Author Bios

Jessica Giordano

Jess engages in genetic counseling in prenatal, pediatric, and oncology settings within a culturally diverse urban setting in NYC. She strives to empower individuals to make decisions in manner that is informed by science and self-understanding. Jessica believes that the future of the genetic counseling profession relies on the genetic counselor’s ability to respond to and integrate advances in research, thoughts of the media, and beliefs of the public GCs serve. She completed her undergraduate studies of Biology at Boston College and graduate studies in human genetics and genetic counseling at Sarah Lawrence College where she also earned a certificate in Public Health Genomics.

Allie Janson Hazell (Administrator)

Allie is fascinated by the relationship between medical science, the individual and society. She is particularly interested in personalized medicine and the potential for the web to transform the health provider-patient experience, specifically within the genetics community. She currently works in Toronto at Medcan, a preventative health clinic offering personal genome testing. Previously she worked at the Adult Genetics clinic at University Health Network/Mount Sinai Hospital. She obtained her Master’s degree in 2008, with a certificate in Public Health Genetics/Genomics.  Allie also writes for the blog herNaturehisNurture, and can be found on Twitter here.

Laura Hercher

Laura is a faculty member at the Joan H. Marks Human Genetics Program at Sarah Lawrence College, where she has helped develop programs exploring the ethical and social implications of new genetic technology in the practice of medicine.  A genetic counselor with a Master’s degree in English literature, her interests include history, philosophy and the genetic basis of psychiatric disease.

Robert Resta

Robert Resta has been a genetic counselor since 1983. He has special interest in prenatal diagnosis and cancer genetics, as well has historical, social, ethical, and psychological aspects of genetic counseling. He is a former Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Genetic Counseling, and has edited and authored numerous publications. He is currently the director of the Hereditary Cancer Clinic at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.

Kelly Rogel (Administrator)

Kelly is a genetic counselor contractor provider with Informed Medical Decisions, Inc.  She has special interest in nontraditional genetic counseling roles including utilizing the Internet to provide genetic counseling services.  She is working to improve relationships between the disability, genetics, and medical communities.  Kelly also enjoys exploring bioethical issues. She obtained her B.S. in Genetics from the University of Kansas and graduated with her Masters in Human Genetics in 2008.  She writes for this blog.