Meet our Current Students

Caroline Barabell

Caroline is from Sudbury, Massachusetts, and graduated from the University of Michigan in 2023 with a major in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and a minor in Applied Statistics. As an undergraduate, she joined a molecular biology laboratory and studied the role of hypoxia-inducible factors in zebrafish. She also participated in translational clinical research studies through Massachusetts General Hospital's Breast Oncology group. After graduation, she worked as a therapeutic clinical research coordinator in Gynecologic Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and volunteered as a hotline advocate supporting survivors of sexual violence. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and exploring new restaurants.

Amalia Ben-Porath

Amalia grew up in Wynnewood, PA. She graduated from Brandeis University in 2023 with a major in Biology and minor in History of Ideas. In college, she became an EMT and worked shifts on campus and at events throughout the year. Through this she was also a CPR and First Aid instructor. After graduation, she worked at Boston Children's Hospital as the Inpatient Genetic Counseling Assistant and the Metabolic Newborn Screen Genetic Counseling Assistant. Amalia enjoys cross stitching, watching and playing sports, and spending time with friends and family (especially her cat Ladle).

Jillian Carrick

Jillian is from Bloomfield, New Jersey, and graduated from Rutgers University with a B.A. in Genetics and a minor in Psychology. She has enjoyed volunteering as a peer mentor for undergraduate students on the autism spectrum and with the Special Olympics of New Jersey. As a student and research technician, Jillian studied the genetic progression of colon cancer using organoid models. She also worked as a GCA at New Jersey Perinatal Associates for two years. Jillian loves to spend her free time with family and friends, strolling around museums, and searching for the best coffee in the city.

Rylee Crowell

Rylee is from Atchison, Kansas. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a major in Biochemistry and minor in Psychology. During her time at KU, she completed a research project investigating how various types of insulins influence metabolism outcomes for patients with T1D. Outside of research, she served as the Biology Majors Advisory Committee (BMAC) co-chair, advocating for biology undergraduates and inclusion initiatives. Additionally, she was a crisis counselor for the NSPL at Headquarters Counseling Center in Lawrence, KS! Rylee is passionate about improving access to genetic counseling in underserved communities. In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, baking, and watching horror movies! 

Maya Davis

Maya grew up in Nashua, New Hampshire, and graduated from Wellesley College in 2023 with a BA in Biological Sciences and a minor in Psychology. As an undergraduate, she volunteered with several organizations serving people with disabilities and did bench work exploring the genetics and epigenetics of evolutionary adaptation in insects. After graduating, Maya worked as a Clinical Research Assistant in the Epilepsy Genetics Program at Boston Children's Hospital, where she enrolled children with epilepsy into genomic sequencing research studies and analyzed their genomic data. Maya is passionate about advocating for those with rare diseases, improving the quality of life of people with neurodevelopmental disabilities, and promoting healthcare equity for LGBTQ+ people. Outside of the world of genetic counseling, Maya loves to play board games with her friends, cross-country ski, solve crossword puzzles, and eat Ben and Jerry's Half Baked ice cream.

Claudia Harrison

Claudia is from Newtown, Connecticut, and graduated from Penn State University in 2023 with dual degrees in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Psychology. There, she volunteered as a crisis hotline counselor and served on the executive board of her sorority, Phi Sigma Rho. After graduation, she moved to Memphis, Tennessee, to work as a genetic counseling assistant at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, where she conducted research on genetic contributions to pediatric thyroid cancer, and developed an interest in oncology genetics. In her free time, Claudia enjoys running, hiking, listening to music, and spending time with her friends and family.

Miles John-Baptiste

Miles was born in New Jersey, but has called Cleveland, Ohio, home since he was 10 years old. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in the spring of 2025 with a degree in Human Biology and Society. He is interested in the intersection between biological and social issues with a particular interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion. His passion in genetic counseling stems from a desire to work towards repairing the historic distrust between marginalized communities and the medical field. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and supporting Chelsea Football Club. 

Carleigh Keegan

Carleigh is from Newtown, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Temple University in 2023 with a B.S. in Health Professions. While at Temple, she gained patient-facing experience working as a pharmacy technician and explored the field of genetic counseling by shadowing in a variety of genetic specialty clinics. After graduating, Carleigh began working as a genetic counseling assistant for the Basser Center for BRCA at Penn Medicine, where she supports a vast team of genetic counselors in hereditary cancer risk evaluations and contributes to efforts to expand access to genetic services. Through this role, Carleigh has become increasingly passionate about patient advocacy, education, and equitable healthcare.  In her free time, you can find Carleigh jumping through a rebounding workout (her favorite form of exercise), practicing archery, or on the hunt for the nearest dog to pet. 

Madison Kingsbury

Madison is from Canton, Ohio, and graduated from The Ohio State University in 2023 with a B.S in Molecular Genetics, a minor in general psychology, and a certificate in diversity, equity, and inclusion. As an undergraduate student, she worked as a research assistant building a biorepository database used for breast cancer research through The Spielman Breast Cancer Cohort and Tissue Bank. Since her graduation, Madison has been working as a genetic counseling assistant at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant. There she has gained valuable experience working with families with cancer predisposition syndromes and hematologic conditions. In her free time, Madison likes baking sweet treats, watching any and all reality TV, and online shopping. 

Brenna McCormick

Brenna is from Cream Ridge, New Jersey, and graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 2024 with a B.A. in Biology and a minor in Neuroscience. At Holy Cross, she competed on the track and field team, volunteered with Crisis Text Line, and conducted research on genes essential to reproduction in Drosophila melanogaster. 

After graduation, she worked as a clinical research coordinator at the Mass General Cancer Center. She is passionate about advocating for individuals with rare diseases and is eager to continue to learn from patients lived experiences. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, rock climbing, and reading.

Lydia Rockart

Lydia is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 2023 with a BA in Mathematics. During her time at Bryn Mawr, she volunteered as an EMT for a local volunteer medical service corps and Bryn Mawr College EMS. Following graduation, Lydia joined the 22q and You Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as Genetic Counseling Assistant. In her free time, she enjoys baking, hiking, camping, and taking road trips with her cat, Beetlejuice.

Ivan Ruiz

Ivan was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island, before spending his undergraduate years in Pennsylvania, where he graduated from Haverford College in 2023. After graduation, Ivan spent two years working as a genetic counseling assistant in the Neurogenetics department at Boston Children's Hospital. As a first-generation Dominican American, Ivan is passionate about increasing access within the field of genetic counselling for patients and providers from all backgrounds. His research and work at Boston Children’s particularly focused on serving the hospital’s Spanish-speaking population. A devoted FC Barcelona fan, Ivan is also a youth and adult soccer referee and has been since 2014. He enjoys listening to music, traveling, trying new foods, playing pickup soccer, watching sports, and spending time with friends.

Madeline Ryan

Maddie is from West Chester, Pennsylvania, and is a 2025 graduate of Penn State University, where she majored in biochemistry and minored in psychology. During her undergraduate studies, she served as a learning assistant, volunteered for the Crisis Text Line, and was actively engaged in organizations including the Penn State Genetic Counseling Club and Penn State THON™. Her passions for genetic counseling and public health were sparked through internship opportunities at UPenn and the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute. In her free time, Maddie loves reading, walking her dog, and playing ice hockey.

Ala Streater

Ala grew up in South Jersey and graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Psychology. Before working as a Genetic Counseling Assistant and Clinical/Research Coordinator at Penn’s Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) Center, her earlier experiences as a health aide and crisis counselor shaped her desire to pursue a career centered in patient education and advocacy. Outside of genetics, her passion is in writing, often exploring themes of the human condition through psychological and surrealist fiction. You’ll likely find her singing her heart out at an indie concert, wandering woodland trails, or relaxing outdoors- never without a yoga mat on hand.

Carolina Viswanath

Carolina was raised in Philadelphia and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Biology in 2024. As an undergraduate, she volunteered with a peer support helpline and joined a Latin dance group. After graduating, she worked as a Research Assistant in an OB/GYN clinic, supporting research on cancer screenings. She was introduced to genetic counseling during an internship at the Basser Center for BRCA, where she contributed to research on PARP inhibitor resistance. Carolina is passionate about cancer genetics and expanding access to genetic counseling. In her free time, she enjoys baking and spending time with loved ones.

Elliott Wack

Elliott grew up in Catonsville, Maryland, and graduated from the University of Maryland in 2024 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Cell Biology and Genetics and a minor in Paleobiology. After graduation, Elliott started a postbaccalaureate fellowship at the National Human Genome Research Institute, applying a genotype-first approach to clinical genetics research. As a genetic counselor, he hopes to pursue a career in neurogenetics and increase the accessibility of genetics services. In his free time, Elliott likes to cook, read, get outdoors, and travel.

Bailey Wollesen

Bailey is from Lake View, Iowa, and graduated from the University of Iowa in 2025 with a B.S. in Biology on the Genetics and Biotechnology track. During undergrad, she conducted research on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of muscular dystrophy, worked with adults with disabilities, and completed an internship in genetic counseling with the Iowa Institute of Human Genetics. Through these experiences, she developed a strong interest in the psychosocial aspects of care and improving access to genetic counseling in rural communities. In her free time, Bailey enjoys being outdoors, thrifting, and spending time with her cat.  

Catalin Yturralde

Catalin, a San Diego native, graduated from Williams College in 2023 with a double major in Biology and German. A former collegiate golfer, she also conducted research in genetics and evolutionary biology. Since graduating, she has worked as a clinical research coordinator in cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she discovered a passion for genetic counseling, minority patient advocacy, and mental health support. In her free time, she enjoys cooking new recipes, watching shows with friends, and playing golf when the weather allows.

Cindy Argueta Portilla

Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Cindy earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Sciences from NC State University in 2023, with minors in Genetics and Psychology. She then spent two years conducting cardiovascular genetics research in the Landstrom Lab, first at Duke University and later at CHOP, where she worked as a clinical research coordinator. Through her work recruiting patients and maintaining rare disease registries, she developed a deep appreciation for the impact of genetics on patients and families. In her free time, Cindy enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and tackling jigsaw puzzles. 

Amelia Hain

Amelia is from Flemington, New Jersey, and graduated from Dickinson College in 2025 with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. While at Dickinson, she worked as a chemistry laboratory teaching assistant, an exam proctor and scribe for students with physical and academic accommodations, and as a campus tour guide. She also shadowed genetic counselors across a variety of clinical settings. After graduation, Amelia joined Geisinger as a Genetic Counseling Assistant, supporting the Maternal Fetal Medicine and Fertility clinics, as well as the MyCode Genome Screening and Counseling Program. Her experiences sparked a passion for population health genetics and patient education. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, exploring new places, and trying different restaurants.

Esther Han

Esther grew up in Los Angeles, California, and Colmar, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Drexel University with a B.S. in Biological Sciences. After graduation, she worked as a teacher at a learning center and as a genetic counseling assistant at the Pennsylvania Hospital. These experiences cultivated her passion for genetic counseling and reinforced her commitment to patient advocacy. As a first-generation student, she hopes to contribute to increasing access and education about genetic counseling and testing. In her free time, Esther enjoys exploring new art mediums, baking, and playing games with her friends.

Katy Harbaugh

Katy is from Clemmons, North Carolina, and graduated from NC State University in 2023 with a BS in genetics and a minor in psychology. During college she volunteered at InterAct, a crisis line for people experiencing domestic violence, and was a teaching assistant for Introduction to Biochemistry. Since graduating she has been working as a research technician studying colorectal cancer at Duke University. She is excited about becoming a genetic counselor to support patients on their diagnostic journey and advocate for those with rare diseases. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, and playing pickleball.

Abigail Haytcher

Abby grew up in Chillicothe, Illinois, and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2025 with a B.A. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. As an undergraduate, she researched treatment-resistant breast cancer at the Siteman Cancer Center and studied access to genetics services at Federally Qualified Health Centers through the Undiagnosed Diseases Network. After graduating, she worked at a hospital guest house, serving patients and families traveling to St. Louis for medical care. These experiences, alongside her own rare disease diagnostic odyssey, fostered Abby’s passion for genetic counseling and advancing health equity. In her free time, Abby can be found watching baseball or experimenting with a new recipe.

Cherie Hill

Cherie is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is a proud Steelers fan. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2025 with a degree in Psychology and a certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. During her time at Pitt, she worked for the Pitt Pantry and served on the executive board of her academic fraternity, Delta Epsilon Mu. Since graduation, she has been working as a GCA at the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Cherie is passionate about health equity and increasing access to genetic care. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, and spending time with family and friends.

Jordan Jontz

Jordan grew up in Kirtland, Ohio. She graduated from Washington and Lee University with a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and minors in French and Creative Writing. While in college, Jordan loved singing with the University Singers choir, volunteering with her university’s community meal assistance program, and making abstract art with people living with dementia. After graduating, Jordan worked as a research trainee at the National Institute of Mental Health studying gene expression related to neuropsychiatric conditions. Her experiences working alongside people with dementia inspired Jordan’s passion for advocating for personal autonomy, something she is very excited to bring to her work as a genetic counselor. In her free time, Jordan loves music, reading and writing poetry, and kayaking.

Morgan Kresslein

Morgan is from Manchester, Maryland, and graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 2025 with degrees in biology and neuroscience. As an undergraduate, she was a member of the women’s soccer team and completed research on mosquito mitochondrial genomes. After graduation, Morgan worked as a post-baccalaureate fellow with the American Society of Human Genetics and the National Human Genome Research Institute, supporting programs focused on genomic medicine and the ethical, legal, and social implications of genomics. In her free time, Morgan enjoys watching and playing sports, reading, and scrapbooking.

Lanie Liebovitz

Lanie is from Chicago, Illinois, born and raised in the city. She graduated from Northwestern University in 2025 with a degree in Neuroscience and a minor in Jewish Studies. As an undergraduate, she conducted research in the George Lab at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine characterizing the electrophysiological effects of SCN1A variants implicated in epilepsy. After graduating, she continued this work as a Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellow where she published her undergraduate research and initiated a project developing an assay to study membrane trafficking defects in SCN2A mutations. She also volunteered at the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab assisting patients with mobility challenges resulting from CNS injuries. Lanie loves traveling, exploring new restaurants, and staying active through workout classes, spending time outdoors, and listening to music.

Ilyssa Marsh

Ilyssa is from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Ursinus College in 2024, where she majored in Biology and double minored in Psychology and Science and the Common Good. During her time at Ursinus, Ilyssa conducted research studying protein interactions during oocyte maturation in C. elegans. Ilyssa also volunteered at the Women’s Center of Montgomery County as a crisis counselor for survivors of domestic violence. She went on to spend two years as a GCA at Penn’s Basser Center for BRCA. In her free time, Ilyssa enjoys reading, staying active, playing the clarinet, and spending time with animals.

Julia Mewha

Julia is from Springfield, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Penn State University in 2022 with a degree in biobehavioral health and minors in psychology, bioethics and medical humanities. As an undergraduate, she volunteered as a crisis counselor for Centre Helps, assisted an epidemiology research group, and served as a teaching assistant for a research methods course. After graduation, Julia worked as a clinical researcher in hematology at CHOP under Dr. Stella Chou, focusing on reducing transfusion risks for patients with sickle cell disease. Julia's passions for clinical research, patient advocacy, equity, and education drive her to become a genetic counselor. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hot yoga, skiing, and hiking.

Samantha O'Leary

Samantha is from Saint Louis, Missouri, and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry through the AL/SC Honors Program. Her passion for rare disease advocacy began in a drug discovery lab, where she worked on a therapy for Niemann-Pick Type C. Through her minor in Science and Patient Advocacy, she gained experience supporting rare disease families and helped launch the RARE Project Network as a Student Director, building partnerships between students and advocacy organizations. She further developed her commitment to underserved communities by volunteering at the Clinic for Special Children in Gordonville, Pennsylvania, where she contributed to optimizing a Plain-specific NIPT panel. Samantha enjoys running, traveling, playing pickleball, and exploring new coffee shops.

Toluwani Olarinde

Toluwani is from Montgomery County, Maryland. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2025 with a major in Public Health and a minor in Psychology. As an undergrad, she worked as a genetic assistant for Hopkins Hospital and research associate for a project assessing the diagnostic yield of genetic testing for ataxia. After graduation, she volunteered for Crisis Text Line and worked as a patient service assistant for a perinatal clinic. In her free time Toluwani enjoys reading, hiking, and exploring new places to eat with friends.

Samantha Pipito

Samantha is from Levittown, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Bucks County Community College in 2020 with an associate’s degree in biomedical science, then transferred to Boston University where she completed her bachelor’s degree in 2023. After graduating, Samantha moved back home to start her career as a genetic counseling assistant at the Basser Center for BRCA at Penn Medicine.  Through this role, Samantha has gained valuable patient-facing experience and assisted in developing research projects.  Outside of her passion for genetics, Samantha enjoys spending time with her family at the beach, baking, and staying active through Zumba.

Julia Rusinski

Julia grew up in Medford, New Jersey. She graduated from the University of Delaware in 2024 with degrees in Biological Sciences and Psychology, as well as a minor in Genetic Counseling. After graduating, she worked as a genetic counseling assistant at Boston Medical Center, supporting cancer, prenatal, and pediatric genetic counselors. Inspired by her experiences at BMC, Julia is passionate about expanding access to genetic counseling services in underserved communities. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, cooking, and finding the best cup of coffee wherever she goes.

Caitlyn Shetland

Caitlyn grew up in Griswold, Connecticut. She graduated from the University of Connecticut Honors Program in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular and Cell Biology and a minor in Psychological Sciences. Following graduation, Caitlyn worked as a Genetics Clinical Coordinator for the Smilow Cancer Genetics and Prevention Program at Yale New Haven Health, where she utilized clinical expertise to provide pre-test counseling, coordination of genetic testing, and post-test counseling for patients who tested negative or were found to have variant(s) of uncertain significance. In this role, Caitlyn participated in research initiatives to evaluate the design and implementation of a coordinator-based alternative genetic testing delivery model, called Fast-Track, that was created to address the growing need for cancer genetics services required to guide personalized medicine. In her free time, Caitlyn enjoys cooking, hiking, skiing, and spending time with her two cats, Mabel and June! 

Frances Thiry

Frances is from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and graduated from James Madison University in 2026 with a B.S. in Biotechnology and a minor in Medical Humanities. During undergrad, she was involved in JMU’s Biology Education Research Group with a specific focus on neurodiversity in higher education. Through her minor, she developed a deeper understanding of the relationship between society and biology, which sparked her passion for culturally informed care in genetic counseling. In her free time, she enjoys trying new recipes and working through her backlog of unfinished cross-stitch projects.

Shana Ward

Shana grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and graduated magna cum laude from Loyola University Chicago in 2020 with a B.S. in Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. Following graduation, Shana moved to Philadelphia where she has spent time gaining meaningful patient-facing experiences as a medical scribe, clinical allergy specialist, and most recently, as a clinical research coordinator at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. At CHOP and through the Department of Radiology, Shana has conducted multi-center research with patients who have rare neurodegenerative diseases like Friedreich’s Ataxia and Huntington’s Disease. Through working with these families, she found a passion for rare disease advocacy and an interest in neurogenetics. In her free time, Shana enjoys sourdough baking, reading, and outdoor cycling.