Graduates of the University of Pennsylvania Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program

Susanna Birnbaum

Suzi is from the suburbs of Philadelphia and graduated from Muhlenberg College in 2018 with a bachelor’s in biochemistry and minors in German studies and Asian studies. After graduating, she worked as a laboratory technician in the Sundaram lab at UPenn, studying apical extracellular matrix in the nematode, C. elegans. At the same time, she also completed a Master of Bioethics while at UPenn; learning about issues in disability bioethics, patient advocacy and more strengthened her desire to work at the intersection between science and patient care. In her free time, Suzi loves all things crafting- knitting, crochet, embroidery, and sewing.

Jennifer Borowka

Jen is from Chappaqua, New York.  She graduated from Bucknell University in 2020 with a degree in neuroscience.  After graduating, she worked at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as a Clinical Research Coordinator. At Dana-Farber, she worked on studies aimed at improving the treatment and outcome of patients with Glioblastoma and other brain cancers.  Her work there helped her develop a passion for patient advocacy and research. In her free time, Jen enjoys going on walks, cooking, and live music! 

Allaina Brock

Allaina is from Huntingdon Valley, PA, and graduated from Bryn Athyn College with a bachelor’s in biology and a minor in psychology. While at Bryn Athyn College, she worked as a biology tutor and a molecular biology research assistant. She loves sports and was thrilled to be able to play Division III volleyball. As an undergraduate, she had a clinical genetics internship at Fox Chase Cancer Center and did crisis counseling. After graduating, Allaina moved to New Jersey and started working at T.E.A.L.® - Ovarian Cancer Foundation in Brooklyn, New York. She loves going out in New York City, hiking, reading, and all things concerning coffee. 

Camille Brown

Camille is originally from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. She graduated from the University of the Sciences in 2020 with a degree in biomedical sciences and a minor in microbiology. She also played Division II softball for USciences during her undergraduate career. Since graduating, Camille has been working as a clinical research coordinator at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia and volunteering for the Crisis Text Hotline. These experiences with advocacy and exposure to rare disease populations have strengthened her desire to join the field of genetic counseling. In her free time, Camille enjoys cooking, listening to true crime podcasts and spending time with her pets.

Teresa Chai

Teresa is from Burlington, Massachusetts. She graduated from Northeastern University with a B.S. in cell and molecular biology and a minor in psychology. While at Northeastern, Teresa gained valuable experience through two co-op opportunities: the first as an In-Vitro Cancer Biologist at Ikena Oncology and the second as a Genetic Counseling Assistant at the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Cancer Risk Assessment. Following graduation, she returned to work as a GCA full time and continued volunteering with Crisis Text Line. In her free time, Teresa enjoys taking dance classes, traveling, and trying new foods with friends. 

Mackenzie Coston

Mackenzie is from Bellingham, Washington, and graduated from the University of Washington in 2019 with a degree in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. After graduating, Mackenzie worked at the Allen Institute for Cell Science as a microscopist and chaired the Seattle chapter of the non-profit organization, Young Women In Bio. Additionally, Mackenzie has volunteered with Crisis Text Line, the American Cancer Society and the Epilepsy Foundation of Washington. Mackenzie is passionate about expanding access to genetic care and inspiring the next generation of genetic counselors. In her free time, Mackenzie can be found baking or cooking, being active, crocheting, and reading.

Kathleen Gianforcaro

Katie grew up in Pennsylvania and graduated from the University of Delaware's honors program with a degree in biological sciences and a minor in Spanish for healthcare. Following graduation, she worked as a prenatal and reproductive genetic counseling assistant at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Katie is passionate about increasing access to carrier screening and hopes to further explore the role of genetic counselors in fetal care. Outside of genetics, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, and going to the beach.

Shannon Gray

Shannon is from Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from the Ohio State University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in molecular genetics and zoology. After graduation, she worked for two years as a clinical research assistant studying melanoma at the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. She also volunteered for the Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio and Big Brothers Big Sisters. These experiences sparked her interest in working with minority communities to bring education and awareness of the importance of genetic counseling. In her free time, Shannon enjoys roller skating, travelling, and spending time with her cat.

Ingrid Lee

Ingrid was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan. She graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University in May 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in cell and molecular biology. During college, she volunteered at Camp Kesem, a summer camp for kids impacted by a parent’s cancer. Following graduation, she worked as a clinical research coordinator in the Thermoregulation and Exoskeleton programs in spinal cord injury research at the Bronx VA. She then transitioned to teratology research, joining the MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies team that explores how certain medications and vaccines affect pregnancy. Her previous experience has led to her passion to support women and children’s health. In her free time, you can find her baking and dancing to her 90’s music playlist!

Samuel Levy

Sam is originally from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2021, where he majored in molecular biology and minored in chemistry and Mediterranean art and archaeology. At Pitt, Sam enjoyed his experiences as an undergraduate teaching assistant and research intern. After graduating, Sam began working as a genetic counseling assistant at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He has also volunteered with a crisis hotline at a local domestic violence resource center and with a program serving hospitalized senior citizens. In his free time, Sam enjoys running, tennis, skiing, and walking his dogs.

Breanna Lima Martinez

Breanna is from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, and graduated from the University of Toronto in 2021 with a HBSc in molecular genetics and microbiology. During her undergraduate study, she was involved with the Innis College Student Society, La Mosaic student magazine, and completed minors in Psychology and French Studies. Prior to entering the program, she was a volunteer at the Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases and Kids Help Phone. Breanna enjoys reading, journaling, cooking, and traveling in her spare time. She is also an avid event planner, including planning her own Quinceañera, Innis College Orientation, Pub Nights, a Formal Gala, and surprise birthday parties for friends.

Apurba Mainali

Apurba is originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and graduated from the University of Alberta in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in molecular genetics. After graduating, she worked as a genetics assistant at the Edmonton Medical Genetics Clinic working with pediatric patients. She also helped found a community group for Nepalese-Canadian youth that organizes local events and serves as a platform for members to share their experiences. In her free time, Apurba enjoys hiking, traveling, and exploring local restaurants and coffeeshops.

Angelia Manuelito

Angelia Manuelito is from the Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico. She graduated from Columbia University with her B.A. in evolutionary biology of the human species in spring 2022. In high school, Angelia conducted a community-based research project presenting on the benefits of genetic testing and population screening for the prevention of congenital diseases within indigenous communities. Since then, she’s been interested in addressing and repairing the relationship between western science and indigenous medicine so both may benefit from genetic technologies. Angelia enjoys reading, running, and exploring the East Coast.

Caroline Mayk

Caroline is from West Chester, Pennsylvania.  She graduated from Bucknell University in 2022 with a B.S. in neuroscience and a children’s studies minor.  During her time at Bucknell, she was a member of the varsity swim team, a study group facilitator, and a Near Peer counselor at a local middle school.  In the summer of 2021, she worked at Geisinger’s Genomic Medicine Institute where she evaluated the cardiovascular genes that were newly added to the third version of the ACMG’s Secondary Findings List for the Geisinger MyCode Community Health Initiative.  Caroline enjoys spending time with her family, listening to podcasts, and cheering on Philadelphia sports teams.

Anna Prentice

Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Anna is a 2022 graduate of the University of Toronto in molecular genetics and English. While completing her undergraduate degree, she worked in a comparative genomics lab researching heart development. During this project, she was involved in a collaboration with the SickKids Cardiac Genome Clinic—a team including research genetic counselors—with the goal to identify conserved enhancers impacting congenital heart disease. In the future, Anna hopes to integrate her passion for research into her work as a genetic counselor. In her free time, Anna also enjoys baking, hiking, and musical theatre.

Rebecca Reef

Becca grew up in the small town of Sharon, Massachusetts, and graduated from the University of Rochester in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience and a minor in clinical psychology. As an undergraduate, she was a passionate member of the Inspiration Project, a local group connecting students to individuals with cerebral palsy to write memoirs together. Following graduation, she joined the pediatric neurogenetics program at Boston Children’s Hospital as a genetic counseling assistant.  Outside of her love for genetics and patient education and advocacy, Becca enjoys cheering for the New England Patriots, going to the beach, and exploring local farmer’s markets

Baergen Schultz

Baergen grew up in Centennial, Colorado. She graduated from Lewis & Clark College in 2019 where she majored in biology with a minor in neuroscience. As an undergraduate, she worked in a neurobiology lab where she studied the cellular mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease. Following graduation, she supported genomics research consortia as a Scientific Program Analyst at the National Human Genome Research Institute. During her time in Washington, DC, she also volunteered at an inpatient hospice center. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, and spending time outdoors. 

Kara Skorge

Kara is from Jasper, Indiana, and is a 2021 graduate of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, where she majored in biochemistry and minored in psychology. She has since spent her time working in a clinical pharmacology research lab at Vanderbilt University under Dr. Dan Roden and Dr. Andrew Glazer, classifying genetic variants of uncertain significance relating to heart defects and arrhythmias. She has always had a passion for genetic counseling and was inspired by her late grandfather to one day specialize in adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders. In her free time, she has loved getting involved with the community through leading service projects for her former sorority (Chi Omega), substitute teaching for a local middle school, and performing in local and school-wide musical theatre productions.

Isabel Anez Bruzual

Isabel is originally from Caracas, Venezuela. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Boston University, where she double majored in Neuroscience and Psychology. Following graduation, Isabel started working at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) as a Clinical Research Coordinator. During her three years at MGH, she led a biomarker study and clinical trials for patients with familial ALS and presymptomatic carriers of an ALS causative mutation. Her experience with this patient population led her to pursue a career in genetic counseling. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling, working out, and spending time with friends and family.

Kaley Arnold

Kaley is from Florham Park, New Jersey and graduated from the College of New Jersey in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in biology and a minor in public health. While at TCNJ she created an organization called Healing Arts which promotes mental health and wellness though the therapeutic power of art. Since college, she completed an internship at the Cancer Institute of NJ in the Precision Medicine Oncology department. She currently works as a contact tracer and case investigator for the NJ Department of Health. Kaley is interested in learning more about pediatric genetic counseling during her training. Outside of genetics, she enjoys horseback riding, painting, and spending time with friends and family.

Brianna Berlin

Brianna was raised as a Jersey girl but is a Colorado native through and through. After graduating from Rutgers University with a degree in Cell Biology and Neuroscience, she moved back west to pursue reproductive physiology and cancer genetics research at the University of Colorado. During her time in Denver, she worked as an ophthalmic medical scribe and volunteered as a hospice counselor. These experiences and her passion for patient advocacy led her to pursue genetic counseling. In her free time, she can be found gaming, baking, and hiking with her dog, Mozart.

Lan Chen

Lan is from Madison, Mississippi and graduated from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and minor in anthropology. As an undergraduate student, she conducted research on the epigenetic effects of vagus nerve stimulation on learning and memory pathways. She also mentored and taught middle school science in Nashville through the Vanderbilt VSVS program and served as vice president and co-director of Project Heal, now a chapter of the Global Medical Missions Alliance. She gained exposure to the field of genetic counseling in her role as a coordinator for a clinical trial evaluating neuropsychiatric comorbidities in Huntington’s disease. In her free time, Lan enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, trying new recipes, and watching Premier League soccer.

Elizabeth Coffran

Elizabeth is from Marshfield, Massachusetts. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Biology from Boston College. As an undergraduate student, she worked as a research assistant, teaching assistant, and a tutor at a local elementary school. She spent her summers interning at the Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory at Brigham and Women's Hospital and at the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital. After graduation, she started working as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Ora, Inc. In her free time Elizabeth enjoys traveling, going to the beach, and spending time with friends.

Anna Duemler

Anna is from Green Lane, Pennsylvania. She graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in 2018 with a degree in Biology with an option in vertebrate physiology. Following graduation she started a post baccalaureate fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. She started in Dr. Christina Annunziata’s lab, analyzing the mechanisms of an immunotherapy clinical trial for ovarian cancer. In 2020 she began working with Dr. Kathleen Calzone’s group, developing a project analyzing the association between the CDH1 gene, cleft lip and/or palate, and family history of gastric or breast cancer. During her time at the NIH she also worked as a crisis counselor, volunteered at the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, and spent time shadowing various genetic counselors.

Kimberly Gaiser

Kimberly is from New Jersey and graduated from Bucknell University in 2018 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Public Policy. Upon graduation, she completed a postbaccalaureate program at Thomas Jefferson University and worked in the 22q and You Center at CHOP as a clinical research assistant. This part time role led her to a full-time role in Clinical Genetics as a Scribe while continuing research on 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. This past year, she organized and implemented the annual 22q and Boo event and 22q Awareness Day (11/22). Kim enjoys reading any book off Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club list, attempting the daily NYT crossword puzzles, and sending snail mail to loved ones.

Brielle Gehringer

Brielle is from Maple Shade, New Jersey. She attended the University of Pennsylvania for her undergraduate education and graduated in 2018 with a B.A. in Biology. Since then, she has been a research coordinator of the ASPE Study at Penn, a genetic study of autism spectrum disorder. Her experience with clinical research has inspired her to pursue a career in genetic counseling. In her free time, you can find Brielle at a concert or on the beach!

Hannah Hadgu

Hannah was born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She attended Gettysburg College and graduated in May of 2019 with a B.S in Biology and a double minor in English and Peace and Justice Studies. After graduation, Hannah moved to Philadelphia where she worked as the Genetic Counselor Assistant for the Genetics team at the Main Line Health Hospitals. In this role, she had the opportunity to shadow cancer, prenatal, and cardio genetic counseling sessions. Hannah looks forward to exploring prenatal genetics further throughout her time at the University of Pennsylvania. In her free time, Hannah enjoys watching musicals, staying active, and spending time with her friends and family.

Alicia Harrison

Alicia is from the mountains west of Denver, Colorado. She graduated from Case Western Reserve University in 2013 with degrees in Biochemistry and International Studies. While in school, Alicia gained additional valuable experience volunteering with Global Medical Brigades, University Hospital, and the Cleveland Sight Center. After two years as a genetic counseling assistant at Austin Cancer Center, Alicia joined the Genomes2Veterans team at the Boston VA, doing translational genomics research. In her free time, Alicia enjoys travel, photography, and reading too many books at a time.

Kellyn Madden

Kellyn grew up a few miles from Philadelphia, across the Ben Franklin Bridge in South Jersey. She graduated from Dickinson College in 2019 with a major in molecular biology and a minor in English. After graduating, she worked at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia doing bench research on pediatric cancers. Kellyn is interested in studying the intersection of health disparities and genetic counseling and hopes to aid in the process of bringing equity to America’s health care system after she earns her degree. For fun, she enjoys hiking, playing guitar, and hanging out with her golden retriever, Rigby.

Kyle Mahoney

Kyle is from Chichester, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in May of 2021, receiving a degree in Biology with a focus on genetics and development. In his final year of school, Kyle began volunteering with Crisis Text Line and was able to do cancer and COVID-19 research in a lab on campus. He was able to gain shadowing experience during the summers of his freshman and sophomore years, and by doing simulated genetic counseling sessions. During the summers Kyle worked at a summer camp as a counselor, and eventually taught environmental education at the camp. Kyle enjoys playing video games, watching TV, and supporting the 76ers.

Daniel McGinn

Daniel was born at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He grew up in Voorhees, NJ and attended Moorestown Friends School. Daniel attended Davidson College, earning a BS in Biology as well as captaining the men’s lacrosse team and working as a CHOP summer research assistant before assuming the roles of clinical coordinator and GCA upon graduation. Daniel had the privilege of presenting his research findings at national and international meetings and interfacing with outstanding clinicians, patients and families who inspired him to pursue a career in genetic counseling, back where it all began - at UPENN.

Juliet Milani

Juliet grew up in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia. She graduated from Middlebury College in 2021 with a degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and a Psychology minor. Before joining Penn’s program, she spent a summer interning at Penn’s Basser Center, where she confirmed her interest in genetic counseling as a career. She also worked as a lab assistant at Fox Chase Cancer Center, conducting anti-cancer research. Aside from genetic counseling, Juliet enjoys singing and playing the guitar, puns, and fitness.

Jasmine Purcell

Jasmine is from Lorton, VA. She graduated from Christopher Newport University in May 2019 with a B.S. in Biochemistry and minors in Leadership Studies and Spanish. At CNU, she was selected as a Presidential Scholar and had the opportunity to study abroad at the University of Oxford. After graduation, she worked as a Genetic Counseling Assistant at GeneDx where she was able to gain invaluable experience with genetic tests. Her interests include expanding access to genetic testing for underserved populations. In her free time Jasmine enjoys volunteering with Crisis Text Line, baking and going to the beach.

Amy Ren

Amy is from Boston, MA and graduated from Dartmouth College in 2015 with a degree in Medical Anthropology. After college, Amy worked at Voyager Therapeutics in Cambridge, MA, doing gene therapy research for neurodegenerative disorders. Her work focused on AAV capsid evolution and developing a CNS-specific gene delivery platform. She started volunteering as a crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line in the spring of 2020. She is fascinated by psychosocial and ethical considerations in genetic counseling and is excited to start patient-facing work in the clinic. Amy loves running, baking, podcasts, surviving triathlons, all things nerdy, and cheesy dad jokes. Most importantly, she cannot wait to get a puppy with her significant other after graduation!

Abigail Ward

Abbie grew up in Dover, New Hampshire, and graduated from MCPHS University in 2016 with a degree in Health Sciences and a minor in Health Psychology. After graduating, she stayed in Boston and worked in clinical research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, focusing on tumor sequencing in pediatric solid malignancies. This work helped deepen her interest in pediatric genetics and oncology, which she hopes to continue in her career as a genetic counselor. In her free time, Abbie enjoys hiking, snowboarding, and cheering for Boston sports teams!

Raza Chaudhry, MS

Raza is from Pakistan. He graduated from Penn State with a B.S. in biochemistry & molecular biology in 2018. For the next two years, he worked as a Research Technologist for the Cavener lab at Penn State where he utilized the CRISPR/Cas-9 system in mice. During his time at the lab, he realized he wanted to combine his passion for genetics with patient advocacy. He is interested in prenatal, cardiac, and metabolic specialties within Genetic Counseling. His long-term goals include increasing access to genetic counseling services within the South-Asian community. Outside genetic counseling, he is an avid concertgoer and loves playing video games.

Haley Crane, MS

Haley is originally from Ellicott City, Maryland. She graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland, College Park in the spring of 2020, where she majored in cell biology & genetics and minored in Spanish. During her undergraduate years, she was involved in the University Honors program, Delta Gamma fraternity, Terp Thon, and she studied abroad in Spain. She spent two summers as a genetic counseling intern in the Center for Inherited Heart Disease at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she gained valuable exposure to the field. In her free time, Haley enjoys traveling, spending time outside, and going to the beach.

Allayna Frank, MS

Allayna is a 2020 graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology’s Biomedical Sciences program. She studied and worked in the fields of biomedical engineering, stem cell research, ICU care, home senior care, and even hospitality prior to discovering the field of genetic counseling, the ideal combination of her passions for medicine, teaching, psychology, and the study of developmental disabilities.   Allayna’s greatest career aspiration is to help patients and their families find the maximum comfort and autonomy possible with their diagnoses.  Originally from Northern New York, she is excited to begin her career in a city that is completely new to her!

Yael Freiberg, MS

Yael is from Los Angeles, California. She majored in biological sciences and minored in gender studies at the University of Southern California. She studied Robertsonian translocation in a yeast lab at USC, where she completed a master’s degree in molecular genetics and biochemistry. After leaving the lab, she worked alongside genetic counselors at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she gained clinical exposure and also enrolled patients into the USC arm of the Oncology Research Information Exchange Network. During this time, she also worked at Trader Joe’s! When she’s not studying, Yael enjoys exploring Philadelphia and cooking.

Nicole Kasatkin, MS

Nicole is a Philadelphia native. In May 2020, she completed her undergraduate degree at Temple University, where she majored in biology with teaching and double minored in cognitive neuroscience and chemistry. While at Temple, she became a certified peer educator, conducted research for two years at the Center for Metabolic Disease Research at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, and taught students in the Philadelphia School District through Temple’s TuTeach program. She also actively helped individuals through the Crisis Text Line and as a volunteer at a local hospital. In her free time, she is a ballroom dance enthusiast, avid traveler, and fan of all pets!

Deirdre Kessler, MS

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Deirdre majored in French at Pomona College in Claremont, California. Before starting at Penn, she worked as a medical scribe in Brooklyn and an English assistant at a high school in France, and she volunteered at Crisis Text Line and GiGi’s Playhouse. Her interests in language, health literacy, and solving puzzles of all kinds led her to pursue genetic counseling, a field that she believes combines all three. Outside of school, Deirdre enjoys studying computational linguistics and geography, watching British TV shows, and searching for new recipes. She plans to specialize in pediatrics.

Allie Mazzella, MS

Allie is originally from New Jersey, but has been in Boston since college. She is a 2016 graduate of Brandeis University, where she double-majored in Biology and Chemistry. Due to the passing of a close childhood friend, Allison has been involved in the Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) community for many years. She has spent the past few years doing SMA and neuromuscular disorders research at Boston Children’s Hospital and Cure SMA, as well as volunteering at Girls on the Run, Boston Cares and BARCC. Allison enjoys building Legos, cheering for the Eagles, and always wearing green!

Olga Oretsky, MS

Olga is from Fair Lawn, New Jersey. She went to the University of Pennsylvania for her undergraduate education and double-majored in biochemistry and psychology. After graduating, she worked as a research fellow in the Affective Neuroscience and Pain laboratory at the National Institutes of Health, where she studied various psychosocial aspects of pain perception. Prior to graduate school, she briefly attended a seminary in Jerusalem and then worked as a tutor at a local community college in eastern Pennsylvania. Olga is particularly interested in learning more about psychiatric genetic counseling during her training.

Cassady Pelphrey, MS

Cassie is from a small town (actually a village) called West Jefferson, Ohio. She attended the University of Kentucky and graduated in May 2020 with a B.S. in Biology with a focus in genetics and a minor in psychology. Cassie became interested in genetic counseling at the age of sixteen upon meeting her own family’s genetic counselor who continued to foster her interest in the field. Cassie has been involved in the FH Foundation for familial hypercholesterolemia as an advocate for awareness; she completed 2 years of research in undergrad; and she was a resident advisor for 2.5 years, as well. Cassie’s hobbies are reading and trying to make people laugh on Zoom.

Anna Platt, MS

Anna grew up in Oakton, Virginia.  She graduated from University of Delaware in 2019 with a B.S. in Neuroscience. A long time Special Olympics coach, she knew she wanted to help families with genetic conditions. After college, she worked as the Genetic Counselor Assistant for the Genetics team at Inova Fairfax Hospital. There, she had the opportunity to observe NICU consults, as well as pediatric, neurology, and cardiology clinics. Her experiences have led to her interest in the application of genetic testing and counseling in the NICU and other inpatient departments. In her free time she is cheering on the Washington Nationals and Capitals with her friends, family and dog, Archie.

Jake Squicciarini, MS

Jake is from Albion, New York, a small town in western New York right between Rochester and Buffalo. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Rochester in 2019 where he majored in molecular genetics with a minor in clinical psychology. Before joining the genetic counseling program at Penn, Jake worked as a genetic counseling assistant in the Division of Pediatric Genetics at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester and volunteered for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Jake is interested in the counseling of individuals with differences in sexual development and hopes to further explore the role of genetic counselors in DSD clinics.

Katie Rose Sullivan, MS

Katie Rose grew up in Rutherford, New Jersey and graduated from Haverford College in 2018 with a degree in biology and a minor in neuroscience. After graduating, she worked at the University of Pennsylvania for two years investigating cerebrovascular rare diseases. Katie Rose is a long-standing member of the New Day Community, a nonprofit organization that provides a respite summer vacation for adults with developmental disabilities, where she particularly enjoys mentoring first-time counselors.

Bekah Wang, MS

Baijia (Bekah) is from Taiyuan, China, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology and a minor in German. As an undergraduate, she worked in Wisconsin National Primate Research Center with macaque monkeys in an Episodic Memory Project. Additionally, she volunteered at Briarpatch Youth Services in Madison as a volunteer counselor and gained experience interacting with parents and their teenage kids. In her free time, Bekah enjoys hanging out with her cat, watching movies, and traveling.

Samantha Williams, MS

Sam is a Philly native, but has been living in New York for the past 10 years. She graduated from the double degree program between Barnard College and the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2014, receiving bachelor's degrees in biology and Jewish Thought. Since college, she has been working in clinical research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Her work there solidified her interest in research and oncology, and introduced her to genetic counseling. In her free time, she serves as referee for the wrestling tournaments her two cats participate in daily.

Corinne Zrada, MS

Corinne is from Moorestown, New Jersey, and graduated from the University of Miami in 2020. She was a Health Science major with minors in chemistry, biology, and psychology. As an undergraduate, Corinne participated in research involving a genetic screen on Drosophila melanogaster. Additionally, she was on the executive board of the Special Olympics club at the University of Miami. She is currently interested in clinical cancer genetics and is passionate about being a part of the growing field of genetics. Corinne enjoys staying active outdoors and spends her summers down the shore.

Avi Ananthrajah, MS, CGC

Avi is from Toronto, Canada. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Microbiology and Immunology from McGill University. He spent his summers at Public Health Ontario Laboratories studying plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance and was looking to pursue a career in infection prevention and control. After volunteering in the Department of Medical Genetics at Montreal Children’s Hospital and working at a student-run nightline service, he decided to shift his focus to genetic counseling. Avi’s interests include cancer risk reduction and the impact of social behavior on health decisions. He is now a genetic counselor in the Basser Center for BRCA at Penn Medicine.

Jamie Atondo, MS, CGC

Jamie is from Williamsport Pennsylvania. She graduated from Lycoming College in December of 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a minor in psychology. During the summer between junior and senior year she completed an internship at Geisinger that involved evaluating Geisinger’s universal Lynch syndrome screening protocol. At Geisinger Jamie shadowed genetic counselors in prenatal, pediatrics, cancer and research settings. After graduating from college, she returned to Geisinger as a prenatal genetic counselor assistant to gain further experience.  After graduating from the master's in genetic counseling program in 2020, Jamie began work as a pediatric genetic counselor with the Geisinger Health System.

Kylie Borden, MS, CGC

Kylie was born and raised in southeast Texas. She graduated from Southwestern University in 2017 with a B.S. in Biochemistry. As an undergraduate student, she worked as a research assistant at Southwestern University and various other research institutions in Texas. Following graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C. to begin a research fellowship through the National Cancer Institute in Dr. Susan Gottesman's lab, studying the regulation of the stress response in Escherichia coli.  In addition to lab work at the NIH, Kylie spent time shadowing genetic counselors, attending conferences, and generally learning as much as possible about the Genetic Counseling profession.  Kylie is now a cancer genetic counselor at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Jacqueline Cappadocia, MS, CGC

Although Jacqueline is a Toronto native she is no stranger to the Philadelphia area, graduating from Villanova University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Jacqueline is eager to make a contribution to the field of genetic counseling both in a clinical and research capacity. She conducted her thesis research in collaboration with the Center for Cornelia de Lange Syndrome and Related Diagnoses at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and investigated the prevalence of Eosinophilic Esophagitis in children with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. Jacqueline is the 2020 recipient of the Marie Barr Genetic Counseling Award.  She is now a genetic counselor in the Basser Center for BRCA at Penn Medicine.

Stacey Cohen, MS, CGC

Stacey is from Livingston, New Jersey. She graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University in May 2019 with a degree in neuroscience and behavior. During her time in college, she performed research on contextual fear learning and worked on a crisis hotline. Her master's thesis focused on quality-of-life in children with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. As a genetic counseling student, she worked part-time as a genetic counseling assistant at the Epilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where she now works as a Genetic Counselor. In her free time, she enjoys baking and playing video games.

Jeshua DeJesse, MS, CGC

Jeshua is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Binghamton University where he majored in Biology and was a research assistant in a lab studying plant speciation. Jeshua also volunteered for Crisis Text Line and a hospital near his college. His thesis project studied extracolonic screening in the Lynch Syndrome population.  Jeshua is now working as a pediatric genetic counselor in the Clinical Genetics Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Jeshua is a big fan of comedy, his ill-behaved dog, and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Isaac Elysee, MS, CGC

Isaac is from New York, NY. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 2019 from Cornell University, where he studied Biological Sciences with a concentration in Genetics, Genomics, and Development. As an undergraduate, Isaac conducted research into the genetics of intestinal lymphatic system development in mice and trained in peer counseling. Isaac’s interest in genetic counseling stemmed from a desire to make genetics approachable and to help destigmatize genetics and broaden its reach in underserved communities.   He is now working as a genetic counselor in the Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics at Penn Medicine.

Isaac enjoys reading, podcasts, watching basketball, and doing impersonations of his mom in his (very limited) free time.

Laura Hennessy, MS, CGC

Laura graduated from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia in 2014 where she majored in Biology. She spent the following five years working in both basic science and clinical research investigating neurodegenerative conditions including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. Laura hopes to pursue a genetic counseling career that incorporates both clinical and research functions within the field of neurodegeneration.  She is now working as a genetic counselor in the Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics at Penn Medicine.

Sarah Howe, MS, CGC

Sarah is from western Massachusetts and studied biology at the University of Vermont (UVM). After graduating she worked as a research technician, teaching assistant, and academic advisor within UVM’s biology department for three years. As an advisor assisting students in assessing their passions, strengths, and career thoughts, she found her way to her own ideal career of genetic counseling. While the transition to living in a large city was intimidating, she loves the vibrancy of Philly and its people. She is now working as a genetic counselor in the Penn Telegenetics Program.  She hopes to learn all she can from this city as a genetic counselor before returning to a more rural life.

Anna Iversen, MS

Anna is from Boston and graduated from Northeastern University in 2018, where she majored in Health Science and minored in Biology and Psychology. As an undergraduate, she interned at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Massachusetts General Hospital as a Newborn Hearing Screener and Intraoperative Nerve Monitoring Technician. Before matriculating at Penn, she worked full-time in clinical research in the Neurology department at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Anna was the 2020-2021 LEND Fellow and through LEND worked on a Leadership Project for maternal-child health. She is also passionate about ethics and is pursuing a thesis on Ethics in Oncology.  Anna is now working as a genetic counselor in the Perinatal Diagnostic Center at Stanford Children's Hospital.

Emma Kennedy, MS, CGC

Originally from Olney, Maryland, Emma graduated from the University of Delaware in 2017 with degrees in Biology and Philosophy and a minor in music. At UD, she performed research on sea urchin RNA using CRISPR/cas9 technology and participated in numerous volunteer activities through the service organization Alpha Phi Omega. Post-graduation, Emma pursued her interest in genetic counseling by working as a genetic counseling assistant for GeneDx and shadowing in various genetics clinics. She also volunteered with Shady Grove Hospital and Crisis Text Line.   Emma now works in both the Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics and the Genetics Diagnostic Lab at Penn Medicine.

In her free time Emma likes to read, workout, and teach Irish dance.

Samantha Krahling, MS, CGC

Sam is a Marylander through and through, as she grew up in Southern MD and attended University of Maryland for her undergraduate degree in biology. After graduation, she remained in Maryland working at GeneDx, where she decided she wanted to pursue genetic counseling. In 2018, Sam packed her bags and moved to Philadelphia to work at CHOP’s Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment. This is where she gained an interest in prenatal genetics, which continues today.  Sam is now a prenatal genetic counselor for Integrated Genetics.

When she’s not working, Sam’s favorite thing to do is run along the Schuylkill River Trail.

Michaela Mundt, MS

Michaela is from Paradise, CA, and attended the University of California Davis, where she earned bachelor’s degrees in Genetics and History. While there, she threw hammer on the NCAA Division 1 Track and Field Team. She has loved genetics since taking her first pedigree in 7th grade and was drawn to genetic counseling because of the close relationships genetic counselors have with their patients. Michaela’s thesis explores the perceptions of clinical supervisors working with multiple graduate programs. After graduation, she will continue this research as she works as a Prenatal Genetic Counselor for Integrated Genetics in California.

Laura Rohan, MS

Laura grew up in State College, Pennsylvania, and received her undergraduate degree from Penn State University, majoring in microbiology and minoring in German. After graduating in 2018, she worked for a year in a genomics laboratory at Penn State, where she recruited patients to a study on rare microdeletion syndromes. She was drawn to the field of genetic counseling due to her familial experience of having a sister with autism and a brother with a craniofacial disorder.   Laura is now working as a pediatric genetic counselor at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Her favorite hobby is dancing, primarily swing dancing.

Erica Trujillo, MS

Erica is from the Philadelphia suburbs and is delighted to be close to home while she pursues her graduate degree. She graduated from the University of Richmond in 2014 with a B.S. in biology, and worked in clinical research prior to attending the UPenn genetic counseling program. She was drawn to the profession by the meaningful collaborative partnerships that genetic counselors form with their patients as they navigate the world of genetics. She will be doing that as a genetic counselor at the University Hospital of University Health Care System in Atlanta, GA.

When Erica is not working, she can be found baking or singing, sometimes even at the same time!