UC Genetic Counseling Graduate Program | About Our Program | Students and Faculty

UC GCP > About Our Program > Current Students

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.

Class of 2011

	Sarah Applin I grew up in Tonawanda, NY, a suburb of Buffalo, NY. I received a B.S. in Biotechnology from Rochester Institute of Technology (or RIT for short). I volunteered at a crisis hotline for adults with developmental disabilities for two summers as well as volunteered as a rape crisis counselor with Planned Parenthood. I also shadowed Genetic Counselors at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital, both located in Buffalo, NY, as well as a prenatal Genetic Counselor at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY. I also enjoy spending one week out of the summer volunteering as a camp counselor at MDA camp in Rush, NY.
	Kelly Berger I am from Oregon, Ohio, just outside Toledo. I graduated from Heidelberg University in December of 2008 with a B.S. in Biology. Interning at Nationwide Children’s Hospital Research Institute researching the measles virus and at Community Hospice Care working with the Social Worker and Bereavement Coordinator has proved invaluable in preparing me for a career in genetic counseling. Most recently I’ve shadowed at genetic counselor in the Toledo area.
	Becky Bettin I grew up in a small town in northern Wisconsin 52 miles south of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where I received my B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. After graduation I accepted a position to work as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist in the Endocrine laboratory at the Mayo Clinic. Throughout my three and half years at Mayo, I have gained valuable skills in the areas of LC/MS/MS, HPLC and genetic testing. Some of my responsibilities in the laboratory included preparing, extracting, and analyzing patient samples and then reporting the results. My interest in Genetic Counseling grew from my passion in the field of genetics, and my desire to help and provide support for people in need. Working at the Mayo clinic also provided me with the opportunity to work with a variety of genetic counselors and the chance to shadow a cancer genetics counselor in the clinic. The time I spent shadowing helped to solidify my desire to become a genetics counselor. I am ecstatic to be accepted in to the Genetic Counseling Program at UC! It took two attempts for me to reach my goal, but all the hard work was worth it! I am looking forward to getting to know my fellow classmates and excited and ready to work on my path towards becoming a Genetics Counselor!
	Alana Cecchi I grew up in Traverse City, MI, which sits on the shores of Northern Lake Michigan. I received my Bachelor's of Science degree from Michigan State University in Microbiology with a specialization in Bioethics and Humanities. During my undergraduate career, I spent time volunteering in a domestic violence shelter, shadowing genetic counselors and eventually working at the Michigan State University Genetics Clinic.
	Jessica Connor I grew up in a small town near Madison, WI. I attended University of Wisconsin – Madison for my undergraduate degree and received a Bachelor’s of Science degree, majoring in Genetics. I volunteered as an advocate on a parent stressline and as a co-facilitator in a support group for teen girls. I worked in a biochemical genetics lab, testing gene therapy for muscular dystrophy. I also worked at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health where I supported various service learning, community engagement, and community based participatory research projects. I had the opportunity to lead my own community based participatory research project my senior year that used Photovoice to address tobacco use in a low income African American community.
	Jacqueline Kara I grew up in Fairlawn, Ohio, which is just north of Akron, and graduated from the University of Dayton with a Biology major and History minor. I gained counseling experience as an intern at the Community Health Center, which specializes in the treatment of patients with opiate addictions through medically assisted detoxification programs. In addition, I shadowed genetic counselors at Akron Children’s Hospital Genetic and Metabolism Center.
	Emily King I am from Bethalto, IL which is close to St. Louis, MO. I graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a double major in Psychology and Biological Sciences. I have volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House and worked at an adolescent substance abuse rehabilitation facility. I have shadowed genetic counselors in St. Louis and Chicago, IL, and attended a summer intership at Northwestern University's Genetic Counseling program. I am currently working for Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis on a research study on the genetics of alcoholism and other psychiatric disorders.
	Jennifer Lemons I grew up in Martinsville, Indiana, which is about 40 minutes south of Indianapolis. In May 2007, I graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in Biology and a Spanish minor. While earning my degree, I worked as a veterinary technician, volunteered at Purdue's Large Animal Hospital and a local wildlife rescue, and served as a Spanish translator for a real estate agency focused on aiding low-income families. Currently, I volunteer with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). I co-teach a 12 week course focused on helping family members with loved ones affected by mental illness. Also in my spare time, I enjoy serving as a church youth counselor for grades 7-12.
	Heidi Malkuch I am from Pennock, MN, which is a small town in the central part of the state. I graduated from North Dakota State University in Fargo with a Biotechnology major and Chemistry and Microbiology minors. During my undergraduate years, I worked as a research assistant in a plant genetics lab and a molecular biology lab. I spent time observing a clinical geneticist in Grand Forks, ND and a genetic counselor in St. Cloud, MN. I volunteered in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Fargo and worked for the county public health department.
	Jessica Pack I’m from Corydon, IN and graduated in May from Indiana University with a degree in biology with minors in psychology and music studies. I’ve been a peer counselor at my university and also completed an internship with Norton Healthcare in Louisville, KY, in the genetic counseling department. In my spare time, I love to travel, collect vinyl records, and attempt to improve my self-proclaimed status as a Beatles aficionado.
	Kyla Patek I was born in Bad Cannstatt, Germany and grew up as an army brat moving across the country. I attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and graduated with a BS in individualized studies, focusing in genetics and psychology. I spent a year as a volunteer working with children with disabilities in AmeriCorps and also worked in a medical microbiology lab and volunteered as a crisis line advocate in a domestic abuse shelter during my undergraduate years.
	Elizabeth Reilly I grew up in Berea, Kentucky and graduated with a degree in Biology from Xavier University. My senior thesis research was completed during the summer at Indiana University and focused on microRNA-mediated gene regulation in ovarian cancer. During my senior year of college I shadowed several genetic counselors at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
	Justine Snyder I’m a California native and 1989 graduate of San Diego State University. Northern Kentucky has been my home for the past 14 years. I’m a wife and mother of two boys, ages 9 and 14. I work part-time at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in the Women’s Wellness Breast Center. I’ve completed several classes in the genetics program, shadowed genetic counselors, and volunteered at a breast cancer support group.