University of Pittsburgh Department of Human Genetics

Other degrees: B.S., Biology B.S., Psychology Degree(s) earned from our Department (and year): Ph.D., 2008 Thesis/dissertation title: The dopaminergic network and genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia Mentor: Vishwajit Nimgaonkar, M.D., Ph.D., Bernie Devlin, Ph.D. Current position: Instructor Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute Why ...

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Shalini Reshmi

PhD

Other degrees: B.S. in Biology Degree(s) earned from our Department (and year): M.S., 1996; Ph.D., 2005 Thesis/dissertation titles: MS: Cytogenetic Analysis of Allgrove Syndrome Ph.D.: Mechanisms Leading to Chromosomal Instability in Oral Cancer Cells Mentor: Susanne M. Gollin, Ph.D., FFACMG Current positions: Assistant Director of Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics Department of Laboratory Medicine Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus, Ohio 43205 Assistant Professor ...

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Meghan Mac Neal

M.S. Genetic Counseling

I received my BS in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (2008) from University of Richmond. I am currently working toward both my MS in Genetic Counseling and my MPH in Public Health Genetics. I work for Dr. Zsolt Urban in the Department of Human Genetics as his clinical coordinator for his various projects about cutis laxa, a rare connective tissue disease, and COPD, a lung disease that is a significant public health concern....

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Barb Harrison

M.S. Genetic Counseling

I graduated with a Bachelors degree in Biology from University of Maryland, College Park, received a Master’s degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of Pittsburgh, and am certified by the American Board of Genetic Counselors. I am currently an Assistant Professor at Howard University and the Co-Director of the Howard University Genetic Counseling Training Program, where I teach graduate and medical students, as well as residents in various specialties. In addition to my academic duties,...

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Erica Silver

M.S. Genetic Counseling

I received my Bachelors of Science degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from California State University, Northridge in 2008. While there, I interned in the Behavioral Health Unit at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. I currently work under Dr. Brand in the Center for Liver Disease.

Suzanne O’Neill

M.S. Genetic Counseling

I received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a Masters degree in liberal studies (with an emphasis in genetics) from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. After working for over 20 years at Stony Brook in a variety of positions in research, teaching and administration, I completed genetic counseling training at the University of Pittsburgh, receiving a Masters degree in genetic counseling in 1998 and certification by the ABGC in 1999. While working as a cancer genetic counselor ...

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Shanna Gustafson

M.S. Genetic Counseling

I knew that I wanted to be a Genetic Counselor as early as high school. Genetics was a specialty in which I was guaranteed to learn something new every day. Genetic counseling provided the opportunity to be a part of this rapidly growing science while making it relevant to everyday healthcare. The minute that I arrived at the University of Pittsburgh for my interview I knew that I had found my new home. The size of the program was just right, not too large, not to small, and the program directors ...

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Christopher Lauricella

M.S. Genetic Counseling

After graduating from the Genetic Counseling Program in 2009, I accepted a position with GeneDx, a company that specializes in genetic testing for hereditary conditions. I have found that I have been able to easily apply what I learned at school into the workplace. My work at GeneDx does not involve day-to-day contact with patients; however, I am in constant contact with other counselors and geneticists through out the day discussing testing options for various clinical cases. A significant portion ...

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Sarah Grams

M.S. Genetic Counseling

I received a Bachelors degree in Biology and Anthropology from University of Wisconsin-Madison (1998), and participated in the University of Pittsburgh’s dual degree program in Genetic Counseling and Public Health, graduating in 2007. I have always been interested in a multidisciplinary approach to learning and found the Public Health coursework to be an excellent compliment to Pittsburgh’s Genetic Counseling program. This direction of study also provided the unique opportunity to combine my interest ...

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Hui-ju Tsai

PhD

Other degrees: MPH Degree(s) earned from our Department (and year): PhD, 2004 Thesis/dissertation title: Comparison of methods incorporating covariates into affected sib pair linkage analysis Mentor: Daniel E. Weeks Current position: Associate Investigator, National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan Why did you choose the University of Pittsburgh for graduate school? Why Human Genetics? I had participated in an international hypertensive study for 2 years before applying PhD programs ...

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Rachelle Christie

M.S. Genetic Counseling

I have my B.S. in biology from the Pennsylvania State University. I currently work for the directors of the Genetic Counseling program.

Xiaojing Wang

PhD

Other degrees: M.S. in Cell Genetics M.S. in Biostatistics Degree(s) earned from our Department (and year): PhD, 2007 Thesis/dissertation title: Genetic Architecture of Bone Strength Related Phenotypes: Tobago Family Health Study Mentor: Candace M. Kammerer PhD Current position: Research Assistant Professor, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Why did you choose the University of Pittsburgh for graduate school? Why Human Genetics?...

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Christa Lese Martin

PhD

Name: Christa Lese Martin, Ph.D., FACMG Other degrees: B.S. in Developmental Biology/Genetics (Penn State University) Degree(s) earned from our Department (and year): Ph.D. in Human Genetics, 1996 Thesis/dissertation title: Classical and Molecular Cytogenetic Analysis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Mentor: Susanne Gollin, Ph.D., FACMG Current position: Associate Professor, Department of Human Genetics, Emory University; Operations Director and Senior Cytogenetics Laboratory ...

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