Genetic Counseling Graduate Program
Class of 2010
Elise Bendik
I am from Dayton, OH. I received my B.S. in Botany from
the University of Tennessee and my M.S. in Natural Resources
and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois.
My graduate research focused on the genetic engineering and
evaluation of plant-based subunit vaccines. I volunteered at
the Mental Health Crisis Line and completed an internship in
the Carle Hospital Department of Genetics.
Kim Cubit
I am from Madison, TN, which is right outside of
Nashville. I attended Middle Tennessee State University for
my undergraduate degree in Biology and Psychology. I worked
for two years as a rape crisis counselor and I really
enjoyed the opportunity to help people in crisis situations.
I also interned at Vanderbilt's Center for Human
Genetics Research, where I played an assisting role
to genetic counselors in their research studies.
Kayla Czape
I was born in Louisville, KY and grew up in
Jeffersonville, IN. I went to college at Indiana University
and studied Biology and Spanish. I gained most of my genetic
counseling experience as an intern in a Metabolism/Genetics
clinic in Indianapolis. Outside of my internship, I
volunteered at a local Planned Parenthood and childrens'
museum as well as worked as a research assistant in a
Cognitive Psychology lab.
Erin Kanetzke
I grew up in the
Cincinnati area and graduated from Colgate University in
Hamilton, NY with a Sociology major and Biology minor.
During a summer, I completed a genetic counseling
observational experience at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
I am currently a LEND Trainee.
Sharanya Kumaravel
I was born in Madras, India (Southern
part). I lived in India until I was 3 ½ years old when I
came to America. I graduated from UC San Diego with a major
in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and a minor in Religion. I
shadowed at a prenatal clinic at Thorton Hospital and
volunteered at Planned Parenthood.
Darbey Maheu
I was born in Texas but grew up in Hamilton, OH, just
north of Cincinnati. I attended the University of Notre
Dame and graduated with a degree in Biological Science. I
spent time working at St. Joseph’s hospital in South Bend,
volunteered as an advocate for a rape crisis center,
completed an internship with Planned Parenthood, and
volunteered at Good Samaritan Hospitals Hatton Research
Institute.
Andrea Paal
I am from Indianapolis, IN. I received a degree in
Biology from Purdue University. I conducted my senior
research thesis on the mechanism of sterol synthesis in
yeast. I worked in a Toxicology laboratory studying the
tumor promoting effects of environmental agents, and as a
clinical specialist at the IU Cancer Center in patient
recruitment. My counseling experience includes volunteering
as a peer counselor at a local Pregnancy Care Center.
Ashley Parrott
I was born and raised just across the river from
Cincinnati, in Kenton County, located in Northern Kentucky.
I graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in
Biology. I worked in a Pediatric Genetics Clinic at the
University of Kentucky. I also shadowed a counselor working
in cancer genetics at UK, and volunteered with the
Alzheimer's Association in Lexington, KY during college.
Carrie Prochniak
I am from Minneapolis, MN and graduated from Lawrence
University in Appleton, WI with a double major in
Biochemistry and Spanish. I am hoping to use my Spanish in
genetic counseling in the future. For my undergraduate
honors thesis, I investigated the impact of genetic
conditions on families, specifically exploring family
communication, social support, family coping, and the
psychosocial adjustment of the affected child and the
medically unaffected sibling.
Emily Sites
I grew up in Columbus, OH and attended college at The
Ohio State University. My major was Biology with a focus in
Molecular Genetics. I completed a master’s degree in the
Molecular and Developmental Biology at UC. My project
focused on tumorigenesis in NF1. I volunteered at Columbus
Children’s Hospital, performed cancer genetics research, and
became a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for
children in the Hamilton county foster care system.
Kristen Lipscomb Sund
I am originally from Northern Kentucky but I moved to sunny St. Petersburg, Florida to complete my undergraduate degree in Biology/Chemistry at Eckerd College. After that I spent a year in Umea, Sweden on a Fulbright Scholarship. I returned to Cincinnati and worked for the Environmental Protection Agency for one year prior to applying as a dual degree student in Genetic Counseling and Molecular and Developmental Biology. My research focuses on the developmental causes of atrioventricular septal defects in Ellis van Creveld syndrome. In my time here, I have also began volunteering as the Research Chairperson for a non-profit organization, the International Mosaic Down Syndrome Association, a group that provides support, education and research for those affected with mosaic Down syndrome.