Genetic Counseling Program
Class of 2009

Where are you from? 
I am from Canton, Michigan, which is between Detroit and Ann Arbor.

What did you get your undergraduate degree?  
My undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) and is in Biological Psychology and Cognitive Science and I minored in Biology.

What are you research interests?
Right now, my research interests are all over the place.  I am starting to hone in on a thesis project and one of the areas that is most interesting to me deals with direct to consumer genetic testing.  It would be interesting to learn about how physicians view these tests and what they tell their patients about these tests.  I would also like to know about how the general population views these tests and what the marketing behind them has led them to believe about what they can and cannot tell people.

What attracted you to the Genetic Counseling Program?
Genetic counseling combines my interests in genetics and psychology unlike any other field can.  While I get to learn about genetics and keep up with this ever-evolving field, I get to apply it to the real world by helping people understand how genetics effects them and support them through some of the most difficult times of their lives.

The program at Northwestern exposes students to a wide variety of patients and kinds of cases by taking advantage of the diverse population of Chicago and working with the medical centers throughout the community.

Since many people have never heard of genetic counseling, they don’t know a lot about the demographics of the field, which is comprised primarily of women.  As such, I am the only male in our program, which has provided me with a number of unique experiences and made me a minority for the first time in my life.  Aside from the academic and clinical experiences I have had through the program, I will certainly be able to take a lot of what I have learned from interacting with my classmates into other aspects of my life.

How would you describe the FSM faculty?  
The faculty in our program does an excellent job.  They are always available to answer our questions (academic or otherwise) and teach in a fashion that shows us direct applications to the kinds of work we will be doing.  They challenge us to think outside the box through role-plays and are dedicated to making sure we will become the best genetic counselors we can be.  Our faculty keeps us interacting with people outside of the Northwestern community, giving us a variety of viewpoints and input.

How do you plan to use your degree?
Right now, I am most interested in becoming a practicing genetic counselor in the area of cancer genetics.  This involves talking to family members, analyzing their family histories, discussing their risk, and helping them deal with the psychological aspects of dealing with a strong family history of cancer.