We would like to congratulate the newest
class of the University of Cincinnati Genetic Counseling Program! We are so
excited for you to join us, Class of '13!
Check out student bios
here: http://geneticcounseling4u.org/about/students.html
Now
that the interview process is over, second years are finishing up their theses
and first years are prepping for their intensive reasearch rotation, as well as
summer rotations! Students will be placed in Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus
OH; Charlotte, NC; Las Vegas, NV; Atlanta, GA; and Nashville, TN! We will
hopefully have some students blog while they are on their summer
rotations!
More posts to come about Spring quarter, and the graduation of
the second years!
Posted by Leslie Gress, First year
student
5.12.2011
4.10.2011
Winter conference, Spring baseball
It has been a very busy time in the GCP! We
have been putting lots of energy into our interview season! First years had a
very busy winter quarter, and second years are wrapping up their thesis
projects. It's hard to believe that in only 8 weeks, the year will be
over!
In March, a few of the first years volunteered for a BRCA conference for those in the community that have a mutation and may have had breast cancer. It was an awesome day organized by fellow GCs at Children's and St. Elizabeth Hospital sponsored by Check Your Genes. There were several speakers that came to talk to attendees including surgeons, radiologists, survivors, and of course - genetic counselors. There were also breakout sessions where people could learn more about BRCA, discuss telling their families about their mutation, understand how this may change sexuality, etc. It was a very long day, but it was SO interesting to be around our potential patients in Cancer Clinic all day and hear all the information they had to give. In thinking about all the doctors that were there, it was interesting to also hear about all the other members of the medical community that GCs need to work with to truly understand the impact of BRCA mutations on our patients.
Although it's been a busy few weeks, it hasn't been
ALL work. The baseball season started and some of us girls headed to see the
Cincinnati Reds on opening night to help donate to the Fetal Care Center at
CCHMC. It was a beautiful evening and there were fireworks after! Luckily
the Reds won. It's so fun to be able to enjoy each other's company outside of
school and to be able to keep discovering Cincinnati together. There were a
total of 10 of us at the game - and I'm sure we'll be going to a few more before
we all leave for our summer rotations!
Speaking of summer rotations, some of the first years have
nailed down where they will be! We will be heading to Charlotte (NC), Las Vegas,
Cleveland, Washington DC, Denver, Newfoundland (Canada), Atlanta, and three will
be heading to Nashville! Almost everyone has the details smoothed out, and are
rotating in prenatal and/or cancer rotations. We are all very excited for our
summer sites!
The second years are also very excited as they are beginning to get jobs! One has a cancer job in Atlanta, one establishing genetic counseling in Illinois, one in Kentucky -- and several more are within the last stages of interviews! It is a very exciting time for the program & my classmates.
It is my effort to keep this more up-to-date this quarter prior to heading to summer rotations! We are very excited to welcome a new class here in a few weeks, and I am sure all of the details will be posted in short time. As a first year, it is hard to imagine that only a year ago, we were all interviewing. We've learned SO much since then - in classes, clinic, with our thesis. It is mind-boggling to think that this time next year, we will almost be graduates! We couldn't be more excited to enter the GC field :)
Posted by Leslie Gress, First Year Student
In March, a few of the first years volunteered for a BRCA conference for those in the community that have a mutation and may have had breast cancer. It was an awesome day organized by fellow GCs at Children's and St. Elizabeth Hospital sponsored by Check Your Genes. There were several speakers that came to talk to attendees including surgeons, radiologists, survivors, and of course - genetic counselors. There were also breakout sessions where people could learn more about BRCA, discuss telling their families about their mutation, understand how this may change sexuality, etc. It was a very long day, but it was SO interesting to be around our potential patients in Cancer Clinic all day and hear all the information they had to give. In thinking about all the doctors that were there, it was interesting to also hear about all the other members of the medical community that GCs need to work with to truly understand the impact of BRCA mutations on our patients.
The second years are also very excited as they are beginning to get jobs! One has a cancer job in Atlanta, one establishing genetic counseling in Illinois, one in Kentucky -- and several more are within the last stages of interviews! It is a very exciting time for the program & my classmates.
It is my effort to keep this more up-to-date this quarter prior to heading to summer rotations! We are very excited to welcome a new class here in a few weeks, and I am sure all of the details will be posted in short time. As a first year, it is hard to imagine that only a year ago, we were all interviewing. We've learned SO much since then - in classes, clinic, with our thesis. It is mind-boggling to think that this time next year, we will almost be graduates! We couldn't be more excited to enter the GC field :)
Posted by Leslie Gress, First Year Student
3.24.2011
Volunteering & VCFS!
I know it has been awhile since
something has been posted - winter quarter surely is a busy one for the GCP!
While I take the time to write some blog posts about that, check out this
awesome experience a first year, Laura, had at a VCFS community
day!
A few weekends ago, we were able to take advantage of a fantastic opportunity to volunteer with the Velo Cardio Facial Syndrome (VCFS) support group for the afternoon. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center put together a support group for the parents and families of children with VCFS. While the parents were listening to lecturers, some of the GCP girls were able to play with their children.
Until a few weeks ago I had never heard of VCFS or worked with a child who had VCFS so this was a great opportunity for me to hang out and get to know some of our VCFS patient population. VCFS is a genetic condition that can affect the palate, heart, and face. Children with VCFS can have a cleft palate, heart defects, minor learning problems and delays, speech problems, hearing loss, behavioral problems or mood swings, and feeding problems. This syndrome is variable and every patient doesn’t have all of these features.
-- Laura Fairbrother, First year Student
A few weekends ago, we were able to take advantage of a fantastic opportunity to volunteer with the Velo Cardio Facial Syndrome (VCFS) support group for the afternoon. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center put together a support group for the parents and families of children with VCFS. While the parents were listening to lecturers, some of the GCP girls were able to play with their children.
Until a few weeks ago I had never heard of VCFS or worked with a child who had VCFS so this was a great opportunity for me to hang out and get to know some of our VCFS patient population. VCFS is a genetic condition that can affect the palate, heart, and face. Children with VCFS can have a cleft palate, heart defects, minor learning problems and delays, speech problems, hearing loss, behavioral problems or mood swings, and feeding problems. This syndrome is variable and every patient doesn’t have all of these features.
While we were off pretending like we were kids
again with the patients and their siblings in the backrooms of the church, the
parents were listening to presentations on VCFS and the VCFS clinic given by our
geneticists and genetic counselors. Dr. Hopkin presented ‘What’s in a Name?’,
which described the reasoning behind the nomenclature for VCFS (velum for
palate, cardia for the heart, and facies for the face). Dr. Saal talked about
the role of the VCFS clinic at CCHMC and the hopes and future plans for the
clinic and its staff.
There were six first year and one second year
students who decided to spend their Saturday morning volunteering. When we
arrived at Vineyards Church on the north side of Cincinnati, we set up the
lecture room for the parents. We were able to provide the children and their
families a delicious breakfast and then play time began. We set up four separate
rooms for the children and young adults to hang out in. We had a teen room, an
arts and crafts room, a movie room, and a play/toy room. In the arts and crafts room we made
Valentine’s Day cards - one of the little girls even made me one :) The toy room was a blast! We had
building blocks, mini golf sets, bowling sets, and dolls for the kids to play
with. The biggest hit of the afternoon was the balloons. We had one big game of
‘don’t let the balloon hit the ground’ which was a huge success. We even had our
doctors involved - Dr. Hopkin rocks at making paper airplanes. After play time
(and learning time for the adults), we all got back together to mingle and enjoy
lunch.
I must say the VCFS volunteering opportunity was
one of the highlights of my quarter so far! The kids were awesome and they gave
me a chance to let loose and refine by coloring/Play –doh skills. I can’t wait
for the next opportunity to work with this patient
population!
-- Laura Fairbrother, First year Student
1.19.2011
A Voice: "There's an App for that!"
As I sit here in our program's area at
Children's, I've got white earbuds jammed in my ears bringing me wonderful music
from my iPod. Some of us might have iPhones, Droids, or other smart devices
which we use to text, checkour facebooks as if something majorly important needs
our attention, tweet with twitter apps, or play games like Sudoku or Angry
Birds. Yet, have we really thought of the potential of these devices?
Using google I found this picture of the one, the only, the iPad. Now, my thinking might be primitive, but I expected business people to use this for hands-on presentations, checking the stock market, sending emails. I expected my Grandma to use it to read a book through a Kindle App. In a little google search "uses of iPad," some of the top uses were for Mobile Gaming, eReading, Business, texting and tweeting, watching TV/videos, and using it as a GPS. However, I'm not sure the creators of this device ever expected it to give someone language.
Using google I found this picture of the one, the only, the iPad. Now, my thinking might be primitive, but I expected business people to use this for hands-on presentations, checking the stock market, sending emails. I expected my Grandma to use it to read a book through a Kindle App. In a little google search "uses of iPad," some of the top uses were for Mobile Gaming, eReading, Business, texting and tweeting, watching TV/videos, and using it as a GPS. However, I'm not sure the creators of this device ever expected it to give someone language.
Setting: I'm a first year student rotating in our clinic space.
This clinic space is sometimes shared among services - so today there was a
Cancer Genetics rotation and an Aerodigestive clinic. While I was only in one of
them, everyone is very friendly and we share insights about patients (more like
they share, and I, the student, listen). I had just stepped out of a room with
a patient, and was called over to the other side of clinic by one of our
Geneticists. She said "you've got to see this!" - and she was right.
In front of me was a six-year-old child in a wheelchair who had
several health complications due to her condition. Up to a few months ago, her
family and doctors thought she was basically non-communicative. She wouldn't
respond in animated ways when her mother talked to her, she wouldn't ask for
anything, she wouldn't move her arms. Then, she got her iPad.
I didn't pry into how exactly the idea of getting an iPad was
brought up with the family, but the mother seemed very active in her child's
care and after six years of low to no communication, I wouldn't doubt that she
figured this out for her daughter in talking with other parents.
The six-year-old girl could now click on a drink application on
the iPad homescreen, and tell her mom what she wanted to drink. She could play
educational games and point to the correct shapes if you asked her. She knew who
the Disney Princesses were now. Her mom said to me "last week, she read her
first book all by herself." Her mom said they both had more freedom, and how
special it was to be able to communicate with her daughter after all this time.
To me, I was SO touched, I had to hold back the tears. Here I was (as well as
most of the population) playing on iPads, thinking they're "cool," playing
mindless games, checking my e-mail and then here was this child who was given
language with an iPad. Just think of not being able to verbalize your
needs, wants, desires. Not knowing popular culture. Not reading. Not
Communicating. And then, with a new-age device - you can. I can say
confidently, it was an experience I will never forget. It most certainly put
things into perspective, and showed me so many lessons on all I have to be
thankful for, and just how sweet technology is becoming.
I don't think the inventors of the iPad ever intended for such a
large impact on that child and family, and me in clinic that day. But I do think
that everyone needs to take a step back and realize just what this technology
can do for patients and families. Not only with genetic conditions, but with
several lifelong conditions. There are tools for them, and sometimes it seems we
just have to think outside of the box.
I wonder if there's an App for that.
Posted by Leslie Gress, First year
1.17.2011
Happy New Year!
It's a busy start of 2011 for the
GCP!
This quarter, first years are taking two different classes than last quarter and beginning to work hard on their Thesis Projects. So far, I think we're all enjoying Epidemiology and Embryology very much! Our professors are very fun to learn with, and make the long classes go fast :)
Other than that, I think first years are "Thesis-heavy" right now - we're figuring out our research questions, meeting with our advisors, and beginning to think about IRB submission. With all of us working on different topics and projects, I think it is very exciting to hear where everyone is at in the process and how they're liking their project so far. It's a longgg project so I won't be surprised if frustrations happen sooner than later!
We're ALL very busy in clinic. Right now, I'm rotating with the Hereditary Cancer Program. It's such an interesting rotation and I've seen a lot of cases that makes me excited about what's to come in research for genetics. For example, I saw a family and I thought for SURE they would have a genetic mutation that would pre-dispose them to cancer, raising their risk. Only to find out while taking the family history, they had tested negative for such a mutation. It made me want to figure out all I could for this family, and made me so excited about my field. With more research and understanding, we'll be able to provide answers for more famillies, and hopefully ensure better medical care. It may be dorky - but it surely is exciting!
This quarter is a busy one - but we've got more updates coming! Next on the list: a unique clinic experience :)
Until then!
Posted by Leslie Gress, First Year
This quarter, first years are taking two different classes than last quarter and beginning to work hard on their Thesis Projects. So far, I think we're all enjoying Epidemiology and Embryology very much! Our professors are very fun to learn with, and make the long classes go fast :)
Other than that, I think first years are "Thesis-heavy" right now - we're figuring out our research questions, meeting with our advisors, and beginning to think about IRB submission. With all of us working on different topics and projects, I think it is very exciting to hear where everyone is at in the process and how they're liking their project so far. It's a longgg project so I won't be surprised if frustrations happen sooner than later!
We're ALL very busy in clinic. Right now, I'm rotating with the Hereditary Cancer Program. It's such an interesting rotation and I've seen a lot of cases that makes me excited about what's to come in research for genetics. For example, I saw a family and I thought for SURE they would have a genetic mutation that would pre-dispose them to cancer, raising their risk. Only to find out while taking the family history, they had tested negative for such a mutation. It made me want to figure out all I could for this family, and made me so excited about my field. With more research and understanding, we'll be able to provide answers for more famillies, and hopefully ensure better medical care. It may be dorky - but it surely is exciting!
This quarter is a busy one - but we've got more updates coming! Next on the list: a unique clinic experience :)
Until then!
Posted by Leslie Gress, First Year
12.16.2010
A new endeavor: First Years get Thesis Assignments!
A few weeks ago, I wrote about
how our program director, Melanie, was matching the first years up for thesis
projects. Some of us have come from a research background, and others have not.
Personally I have not!
My topic is "Assessing the Needs of Adults with Genetic Disorders." Pretty broad, right? I guess that's one thing about my project I like. Some of my classmates have a more pinpoitned subject, but I like that I can kind of take my project wherever it wants to go. I'm working with a great advisor, Dr. Rob Hopkin, who's really active in our program and runs the Human Genetics course we (the first years) just finished. I have to be honest though - the project is intimidating! Right now I'm so excited about my thesis and about the research I could be doing. I feel like it might actually make a difference to genetic counseling and to how we practice. Basically, there are a lot of genetic conditions where children survive into adulthood and cannot be seen at Pediatric instutions which just happens to be where a bulk of geneticists practice. Obviously this would make their medical management, prognosis,etc. very hard. On the same tolken, some people may not even know that they have a genetic disorder until a family member is diagnosed and then they come in for adult genetic services (not to be confused with adult ONSET.. yikes!). My project is looking at what these adults need, why they came to genetics, what difference a genetic consultation made in their medical management, and how health professionals can provide best care for these patients. It's exciting now, but I'm sure after 18 months of it I'll be ready to be done!
I asked a few of my classmates what they thought about Thesis Projects. Meron Azage, a fellow GA with me, sent me this little blurb:
My topic is "Assessing the Needs of Adults with Genetic Disorders." Pretty broad, right? I guess that's one thing about my project I like. Some of my classmates have a more pinpoitned subject, but I like that I can kind of take my project wherever it wants to go. I'm working with a great advisor, Dr. Rob Hopkin, who's really active in our program and runs the Human Genetics course we (the first years) just finished. I have to be honest though - the project is intimidating! Right now I'm so excited about my thesis and about the research I could be doing. I feel like it might actually make a difference to genetic counseling and to how we practice. Basically, there are a lot of genetic conditions where children survive into adulthood and cannot be seen at Pediatric instutions which just happens to be where a bulk of geneticists practice. Obviously this would make their medical management, prognosis,etc. very hard. On the same tolken, some people may not even know that they have a genetic disorder until a family member is diagnosed and then they come in for adult genetic services (not to be confused with adult ONSET.. yikes!). My project is looking at what these adults need, why they came to genetics, what difference a genetic consultation made in their medical management, and how health professionals can provide best care for these patients. It's exciting now, but I'm sure after 18 months of it I'll be ready to be done!
I asked a few of my classmates what they thought about Thesis Projects. Meron Azage, a fellow GA with me, sent me this little blurb:
"I
will be working with Elizabeth Schorry, MD on her project to look at fracture
rates in adults and elderly patients with Neurofibromatosis
Type 1. Dr
Schorry is an associate professor of clinical pediatrics and an expert researcher in
the field of NF1 study. I am interested in this topic and I am very excited to
get started on this project. I am however, a little intimidated by this process
because I have never worked on a study before. My plan of action at this moment
is to stay organized and remember the satisfaction of overcoming a
challenge."
Some of the other topics this year
include:
- Predictive Testing in Adult onset
Neurological Disorders
- Long-Term Cancer Survivor Genetic
Assessment
- Impacts of BRCA mutations on family
relationships
- Investigations on Acute Necrotizing
Encephalopathy
They're all so
different it's so exciting! I feel like we all have the support of each other
and the program that we will be able to be successful in our projects -
hopefully without too much frustration!!
Leslie
Gress, First Year
12.13.2010
Work Hard, Play Hard!
The
quarter is officially over! The first years survived and the second years are in
the home stretch!
I
think a big part of being successful in any graduate program is to know how to
balance - your school life vs. your home life, fun vs. work, knowing when you've
reached your limit, etc. I feel like this is even more important in our lives as
GC students. We are learning how to build rapport with our patients and
families, how to support them, how to give them a helping hand when they may
need it. I feel like in learning to do that, we spontaneously do it with each
other. I know I could go to any one of my classmates and ask their
perspective on something, or help with a concept - we truly do all support each
other. While we are here at the hospital and "on campus" for long days at a
time, we also make sure we have time to have fun and explore Cincinnati!
September:
Most of the first years ('12) and some second years at a Prom for Special Needs
Children at a church on the West side of Cincinnati. Each of us got an "escort"
and got to do things throughout the night like dance, play games, and eat food!
Our escorts ranged in age from teens to adulthood and it was a really good
experience and it was fun to dress up and enjoy the night
together!
November:
With 12 people in a class, it's easy to find things to do.
Nicki Smith ('12) found a great event at Eden Park in Mt. Adams, a
neighborhood of Cincinnati, with hot air balloons! They light them up at
sunset, and you can even get hot chocolate.. I was really jealous of all my
classmate that got to go! It really seemed like a fun event. In
general, Cincinnati promotes its park program which makes the fall
season really enjoyable and a nice break from school work!
As you can see, there's plenty to do in Cincinnati and in having fun outside of the hospital and classes, I feel like it makes our time at school that much more productive. We know each other very well and are able to provide feedback during roleplays, or help during stressful times in ways we may not have been able to if we didn't know each other so well. This is part of the reason I personally came to Cincinnati - it feels like home! As we all went our separate ways for Christmas break, it was exciting to hear everyone's plans but I think we're already looking forward to being reunited for Winter Quarter!
Happy
holidays from the UC GCP! :)
Leslie
Gress, First Year
11.18.2010
Hustle & Bustle in the GCP!
It's a busy time of year for the students
and staff here at the program!
First years have begun their clinic rotations and are about to wrap up their first quarter of classes. We just had a big Molecular Genetics test on Monday, and finished a few weeks with what seemed to be endless assignments for other classes. It's nice looking at the rest of our "to-do" list: only a few exams and we are onto Christmas break! Although, I think the lesson a lot of us are learning in our first few weeks here at UC is that the "to-do" list is surely going to be never-ending over the next two years! The "buzz" around us is all about thesis topics - we submitted our choices to Melanie on Monday and are waiting to hear back which project we will be devoting endless hours to over the rest of our time here. We were really lucky to have great choices to pick from, and I think most of us would be happy with whatever we get! Updates on that are sure to come!
Second years are deep into their research for their Thesis projects. In talking with a few of them, it seems they are really enjoying their classes, especially Advanced Genetic Counseling and Teratology. Also they are seeing more patients on average because several of them are in a specialty clinic setting. Even though I'm just a first year, I get the feeling that the second years really enjoyed their summer rotations, but are glad to be back at Children's and UC and wrapping up their time on the way to graduation in June!
The program staff is also busy! Like I said, Melanie is matching students for thesis projects which I'm sure is keeping her busy. Katie is preparing the rest of the clinic schedule for the first years, and Kathleen and Carrie are always busy as well! I think we are all VERY thankful for our program coordinator, Bette Young, who joined the program staff in September. Speaking from experience, if there is a superhero out there - it IS Bette! She is such a pleasant woman and can get anyone whatever information you need. She also keeps little treats for us - like pretzels, or cough drops when you're ill, and recently hand lotion has made an appearance since winter is approaching!
I'd say generally all is good and happy here at the GCP. I'm working on some more specific blog posts about clinic experiences, classroom experiences, and other things - just waiting for some feedback from my classmates to be able to post! :-)
Thanks for joining us on our blog-endeavor! Remember, you can e-mail us gcgradstudent@cchmc.org or comment below. Have a great day!
Posted by: Leslie Gress, First Year
First years have begun their clinic rotations and are about to wrap up their first quarter of classes. We just had a big Molecular Genetics test on Monday, and finished a few weeks with what seemed to be endless assignments for other classes. It's nice looking at the rest of our "to-do" list: only a few exams and we are onto Christmas break! Although, I think the lesson a lot of us are learning in our first few weeks here at UC is that the "to-do" list is surely going to be never-ending over the next two years! The "buzz" around us is all about thesis topics - we submitted our choices to Melanie on Monday and are waiting to hear back which project we will be devoting endless hours to over the rest of our time here. We were really lucky to have great choices to pick from, and I think most of us would be happy with whatever we get! Updates on that are sure to come!
Second years are deep into their research for their Thesis projects. In talking with a few of them, it seems they are really enjoying their classes, especially Advanced Genetic Counseling and Teratology. Also they are seeing more patients on average because several of them are in a specialty clinic setting. Even though I'm just a first year, I get the feeling that the second years really enjoyed their summer rotations, but are glad to be back at Children's and UC and wrapping up their time on the way to graduation in June!
The program staff is also busy! Like I said, Melanie is matching students for thesis projects which I'm sure is keeping her busy. Katie is preparing the rest of the clinic schedule for the first years, and Kathleen and Carrie are always busy as well! I think we are all VERY thankful for our program coordinator, Bette Young, who joined the program staff in September. Speaking from experience, if there is a superhero out there - it IS Bette! She is such a pleasant woman and can get anyone whatever information you need. She also keeps little treats for us - like pretzels, or cough drops when you're ill, and recently hand lotion has made an appearance since winter is approaching!
I'd say generally all is good and happy here at the GCP. I'm working on some more specific blog posts about clinic experiences, classroom experiences, and other things - just waiting for some feedback from my classmates to be able to post! :-)
Thanks for joining us on our blog-endeavor! Remember, you can e-mail us gcgradstudent@cchmc.org or comment below. Have a great day!
Posted by: Leslie Gress, First Year
10.29.2010
Hello & Welcome!
Welcome to the official blog for the
Genetic Counseling Program of the University of Cincinnati in association with
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. We are looking forward to keeping
in touch with alumni and sharing with prospective students through the
experiences of our current students and staff that will be shared
here!
More to come shortly!
LAG
More to come shortly!
LAG
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