By: Rachel Hodan, MS, CGC on behalf of the Advisory Board of the Lauren Ryan Genetic Counselor Assess Memorial Award
Many readers likely knew Lauren Ryan, a beloved genetic counselor, colleague, and friend. Lauren embodied the tenets of genetic counseling in her intellectual curiosity, her work ethic, and her incredible empathy. She was multifaceted (heterogeneous I dare say?). She loved dogs and babies, burritos, and vegan food, could make a snarky comment when needed and she had horribly weak ankles. She once casually stepped off a street corner in San Francisco after we had lunch and ended up with bilateral twisted ankles.
Lauren graduated from the University of Missouri with a BS in Biological Sciences and a minor in leadership and public service. She was in the inaugural class of the California State University Stanislaus Genetic Counselor program and graduated in 2010. She was interested in moving to the Bay Area and energized by being part of something new. She harnessed this “first” mentality when she was hired as the first Genetic Counselor at Color Health, then a small Silicon Valley start-up. She built and managed a team at Color and then took a position at GRAIL in 2021 as a senior manager.
While she built her leadership skills, Lauren’s GC professional work also focused on supporting “any and all initiatives that would build a more diverse and inclusive community and increase equitable access to genetic counseling services”. Those are Lauren’s own words in her application to be a board member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. She was elected to the NSGC board and was slated to serve starting January 2023. She tragically died in a car accident in December 2022.
Lauren’s list of volunteer positions through NSGC and beyond take up an entire column of her CV, including her incredible work on SIG committees, varied working groups and task forces, and she was recognized as NSGC’s 2021 Outstanding Volunteer Award recipient. She was passionate about supporting GC students and would always give of her time to prospective students for informational interviews or shadowing. Lauren was known for taking students randomly out for a free meal—acknowledgement of the practical needs of a student that may be overlooked. It was this support for students and our own profound personal grief, that led our small advisory group to develop the Lauren Ryan Genetic Counselor Access Memorial Award. The award is housed under NSGC’s non-profit The Genetic Counseling Foundation. The first planned award will be given in Summer 2025 to a rising 2nd year GC student, and we encourage those who are eligible to apply.
Lauren admired the field of genetic counseling, but she was also committed to its growth and improvement. The mission of the award is to increase access to the field of genetic counseling for traditionally underrepresented populations through financial support. We have had tremendous grassroots funding support, but we have not yet met our sustainability goal to allow for ongoing awards. We are achingly close! We would be so grateful if you would consider an individual donation or send us leads on additional corporate sponsorship. Tax-deductible donations to support Lauren’s legacy can be made here.
Any number of her friends could tell a meaningful story about Lauren. Here is one of mine: Lauren was the first person I told when I passed my board exam. Yes, these were the times before you found out immediately. I raced down the hallway to her office at the UCSF Cancer Risk Program and shouted so loud that multiple people came out to see what the emergency was. Lauren was jumping up and down with excitement for me, crying because I was crying, so full of joy and life and support and friendship. She was the best conversationalist you have ever encountered, and an absolute gem of a person. We miss you so much Laur.
Lauren Ryan GC Access Memorial Award Advisory Board
Mary Bloszies
MaryAnn Campion, EdD, MS, CGC
Elizabeth Duff
Carrie Haverty, MS, CGC
Carmelina Heydrich, MS, CGC
Rachel Hodan, MS, CGC
Carla McGruder, MS, CGC
Cindy Morgan, MS, CGC
Diego Quintero, MS
Lily Servais, MS, CGC
‘Lauren was one in a trillion. She was beyond kind, compassionate, loving, and funny. She made everyone she met feel special and that they were worthy of time, attention, love, and taking up space in the universe. She loved animals and babies. She was an excellent dancer. She was incredibly smart and insightful. She was selfless while retaining a strong sense of self. She made the world a better place and she will be missed by everyone who knew her for the rest of their lives.’
“She truly embraced a spirit of inclusion whether meeting a person for the first time or the 100th time….She drew you in and spread her warmth and love.”
“Lauren was one of a kind. She created spark and energy with her very presence in any setting and had a way of drawing out the extra voltage in all of us to do more and live more fully…. If you asked Lauren for a favor, to give a presentation, to attend an event, or just about anything, she unhesitatingly would say “yes!”. In this day and age when everyone is so protective of their time, she magnanimously found time to give and live.”
The DNA Exchange 