in population health studies
What happens after someone finds out they have one of these unexpected genetic risk factors
Andrea’s experience with receiving a surprising secondary finding and how it has impacted her life
Support and next steps for people after the receive a secondary finding
The Genomic Services Research Program’s study for patients with secondary findings and what it can offer to folks who participate
How we can ensure that population health studies related to genetics are conducted in a way that is inclusive and representative of diverse populations
 
If you’d like to learn more about secondary findings, check out the ACMG Recommendations for Reporting of Incidental Findings in Clinical Exome and Genome Sequencing and this news article! 
 
Join or refer a patient to the Genomic Services Research Program (GSRP) study on secondary findings by filling out this survey. More resources below! 
 
Secondary findings resources for listeners: Clinicians  
 
List of ACMG secondary findings genes 
 
ClinGen Actionability Knowledge Repository: Search by gene or condition for brief summaries of most secondary findings conditions and risks with recommendations for surveillance, management, and treatment. 
 
ACMG ACT sheets: Short summaries of a few secondary findings genes and conditions with instructions on next steps for clinicians whose patients receive one of these results. 
 
Secondary findings resources for listeners: Patients  
 
MedlinePlus Genetics: What are secondary findings from genetic testing?
 
MedlinePlus Genetics: Patient-friendly information about genetic conditions and how genes can play a role in our health. 
 
If you’re interested in learning more about the Genomic Services Research Program and their study about secondary findings, please email them (gsrp@NIH.gov), call or text 240-408-0447, or visit genome.gov/GSRP.
 
Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on June 2nd, 2023 where we’ll be joined by Janice Berliner to discuss her latest novel, In Good Conscience, a genetics novel! New episodes are released every Friday. In the meantime, you can binge over 235 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes since 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel.  
 
DNA Today is hosted and produced by Kira Dineen. Our social media lead is Corinne Merlino. Our video lead is Amanda Andreoli. Our Outreach Intern is Sanya Tinaikar. Our Social Media Intern is Kajal Patel. And our Graphic Designer Ashlyn Enokian.
 
See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNAToday.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNAtoday.com. 
 
TrakGene has designed a genetics electronic health record. Here’s what it features: pedigrees, demographic data, genetics information, risk tools, and sophisticated reporting, all within a clinician designed workflow. It integrates within other clinical genetic software, databases, and hospital information systems to maintain accurate patient records. You can learn more in episodes 208, 210, and 237 of DNA Today! Use Promo code “DNATODAY” to get $800 off your subscription, that’s a discount of 80% exclusively to DNAToday listeners. Go check it out at trakgene.com. (Sponsored)
 
Did you know that among patients with documented mild cognitive decline, about one-third progress to a diagnosis of Alzhiemer’s Disease? As the Alzheimer’s and dementia field evolves, new diagnostics are being developed working to provide answers in more and more accessible ways. Quest Diagnostics is leading the way in making Alzheimer's testing accessible through assessing biomarkers like ApoE isoforms and Beta-Amyloid plaques with blood instead of spinal fluid. Learn more about Alzheimer's Disease including Quest Diagnostics’s newest risk assessments in DNA Today’s Episode 236. Learn more about Quest’s tests here. (Sponsored)
 
As a listener of DNA Today, you probably heard me talk about NIPT, non-invasive prenatal screening, that looks for extra or missing chromosome conditions during pregnancy. But did you know there is one that can also screen for recessive disorders (like cystic fibrosis) and fetal antigens? BillionToOne offers UNITY Screen, which does all this from one blood draw from a pregnant person. Visit unityscreen.com for more info. Listen to DNA Today Episode #224 Single Gene NIPT and #225 Fetal Antigen NIPT. (Sponsored) 

#237 Digital Tools for Cancer Outreach with Michelle Bowman

We are in the final days to sign up to our Patreon to still be eligible for our bonus physical gift, DNA Today merch! This is on top of the annual physical gift you will get if you end up picking our Chromies tier level. And yes I had a ton of fun coming up with the tier names. The top merch asked for by listeners are t-shirts, mugs, stickers, thermoses, and lanyards (mostly to wear during conferences). By becoming a patron you can influence which physical gift we end up picking and you will get your very own! Plus I am going to throw in a handwritten letter as a thank you for supporting the show. Of course there are tons of other benefits, but I know this is one that is very exciting for many listeners. The show has been around 10 years so it’s about time we have merch available! 
Shoutout to our new Patreons Molly, Emily, Cristina, Wesley , Hannah, Amanda, Lynn, Ashlyn, and Sanya! Join our Patreon community here. If you sign up by May 25th I will throw in an extra gift in the mail for you! 
This week Michelle Bowman, a cancer genetic counselor from Sydney, Australia, joins us for a conversation on how to utilize digital tools to reach patients who can benefit from cancer genetic counseling. 
 
Michelle Bowman (she/her), has been a practicing cancer genetic counselor at Western Sydney Local Health District for over 15 years. Michelle is interested in diversity, equity, inclusion and justice issues in health care and genetics, and she is also interested in emerging models of care and eHealth. Michelle holds a committee membership at eHealth NSW, which is NSW Health’s digital centre of excellence. She received her graduate degree in genetic counseling from the University of Melbourne.
On This Episode We Discuss:
How medical and genetic systems are different between countries
New and emerging models of care and eHealth technologies that are transforming the field of cancer genetic counseling
How digital tools can be utilized to reach patients who may not have access to traditional in-person genetic counseling services, particularly in rural or underserved areas
Using digital pedigree software (like TrakGene) to help address some of the challenges in providing accessible care to diverse patient populations, particularly those with complex family histories or limited access to traditional healthcare services
Improving the accuracy and completeness of family health history data with digital pedigree software and the benefits this offers for patient care
How digital pedigree software can help to promote health equity and reduce health disparities among diverse patient populations
Challenges and benefits of incorporating these digital tools into the genetic counseling process
How eHealth tools can be used to improve patient education and increase patient engagement in the genetic counseling process
Ensuring that these new approaches to genetic counseling are accessible and equitable for all patients, regardless of their socio-economic status or geographic location
Advice for patients who are considering genetic counseling and how they can best utilize the resources available to them, whether in-person or through digital platforms
 
The Centre for Genetics Education has many great resources including the Genetic Service Finder for Australia with their list of services. Public and private providers are listed on the Human Genetics Society of Australasia’s website. Check out the life insurance products she mentioned. Here are the EviQ Referral guidelines for cancer genetics she also referenced. Michelle recommends this paper about genetic testing for ovarian cancer. 
 
You can follow our guest, Michelle Bowman on ​LinkedIn.
 
Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on May 26th, 2023, where we’ll be discussing ​​secondary findings with BRCA! New episodes are released every Friday. In the meantime, you can binge over 235 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes since 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel.  
 
DNA Today is hosted and produced by Kira Dineen. Our social media lead is Corinne Merlino. Our video lead is Amanda Andreoli. Our Outreach Intern is Sanya Tinaikar. Our Social Media Intern is Kajal Patel. And our Graphic Designer Ashlyn Enokian.
 
See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNAToday.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNAtoday.com. 
 
TrakGene has designed a genetics electronic health record. Here’s what it features: pedigrees, demographic data, genetics information, risk tools, and sophisticated reporting, all within a clinician designed workflow. It integrates within other clinical genetic software, databases, and hospital information systems to maintain accurate patient records. You can learn more in Episodes 208 and 210 of DNA Today! Use Promo code “DNATODAY” to get $800 off your subscription. That’s a discount of 80% exclusively to DNA Today listeners. Go redeem this special offer at Trakgene.com. (Sponsored) 
 
As a listener of DNA Today, you probably heard me talk about NIPT, non-invasive prenatal screening, that looks for extra or missing chromosome conditions during pregnancy. But did you know there is one that can also screen for recessive disorders (like cystic fibrosis) and fetal antigens? BillionToOne offers UNITY Screen, which does all this from one blood draw from a pregnant person. Visit unityscreen.com for more info. Listen to DNA Today Episode #224 Single Gene NIPT and #225 Fetal Antigen NIPT. (Sponsored) 
 
Did you know that among patients with documented mild cognitive decline, about one-third progress to a diagnosis of Alzhiemer’s Disease? As the Alzheimer’s and dementia field evolves, new diagnostics are being developed working to provide answers in more and more accessible ways. Quest Diagnostics is leading the way in making Alzheimer's testing accessible through assessing biomarkers like ApoE isoforms and Beta-Amyloid plaques with blood instead of spinal fluid. Learn more about Alzheimer's Disease including Quest Diagnostics’s newest risk assessments in DNA Today’s Episode 236. You can use this link to learn more about Quest’s tests. (Sponsored)
 

#236 Assessing for Alzheimer’s Disease with Quest Diagnostics

If you are listening to a genetics podcast, then I know you are a nerd that also likes reading genetic books and watching genetics movies and shows. There aren’t many genetics clubs out there for nerds like us, so we launched a Patreon where we could do just that! This is the benefit that was asked for the most when we were designing our Patreon was an exclusive monthly club where we chat about a genetics book or movie or we focus on mentorship in becoming a genetic counselor (like application/interview insight and boards prep). So if you want to be in these live Zooms with me and our team, sign up now! 
 
Shoutout to our new Patrons Molly, Emily, Cristina, Wesley , Hannah, Amanda, Lynn, Ashlyn, and Sanya ! Join our Patreon community here. If you sign up by May 25th I will throw in an extra gift in the mail for you!
Join our Patreon community here. If you sign up by May 25th I will throw in an extra gift in the mail for you! 
 
Alzheimer’s is the most feared health condition of later life among retirees, ranking higher than COVID-19, cancer, heart attack and stroke (Reference). Answers from risk assessments and diagnostic testing can help clinicians and those dealing with cognitive decline in themselves or loved ones choose a path forward. As the Alzheimer’s and dementia fields evolve and as new therapies come out, new diagnostic tools are also being developed with the goal of providing answers that are accessible.
 
With all of these new diagnostic advancements, it can be challenging for clinicians to determine what to order and when. Susan Hahn, a genetic counselor and expert in the field of Alzheimer’s disease, is joining us from Quest Diagnostics to speak on the newest risk assessment advances including some recently launched tests from Quest and what patient types they make the most sense for.
 
Providing the patient perspective, we have Rebecca Chopp joining us from the University of Chicago. Rebecca was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about three years ago, and currently serves on the board of Voices of Alzheimer’s as an advocate. She’ll be joining us to speak on her experience receiving a diagnosis and how she has since learned to “live with joy”.
 
Rebecca Chopp, Ph.D., is a widely published author, editor, and academic in the fields of education, philosophy, religion, and feminism. She served as the 18th, and first female, Chancellor of the University of Denver. She was additionally President of Swarthmore College and Colgate University, and she served as Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Emory University and as a Dean at Yale University. Chopp has served on the Governing Board of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, Olin University, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and American Council on Education.  Currently, Rebecca is an Alzheimer's Advocate who serves on the Board of the Colorado Alzheimer's Association, paints classical portraits and hikes, bikes and walks Buhdy, her dog.  An ordained minister, she is currently working on a book entitled Art, Spirit, Body: Ways to Live While Dying from Alzheimer's. 
 
Susan Hahn, MS, CGC is a highly accomplished, strategic, and charismatic genetics professional who spent the past two decades initiating and leading research, outreach, education, and policy activities to facilitate and expand the responsible translation of genomic medicine in the clinical setting. She has published numerous peer-reviewed articles, encyclopedia entries and chapters. As a result of her long-standing interest in professional, public, and childhood education, she has development and administered numerous undergraduate and graduate courses, public outreach events, web resources, conferences, and print materials. As an active leader, Susan has Chaired or Co-chaired numerous committees and task forces for ABGC and NSGC. In 2014, she was President of the American Board of Genetic Counseling. Susan currently works for Quest Diagnostics as Director of Health Economics and Outcomes Research. 
 
On This Episode We Discuss:
An overview of Alzheimer's disease, how it affects the brain and cognition, and some of the early signs and symptoms
Genes implicated in Alzheimer’s disease and how they are inherited 
The relationship of the APOE gene to Alzheimer’s disease and the three alleles (e2, e3, e4) and how they correlate to risk for developing the condition
Chris Hemsworth and the APOE e4 allele
Recommendations for pursuing genetic testing and the limitations of these tests
Quest’s diagnostic blood test and future applications
Recommendations to mitigate risk in individuals that have 1 to 2 copies of the e4 version of the APOE gene 
Options for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease 
Rebecca’s diagnostic odyssey, how she has coped with her diagnosis, and how art and spirituality have aided in her positive mindset 
You can connect with our guest, Susan Hahn, on Twitter and LinkedIn. If you’re interested in learning more about Quest Diagnostics and their Alzheimer’s blood test, you can visit their website, or follow them on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. 
 
If you’re interested in learning more about the patient experience with Alzheimer’s disease, you can check out this Washington Post article featuring Rebecca Chopp that we mentioned in this episode and features Rebecca Chopp, the movie Still Alice, Alzheimer's Association, and Voices of Alzheimer’s.
 
Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on May 19th, 2023, where we’ll be exploring the utilization of digital tools to reach patients who can benefit from cancer genetic counseling. Our guest is Australian genetic counselor, Michelle Bowman.
 
Episodes are released every Friday. In the meantime, you can binge over 235 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes since 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. 
 
DNA Today is hosted and produced by Kira Dineen. Our social media lead is Corinne Merlino. Our video lead is Amanda Andreoli. Our Outreach Intern is Sanya Tinaikar. Our Social Media Intern is Kajal Patel. And our Graphic Designer Ashlyn Enokian. 
 
See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNAToday.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNAtoday.com. 
 
Want to become a genetic counselor? Looking for ways to engage with the field and boost your resume for grad school applications? Then you should check out Sarah Lawrence’s “Why Genetic Counseling Wednesday Summer Series”! Every Wednesday this June (plus the last Wednesday in May) Sarah Lawrence is hosting a series where you can interact through Zoom with genetic counselors from different specialties. It kicks off on May 31st! You can sign up at SLC.edu/DNAtoday. Again visit SLC.edu/DNAtoday to register to level up your resume for applications in the fall. (Sponsored) 
As a listener of DNA Today, you probably heard me talk about NIPT, non-invasive prenatal screening, that looks for extra or missing chromosome conditions during pregnancy. But did you know there is one that can also screen for recessive disorders (like cystic fibrosis) and fetal antigens? BillionToOne offers UNITY Screen, which does all this from one blood draw from a pregnant person. Visit unityscreen.com for more info. Listen to DNA Today Episode #224 Single Gene NIPT and #225 Fetal Antigen NIPT. (Sponsored)

#235 Genetic Counseling History: ABGC Formation

If you are one of the listeners that tune into DNA Today every week, then you definitely know by now we have launched our Patreon. This is where you can not only get bonus content from DNA Today, you can get early access to episodes before the public. You also get to influence the content of the show, this includes episode topics and guests plus pitching questions I ask during interviews, and of course I will give you a shoutout when I ask your question. Oh and if you sign up by May 25th you get a bonus physical gift! For these benefits and more you can visit our Patreon, link is in the show notes and on our website DNAToday.com.We are continuing our peek into the past! Last episode we explored the history of the genetic counseling field with Michelle Fox and Debra Collins who shared about the first annual National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) conferences. In this episode we are learning about the formation of the American Board of Genetic Counseling (aka ABGC) with Ann Walker and Ed Kloza. Ann Platt Walker, MA, LCGC has held many leadership positions including the Founding President and Director of the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC), President of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) in 1982, and has been on the Board of Directors for the American Board of Medical Genetics (ABMG), American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG), and the American Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC). During Ann’s career she held roles at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center including as the program director for the Master’s of Science in Genetic Counseling Program for over two decades. She has authored over 20 peer reviewed publications, 10 book chapters, and countless abstracts and presentations. Ann has been awarded many times through her impressive career including the Natalie Weissberger Paul National Achievement and Leadership Awards from NSGC.Ed Kloza, MS, LCGC was the first genetic counselor in Maine. He helped establish clinical genetics in Southern Maine and pioneered prenatal serum screening at the Foundation for Blood Research in Scarborough, and was a member of the team from Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island which published the first international clinical validation study of cell-free DNA screening. He was key in the development of the genetic counseling profession including as a past president of NSGC (the first, and one of only two males elected to that position), and in helping create the American Board of Genetic Counseling (which we are focusing on today). In 2000, Ed was honored with the Natalie Weissberger Paul National Achievement Award. Currently Ed is the genetics education consultant for the New England Regional Genetics Network (NERGN) and is an adjunct Professor at Bay Path University with their graduate Genetic Counseling program.On This Episode We Discuss:The ABGC versus the NSGC and which came first!The early days of board examsWhat prompted the creation of the ABGC in 1992Challenges in forming ABGCThe original goals of ABGC as an organizationThe first ABGC president and other key playersWhen ABGC began to accredit genetic counseling programsEstablishing practice-based competenciesIf you want to learn more about the history of the GC field, check out Episode 136 with Linda Robinson . Episode 31 with Robin Schwartz also gives a great overview of the field. You can learn more about ABGC by heading to their website, or by following them on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on May 12th, 2023, where we’ll be discussing risk assessment advances for Alzheimer’s disease! New episodes are released every Fridays. In the meantime, you can binge over 235 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes since 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. DNA Today is hosted and produced by Kira Dineen. Our social media lead is Corinne Merlino. Our video lead is Amanda Andreoli. Our Outreach Intern is Sanya Tinaikar. Our Social Media Intern is Kajal Patel. And our Graphic Designer Ashlyn Enokian.See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNAToday.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNAtoday.com. Want to become a genetic counselor? Looking for ways to engage with the field and boost your resume for grad school applications? Then you should check out Sarah Lawrence’s “Why Genetic Counseling Wednesday Summer Series”! Every Wednesday this June (plus the last Wednesday in May) Sarah Lawrence is hosting a series where you can interact through Zoom with genetic counselors from different specialties. It kicks off on May 31st! You can sign up at SLC.edu/DNAtoday. Again visit SLC.edu/DNAtoday to register to level up your resume for applications in the fall. (Sponsored)As many of you know through podcasting I have become an entrepreneur including consulting for other podcasts. Since I don't have a business degree I have learned a lot through podcasts like Porch Talks. The inspiration to start this show was from the host Melissa Bradley who wanted to inform, instruct, and inspire fellow entrepreneurs, especially in people who identify as women, people of color, immigrants, veterans, people with disabilities, and folks in the LGBTQIA+ community (which drew me in initially). So if you are thinking about starting a business or just love hearing stories about how businesses grow, Porch Talks is for you. (Sponsored)Surely you have heard of whole genome sequencing, but what about rapid and ultra-rapid whole genome sequencing? This is an emerging method of diagnosing genetic conditions for quick management. PerkinElmer Genomics offers this incredibly valuable test, which can be life saving for ill babies and kids. Learn more in our full episode (#226) with PerkinElmer Genomics. You can visit perkinelmergenomics.com for more information. (Sponsored)

#234 Genetic Counseling History: 1st NSGC Conference

Congratulations to everyone who matched with a genetic counseling program last week! Special shoutout to our Communications Lead, Corinne Merlino, for matching with the University of Pennsylvania! Check out DNA Today Episode #101, Genetic Counseling Match Day, to prepare you to start grad school. We also provide advice for applicants that didn’t match in this cycle and offer inspiration to apply next round.In the spirit of recent matches, upcoming graduation, and DNA Day we thought it was time for another giveaway! This time we are giving away GC Genius' top two study materials: their study guide and flashcards featuring the top 100 genetic conditions to know. Enter on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn before May 2nd! You can even enter on all three to increase your chances of winning. Fun Fact: The flashcards were co-created by Ashlyn Enokian, MS, CGC, who designed our DNA Today logo! She is also a genetic counselor featured on DNA Today Episodes 101, 111, 135, and 212.Can’t wait to see if you won? Use the code “DNATODAY” for a discount in the GC Genius Etsy store through May 31st, 2023. —---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------We are going back in time in this episode of DNA Today to explore the history of the genetic counseling field. In part 1 of this 2-part series, we are focusing on the first annual conference for the National Society of Genetic Counselors which was in 1981, 54 years ago! Joining me are two rockstars in the field of GC, Michelle Fox and Debra Collins!Michelle Fox, MS, CGC, is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Pediatrics at UCLA. For over 30 years, Michelle coordinated the UCLA Genetics Clinic, providing genetic counseling services to both pediatric and adult populations, including the UCLA Predictive Huntington Disease Testing Program, early onset Alzheimer and genetic neurodegenerative disorders. She is also a faculty member of the UCLA Genetic Counseling Program. Michelle served on the Secretary’s Advisory Committee for Heritable Disorders of Newborns and Children Follow-up and Treatment sub-committee and on the National Society of Genetic Counselors Public Policy Newborn Screening Task Force in 2014. She was a member of the Western States Regional Genetics Network from 2010-2013. Michelle served on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Hearing Loss Guidelines Committee (2013), the American Board of Genetic Counseling Engagement Task Force (2016) and the National Society of Genetic Counselors Conflict of Interest Task Force (2017-2018). She currently serves on the Mt. Sinai Medical Center Genetic Counseling Program Advisory Board, UCLA Genetic Counseling Program Advisory Board and was a member at large of the National Society of Genetic Counselors board of directors (2019-2020). Michelle was awarded the Natalie Weissberger Paul Lifetime Achievement Award 2022 recognizing her contributions to the field of genetic counseling!Debra Collins, M.S., CGC, has been a genetic counselor at University of Kansas Medical Center for four decades. She has been working there as a genetic counselor for about four decades and her current roles include being a hereditary cancer genetic counselor, with special expertise in von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, and advisor to the genetics and neoplasia medical school curricula.. She has been an active member of the NSGC, including being a past President, serving on the Board of Directors, the Professional Status Committee and currently in the Cancer Genetics Special Interest Group. In 2006, she was awarded the Jane Engelberg Memorial Fellowship Special Award for an online course on grant writing for genetic counselors. Collins also had leadership roles in organizations such as the American Society of Human Genetics, The American Board of Genetic Counseling, and many family support / advocacy groups. Debra graduated from Sarah Lawrence College, the first genetic counseling program, with her Master’s Degree in Human Genetics. She has enjoyed working as a genetic counselor every day: providing education, advocating, counseling, translating complex information, and making a difference in the lives of patients and families. On This Episode We Discuss:Why it’s important to understand the history of the genetic counseling fieldWhy the year 1969 is an important one for the professionThe first annual education (NSGC) conferenceThe role of the March of DimesThe number of people who attended the first conferenceThe next few annual education conferencesWhat has changed since thenNSGC conferences todayIf you want to learn more about the history of the GC field, check out Episode 136 with Linda Robinson . Episode 31 with Robin Schwartz also gives a great overview of the field. Stay tuned for part 2 of this series with Ed Kloza and Ann Walker where we will focus on the Formation of the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC).You can learn more about the past, present, and future of NSGC conferences here!Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on May 5th, 2023 where we’ll be continuing this history of genetic counseling discussion by chatting about the formation of the ABGC with Ed Kloza and Ann Walker. New episodes are released every Friday. In the meantime, you can binge over 235 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes since 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. DNA Today is hosted and produced by Kira Dineen. Our social media lead is Corinne Merlino. Our video lead is Amanda Andreoli. Our Outreach Intern is Sanya Tinaikar. Our Social Media Intern is Kajal Patel. And our Graphic Designer Ashlyn Enokian.See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNAToday.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNAtoday.com. Want to become a genetic counselor? Looking for ways to engage with the field and boost your resume for grad school applications? Then you should check out Sarah Lawrence’s “Why Genetic Counseling Wednesday Summer Series”! Every Wednesday this June (plus the last Wednesday in May) Sarah Lawrence is hosting a series where you can interact through Zoom with genetic counselors from different specialties. It kicks off on May 31st! You can sign up at SLC.edu/DNAtoday. Again visit SLC.edu/DNAtoday to register to level up your resume for applications in the fall. (Sponsored)Are you interested in the rapidly growing field of genetics and want to learn more about clinical genetics, molecular genetics, and laboratory science? Then you should check out the Genetic Assistant Online Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine!By taking part in the program, you will be joining both national and international learners with the same passion for genetics. Interact directly with your Johns Hopkins instructors and fellow learners throughout the program. Limited spots are available for the summer cohort starting June 5th, 2023. Click here for more information. (Sponsored)As many of you know through podcasting I have become an entrepreneur including consulting for other podcasts. Since I don't have a business degree I have learned a lot through podcasts like Porch Talks. The inspiration to start this show was from the host Melissa Bradley who wanted to inform, instruct, and inspire fellow entrepreneurs, especially in people who identify as women, people of color, immigrants, veterans, people with disabilities, and folks in the LGBTQIA+ community (which drew me in initially). So if you are thinking about starting a business or just love hearing stories about how businesses grow, Porch Talks is for you. (Sponsored)

#233 At-Home Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening with Juno Diagnostics

We are officially launching our Patreon next week on DNA Day, April 25th! To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the discovery of the structure of DNA and 20th anniversary of the completion of the human genome. By becoming a Patreon supporter you can receive benefits like joining our exclusive genetics book/movie club, mentorship sessions with me, even being on an episode of DNA Today! If you sign up as a Patreon supporter in the next month (by May 25th) we will throw in an extra physical gift, a piece of DNA Today merch. We launch on DNA Day (April 25th) so you can celebrate our genetics holiday by becoming one of our first patrons then! As a prenatal genetic counselor, our host, Kira Dineen, is very intrigued to learn all about the new advances in non-invasive prenatal screening or NIPS. To see what’s new in at-home NIPS we are joined by experts from Juno Diagnostics (JunoDx), Katie Sagaser and Allison Rodgers!Katie Sagaser is the Director of Genetic Counseling at Juno Diagnostics. Katie’s team provides telehealth, prenatal genetic counseling services for patients undergoing Juno’s Hazel™ Non-Invasive Prenatal Screen – the first at-home, capillary-based NIPS for fetal aneuploidy. Prior to joining JunoDx, Katie was an assistant professor of Gynecology & Obstetrics in the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Katie’s professional interests center on equitable access to genetic testing and access to comprehensive reproductive health care throughout the lifespan. Most recently, she was the lead author on NSGC’s Practice Guidelines for Expanded (Equitable) Carrier Screening. A member of both the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine Reproductive Health Advisory Group and NSGC's Public Policy Committee, Katie is also actively engaged in public policy work surrounding reproductive health and genetics. At Juno, Katie is passionate about using social and digital media to scale access to high-quality information on genetics and reproductive medicine.Dr. Allison Rodgers is a double board-certified OB-GYN and fertility doctor. She is currently the Director of Education at Fertility Centers of Illinois, a US Fertility Practice; additionally, she serves on the Clinical Advisory Board for Juno Diagnostics. Dr. Rodgers' personal experiences with secondary infertility and pregnancy loss inform her unique insights into reproductive medicine, contributing to compassionate and individualized patient care. She is published in top medical journals covering endometriosis, tubal factor infertility, in vitro fertilization, and donor sperm. Her special interests include in-vitro fertilization, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, unexplained infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, premature ovarian insufficiency, LGTBQIA+ fertility, reciprocal IVF, and transgender fertility. She completed her residency at Case Western Reserve-Metrohealth Medical Center Cleveland Clinic, followed by a fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. You may recognize Dr. Rodgers from Tik Tok and Instagram where she shares fertility education with more than 1.3 million followers!On This Episode We Discuss:The inspiration behind JunoDx and their goal/missionWhat drew Katie and Allison to JunoDxHow JunoDx’s technology/approach differs from other companies to successfully perform NIPS on a much smaller sample volumeHow does Juno’s at-home approach to sample collection for NIPS increases accessibility, particularly those in underserved or remote areasThe difference between JunoDx’s 2 NIPS, Hazel and BirchDetermining sex of the baby with Birch NIPSConditions included in the more comprehensive Hazel screeningThe process of ordering Hazel or Birch NIPS, collecting the sample, to learning the resultsThe positive predictive value and negative predictive values of the tests, what these values mean, and how they compare to other NIPS and other at-home NIPSThe evolution and future of at-home NIPS tests, particularly related to advancements in technology and genetic testingTo learn more about Juno Dx, visit their website and Youtube and Pinterest pages. You can also follow Juno Dx on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. And be sure to follow Dr. Rodgers on Tik Tok and Instagram, and Katie Sagaser on Twitter and Instagram!Further Reading:Capillary blood collection: exploring a new method to promote noninvasive prenatal screening access "An exploration of methods to enable equitable access to non-invasive prenatal screening""Optimizing blood collection, transport and storage conditions for cell free DNA increases access to prenatal testing""Noninvasive prenatal detection of sex chromosomal aneuploidies by sequencing circulating cell-free DNA from maternal plasma""Women In Wellness: Katie Sagaser of JunoDx On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing" Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on April 28th, 2023, where we’ll be going back in time to explore the history of the genetic counseling field. We are focusing on the first annual conference for genetic counselors which was in 1981, 54 years ago! Joining us for this conversation are two rockstars in the field of GC, Debra Collins & Michelle Fox! New episodes are released every Friday. In the meantime, you can binge over 230 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes since 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. DNA Today is hosted and produced by Kira Dineen. Our social media lead is Corinne Merlino. Our video lead is Amanda Andreoli. Our Outreach Intern is Sanya Tinaikar. Our Social Media Intern is Kajal Patel. And our Graphic Designer Ashlyn Enokian.See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNAToday.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNAtoday.com. Are you interested in the rapidly growing field of genetics and want to learn more about clinical genetics, molecular genetics, and laboratory science? Then you should check out the Genetic Assistant Online Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine!By taking part in the program, you will be joining both national and international learners with the same passion for genetics. Interact directly with your Johns Hopkins instructors and fellow learners throughout the program. Limited spots are available for the summer cohort starting June 5th, 2023. Click here for more information. (Sponsored)Want to become a genetic counselor? Looking for ways to engage with the field and boost your resume for grad school applications? Then you should check out Sarah Lawrence’s “Why Genetic Counseling Wednesday Summer Series”! Every Wednesday this June (plus the last Wednesday in May) Sarah Lawrence is hosting a series where you can interact through Zoom with genetic counselors from different specialties. It kicks off on May 31st! You can sign up at SLC.edu/DNAtoday. Again visit SLC.edu/DNAtoday to register to level up your resume for applications in the fall. (Sponsored)As many of you know through podcasting I have become an entrepreneur including consulting for other podcasts. Since I don't have a business degree I have learned a lot through podcasts like Porch Talks. The inspiration to start this show was from the host Melissa Bradley who wanted to inform, instruct, and inspire fellow entrepreneurs, especially in people who identify as women, people of color, immigrants, veterans, people with disabilities, and folks in the LGBTQIA+ community (which drew me in initially). So if you are thinking about starting a business or just love hearing stories about how businesses grow, Porch Talks is for you. (Sponsored)

#232 Entrepreneurship in Genetics with Matt Tschirgi

We are thrilled to be launching our Patreon very soon. It might be on a genetics holiday, I’ll let you figure that one out. In the meantime we would appreciate your insight on what you want from the Patreon. It’s your last chance to fill out our survey so that we will offer the benefits you want. You can access the 60 second survey here. Maybe you really want DNA Today merch or would love to have one on one mentorship with me. Maybe you have your own idea! Whatever your thoughts are, get them in by April 21st, 2023! Thanks for helping to develop our Patreon. On this episode, genetic counselor and entrepreneur, Matt Tschirgi, shares insights he has learned from running his own company and a survey he sent out to fellow entrepreneurs in the field. My guest today is a fellow genetic counselor entrepreneur, Matt Tschirgi! Matt (he/him) performs contract work through his company, Genetix Consulting, LLC, in addition to being employed at a commercial lab. He has more than 15 years of combined experience in clinical and industry genetic counseling. Matt’s professional interests include prenatal genetics; academic and industry partnerships; and professional issues such as continuing education, multi-state licensure, and incorporating genetic counseling assistants in both clinical and industry settings. He earned his BS degree from Washington State University, and his MS in genetic counseling from University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Last year, Matt put a call out on Twitter and LinkedIn to fellow genetic counselors who are entrepreneurs to share their experiences for a student lecture he was putting together. This call generated a lot of interest and tons of responses, many of which we’ll be discussing in this episode!On this episode we discuss:The origin of LLC Genetix Consulting and the services they offerGenetic counseling skills that are transferable to being an entrepreneurCharging as an entrepreneur in genetics (fee ranges and payment models) Types of services that people provide (i.e., medical writing and editing, project management, variant curation, career/life/personality coaching, and more!)Challenges that people have facedWhat people love most about their businessesAdvice on getting your business started!If you’re interested in learning more about entrepreneurship and consulting in genetic counseling, we highly encourage you to follow Matt on Twitter, and check out these slides.Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on April 21st, 2023 where we’ll be discussing at-home non-invasive prenatal screening with JunoDx! New episodes are released every Friday. In the meantime, you can binge over 230 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes since 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. DNA Today is hosted and produced by Kira Dineen. Our social media lead is Corinne Merlino. Our video lead is Amanda Andreoli. Our Outreach Intern is Sanya Tinaikar. Our Social Media Intern is Kajal Patel. And our Graphic Designer Ashlyn Enokian.See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNAToday.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNAtoday.com. Want to become a genetic counselor? Looking for ways to engage with the field and boost your resume for grad school applications? Then you should check out Sarah Lawrence’s “Why Genetic Counseling Wednesday Summer Series”! Every Wednesday this June (plus the last Wednesday in May) Sarah Lawrence is hosting a series where you can interact through Zoom with genetic counselors from different specialties. It kicks off on May 31st! You can sign up at SLC.edu/DNAtoday. Again visit SLC.edu/DNAtoday to register to level up your resume for applications in the fall. (Sponsored)As a listener of DNA Today, you probably heard me talk about NIPT, non-invasive prenatal screening, that looks for extra or missing chromosome conditions during pregnancy. But did you know there is one that can also screen for recessive disorders (like cystic fibrosis) and fetal antigens? BillionToOne offers UNITY Screen, which does all this from one blood draw from a pregnant person. Visit unityscreen.com for more info. Listen to DNA Today Episode #224 Single Gene NIPT and #225 Fetal Antigen NIPT. (Sponsored)As many of you know through podcasting I have become an entrepreneur including consulting for other podcasts. Since I don't have a business degree I have learned a lot through podcasts like Porch Talks. The inspiration to start this show was from the host Melissa Bradley who wanted to inform, instruct, and inspire fellow entrepreneurs, especially in people who identify as women, people of color, immigrants, veterans, people with disabilities, and folks in the LGBTQIA+ community (which drew me in initially). So if you are thinking about starting a business or just love hearing stories about how businesses grow, Porch Talks is for you. (Sponsored)

#231 ChatGPT and AI In Genetics with Daniel Uribe

Have you heard? We are launching a Patreon! For those that are not familiar with Patreon, it’s a platform that allows creators (like podcasters) to offer their followers more content, experiences, and even gifts. We have an exciting list of ideas on what we will offer you listeners, but we want you to make the final decisions on which benefits we end up offering you. So get your votes in through our survey. It only takes 60 seconds to fill out. Thank you SO much!!In this episode, we explore the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and genetics, focusing on the potential impact of AI policies and regulations on the field. Why do our show notes look different this week? We decided to stay on brand for this episode and use AI (shoutout Podium) to write this content. We discuss the rise of AI chatbots like ChatGPT and BioGPT and their potential to transform healthcare and the genomics industry by assisting humans in interpreting vast amounts of genetic data. We delve into the importance of using AI-powered tools like ChatGPT to enhance our understanding of genomic data while maintaining privacy, and we discuss The Family Vault, which helps parents maintain ownership and control of their babies' genomic data. We also explore the challenges of implementing AI solutions in the clinical genomics industry, focusing on the importance of data provenance, quality, and privacy. Join us as we examine the future of data management in a hybrid world of centralized and decentralized databases, and learn about the exciting developments in the world of genetics.Daniel Uribe is the father of a rare disease child. He is an expert in cybersecurity, data laws, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and genomics. Daniel is the inventor of BioNFTs to tokenize revocable digital rights over human biosamples and derived biodata based on data privacy laws to enable ethical AI training in genomics and healthcare.Top 10 Keypoints:AI chatbots like ChatGPT and BioGPT are transforming healthcare and genomics by assisting humans in interpreting vast amounts of genetic data.AI policies and regulations, such as the AI Bill of Rights, are being proposed to ensure responsible and ethical AI systems in healthcare and genomics.Data used to train AI must be accurate, properly presented, and free from bias to avoid producing misleading or harmful results.AI-powered tools like ChatGPT can help individuals explore their genomic data while maintaining privacy and control over their genetic information.The Family Vault enables parents to maintain ownership and control of their babies' genomic data while collaborating with researchers in federal programs.Data provenance, quality, and privacy are essential when implementing AI solutions in the clinical genomics industry.A hybrid world of centralized and decentralized databases is emerging for data management in genomics, with a focus on digital hygiene and controlled access to sensitive genetic information.Creating sub-datasets and limiting access to relevant data for specific purposes can help maintain control over genetic data while contributing to research and receiving personalized medical care.Trustable, certified genetic testing is crucial as AI continues to play a larger role in healthcare and genomics.The future of genetics will involve exciting developments in the understanding and interpretation of DNA data, with AI technologies playing a significant role in augmenting human knowledge and capabilities.Episode Chapters:AI in Genetics and HealthcareThe Best of Both WorldsCentralization vs Decentralization in Digital DataExploring the Wonders of DNAChapter Summaries:(0:00:02) - AI in Genetics and Healthcare (16 Minutes)In this episode, we explore the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in genetics and the potential impact of AI policies and regulations on the field. Our guest, Daniel Uribe, is an expert in cybersecurity, data laws, NFTs, and genomics. He discusses the rise of AI chatbots like ChatGPT and BioGTP and their potential impact on healthcare and the genomics industry. AI has the potential to assist humans in interpreting large amounts of genetic data and augment human knowledge. However, the data used to train AI must be accurate, properly presented, and free from bias.(0:15:47) - The Best of Both Worlds (10 Minutes)In this portion of the conversation, we delve into the potential of AI-powered tools such as Chat GPT to enhance the understanding of our genomic data while maintaining privacy, enabling individuals to make informed decisions about their health. The Family Vault is discussed as a means to help parents maintain ownership and control of their babies' genomic data, while still collaborating with researchers in federal programs. The conversation also touches on the importance of decentralized data storage and privacy-preserving technologies for protecting sensitive genetic information from hackers and unauthorized access'(0:26:03) - Centralization vs Decentralization in Digital Data (6 Minutes)In this part of the discussion, we examine the future of data management in a hybrid world of centralized and decentralized databases, focusing on the importance of digital hygiene and controlled access to sensitive genetic information. By creating sub-datasets and limiting access to only the relevant data for specific purposes, individuals can maintain control over their genetic data while still contributing to research and receiving personalized medical care. We also touch on the potential implications of genetic data on insurance pricing and the importance of trustable, certified genetic testing as AI continues to play a larger role in the field'Learn more about Genobank.io here. You can also check out this DNA Exchange article that Kira read in preparation for this interview. Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on April 14th, 2023! New episodes are released every Friday. In the meantime, you can binge over 230 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes since 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. DNA Today is hosted and produced by Kira Dineen. Our social media lead is Corinne Merlino. Our video lead is Amanda Andreoli. Our Outreach Intern is Sanya Tinaikar. Our Social Media Intern is Kajal Patel. And our Graphic Designer Ashlyn Enokian.See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNAToday.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNAtoday.com. Juno Diagnostics has developed the next generation of non-invasive prenatal tests so that all pregnant people can access a higher standard of care. Juno Diagnostics is the only genetic testing company on the market that performs NIPS for common aneuploidies on blood samples from a finger stick instead of a traditional venous blood draw. That means you collect your sample on your own time, at home, and still have NIPS at a CLIA laboratory! Juno’s Hazel™ NIPS screens for common chromosome variations seen in pregnancy, such as Down syndrome or trisomy 21, trisomy 13, and trisomy 18 – in addition to testing for fetal sex. You can order this test yourself, or have your healthcare provider order for you. Head to JunoDx.com and use the code "DNATODAY” for 10% off! Keep your eye out for our full episode interview with experts from Juno Dx including fellow genetic counselor Katie Sagaser and Dr. Allison Rodgers. In the meantime, check out JunoDx.com to learn more about Hazel and their other test Birch (which tests just for the sex of your baby). (Sponsored)Surely you have heard of whole genome sequencing, but what about rapid and ultra-rapid whole genome sequencing? This is an emerging method of diagnosing genetic conditions for quick management. PerkinElmer Genomics offers this incredibly valuable test, which can be life saving for ill babies and kids. Learn more in our full episode (#226) with PerkinElmer Genomics. You can visit perkinelmergenomics.com for more information. (Sponsored)As many of you know through podcasting I have become an entrepreneur including consulting for other podcasts. Since I don't have a business degree I have learned a lot through podcasts like Porch Talks. The inspiration to start this show was from the host Melissa Bradley who wanted to inform, instruct, and inspire fellow entrepreneurs, especially in people who identify as women, people of color, immigrants, veterans, people with disabilities, and folks in the LGBTQIA+ community (which drew me in initially). So if you are thinking about starting a business or just love hearing stories about how businesses grow, Porch Talks is for you. (Sponsored)

#230 Cancer Pharmacogenetics with Dr. Jamie Fettig

As you may have heard, we are launching a Patreon! For those that don’t know what Patreon is, it’s a platform that allows creators (like podcasters) to offer their followers more content, experiences, and even gifts. We have a survey that will be open for a limited time so get your input in now so we can provide the benefits you want. Maybe that’s a one-on-one Zoom with me for mentorship or a genetics book/movie club or an appearance on the podcast! Let us know so we can make sure to offer it. Thanks for all your support for the podcast over the years. My guest today is Dr. Jamie Fettig, the Founder and CEO of TruGene Diagnostics. We are chatting about a breakthrough in eliminating variants of unknown significance - especially in relation to companion diagnostic tests and pharmacogenetics in oncology. Dr. Jamie Fettig is the Founder and CEO of TruGene Diagnostics, which is eliminating variants of unknown significance - especially in relation to companion diagnostic tests and pharmacogenetics in oncology. He graduated from Palmer University. Dr. Fettig previously worked in private practice and then transitioned into manufacturing and selling medical equipment. He also worked as a coach and trainer to fellow doctors. On This Episode We Discuss:Defining variants of unknown significance (VUS), pharmacogenetics and companion diagnosticsWhat TruGene Diagnostics doesThe GiggaAssayHow knowing if a breast cancer is HER2+ can help inform medications that people should be prescribedVUS in HER2 Tyrosine Kinase RegionWhat people should do if they get HER2+ cancer or their doctor wants to do a biopsy thinking it might be HER2+How cancer survival rates are impacted by utilizing precision medicine approaches with drugsHow TruGene Diagnostics’ test differs from other PGx tests or Precision MedsHow pharmacogenomics can increase the efficacy of clinical trialsCheck out Dr. Fettig’s papers:Heligenics: fulfilling the promise of the functional genome to enable precision medicine (March, 2023)Data Supporting a saturation mutagenesis assay for Tat-driven transcription with the GigaAssay (September 2022)GigaAssay – a high-throughput assay system for molecular functions and cell processes (July 2021)Check out DNA Today Episode 134 that Kira mentioned during this episode; it’s with guest Dr. Kat Arney about cancer evolution. You can also stream other episodes about pharmacogenomics including Episode #108 with Becky Winslow, Episode #174 with Gregory Kellog, and last week’s Episode #229 with Avni Santani! Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Today on April 7th, 2023, where we’ll be discussing ChatGPT and AI In Genetics with Daniel Uribe of GenoBank! New episodes are released every Friday. In the meantime, you can binge over 225 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes since 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel. DNA Today is hosted and produced by Kira Dineen. Our social media lead is Corinne Merlino. Our video lead is Amanda Andreoli. Our Outreach Intern is Sanya Tinaikar. Our Social Media Intern is Kajal Patel. And our Graphic Designer Ashlyn Enokian.See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNAToday.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNAtoday.com. Surely you have heard of whole genome sequencing, but what about rapid and ultra-rapid whole genome sequencing? This is an emerging method of diagnosing genetic conditions for quick management. PerkinElmer Genomics offers this incredibly valuable test, which can be life saving for ill babies and kids. Learn more in our full episode (#226) with PerkinElmer Genomics. You can visit perkinelmergenomics.com for more information. (Sponsored)Juno Diagnostics has developed the next generation of non-invasive prenatal tests so that all pregnant people can access a higher standard of care. Juno Diagnostics is the only genetic testing company on the market that performs NIPS for common aneuploidies on blood samples from a finger stick instead of a traditional venous blood draw. That means you collect your sample on your own time, at home, and still have NIPS at a CLIA laboratory! Juno’s Hazel™ NIPS screens for common chromosome variations seen in pregnancy, such as Down syndrome or trisomy 21, trisomy 13, and trisomy 18 – in addition to testing for fetal sex. You can order this test yourself, or have your healthcare provider order for you. Head to JunoDx.com and use the code "DNATODAY” for 10% off! Keep your eye out for our full episode interview with experts from Juno Dx including fellow genetic counselor Katie Sagaser and Dr. Allison Rodgers. In the meantime, check out JunoDx.com to learn more about Hazel and their other test Birch (which tests just for the sex of your baby). (Sponsored)