B.S., Biological Sciences, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 1987 M.S., Genetic Counseling, University of Pittsburgh, 1991 Ph.D., Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, 2002
About:
Dr. Grubs is Co-Director, Genetic Counseling Program. Dr. Grubs' teaching interests are in genetic counseling and clinical genetics. She is responsible for the course work for the graduate program in Genetic Counseling and lectures in genetic courses taught in the Department of Human Genetics and in the University of Pittsburgh Medical School. She also serves as the Genetic Counseling Program coordinator for the clinical rotations sites at several hospitals located in the Pittsburgh area. Dr. Grubs is interested in the development of genetic educational programs for health care professionals and the general public.
Dr. Grubs' research interests include studying the human dilemmas that arise when individuals are confronted with the option of genetic testing and examining the process of genetic counseling. Using grounded theory, Dr. Grubs has studied the experiences of women/couples who were offered prenatal genetic testing. She found that these women/couples did not experience making a decision about prenatal genetic testing as a discrete medical event but rather as an emotionally charged, value-laden dilemma within the fabric of their lives. Dr. Grubs has expanded her research to study other groups of individuals who are offered genetic testing outside of a prenatal setting. Another research interest includes exploring issues related to interpretive approaches to qualitative research and using interpretive inquiry to generate theories of genetic counseling practice and the educational preparation of professionals in genetic counseling.
Research Interests:
Genetic counseling and education; experiences of individuals living with genetic risk and decision making about genetic testing
Genetic counseling practice analysis. Heather Hampel, Robin E Grubs, Carol S Walton, Emma Nguyen, Daniel H Breidenbach, Steve Nettles, Nancy Callanan, Meagan Corliss, Stephanie Fox, Susan Hiraki, Lisa Ku, Whitney Neufeld-Kaiser, Bronson Riley, Jamie Taylor, LuAnn Weik J Genet Couns 2009 Jun; 18:205-16
