Supervisory Faculty in Genetic
Counseling
Learn more about the UT GCP Faculty in their individual profiles below. At the conclusion, investigate what the faculty loves about being a genetic counselor in Houston.
University of Texas Medical School at Houston
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Claire N. Singletary is the Director of the Genetic Counseling Program administered through the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and the Department of Pediatrics. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and counsels prenatal patients in conjunction with the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences. Claire received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Furman University and her Master of Science degree in Genetic Counseling from Northwestern University. Her primary responsibilities are to mentor genetic counseling students, coordinate and lecture in classes, supervise students on rotation, and sit on thesis committees. Currently, she coordinates several courses in the genetic counseling program, including the Psychosocial Aspects and Topics in Medical Genetics II classes, as well as lecturing in other courses. She heads the Core Planning Committee and the academic advisory and mentorship programs, steers curriculum development, sits on the Thesis Advisory Committee and plays a key role in GCP admissions. In addition to her commitment to genetic counseling education, she remains passionate about practicing the art of genetic counseling by seeing patients in clinic. Prior to assuming the role of Director of the GCP, Claire was the Assistant Program Director at the University of South Carolina Genetic Counseling Program. She is active in the National Society of Genetic Counselors, most recently sitting on the Board of Directors as Region III Representative. Her main interests are genetic counseling education, diversification of the field of genetic counseling, licensure, psychosocial counseling, and community outreach.
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Sarah Jane Noblin is a Genetic Counselor working for Harris County Hospital District at LBJ General Hospital. She has a joint faculty position as a clinical Assistant Professor within the Departments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston and is the Assistant Director of the Genetic Counseling Graduate Program. She has a BS degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University and obtained her MS in Genetic Counseling from The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 1999. Her primary responsibilities are providing prenatal genetic counseling for patients that are referred from the high-risk OB Clinic at LBJ and other OB clinics in surrounding city and county health centers and coordinating and staffing the Pediatric Genetics Clinic and genetic consults in the nurseries at LBJ General Hospital. Sarah coordinates and teaches in several didactic courses and supervises genetic counseling students as well as participates in teaching medical students, residents and fellows. Sarah is a member of the Core Planning Committee of the UT Genetic Counseling Program and is also involved in curriculum development and admissions. She also coordinates the publication of an annual alumni newsletter, as well as helps maintains the Genetic Counseling Program’s website. Sarah is a member of the Genetic Services Committee and Billing & Reimbursement Subcommittee within NSGC as well as a past Prenatal SIG co-chair. Her current interests are licensure for genetic counselors, bilingual genetic counseling, patient perception of risk assessment, multicultural genetic counseling and genetic counseling education.
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Hope Northrup is an M.D. Medical Geneticist (Clinical, Biochemical and Molecular areas) in the Department of Pediatrics at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She is a Professor and Director of the Division of Medical Genetics in The Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Northrup is the Medical Director of the Genetic Counseling Program and the Director of the Medical Genetics Residency/Fellowship Program. Dr. Northrup obtained an M.D. degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. She completed a Pediatric Residency at Children's Medical Center/Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas and a Medical Genetics Fellowship at the Institute for Molecular Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Her clinical interests are metabolic disease and chromosome disorders. Dr. Northrup's research interests focus on unraveling the basis of neurogenetic diseases, specifically tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and spina bifida (SB). An additional academic focus of Dr. Northrup is delineating the phenotypes associated with rare chromosome disorders. She is Chairman of the Clinical Advisory Board for the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance (TSA). She is currently serving as Chairperson of the Residency Review Committee (RRC) on Medical Genetics for the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). She provides lectures in Genetic Counseling and Medical Genetics courses and supervises rotating students in their clinical activities.
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 Barbara Dominguez, BSN |
Barbara Dominguez is a genetic nurse coordinator working in The University of Texas Medical School-Houston in the Department of Pediatrics. She coordinates the care of metabolic and genetic patients evaluated in the outpatient clinic and inpatient consults. She is a contact person for the TDH newborn screening program when a new case of PKU or galactosemia is detected in the statewide screening program. She is involved in educating genetic counseling students, medical students, and residents who rotate on the clinical service. She is a member of the Core Planning Committee. Barbara is one of the founders and co-director of Camp Phever a summer camp for kids with PKU. Barbara graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a BS degree in nursing. Barbara is a member of the International Society of Nurses in Genetics as well as a member of ASHG.
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 Michael Gambello, MD, PhD |
Dr. Gambello is involved in both basic science research and clinic genetics. He is a board certified clinical geneticist. His laboratory research is focused on identifying and characterizing human genes responsible for neurodevelopmental defects seen in a variety of chromosomal deletion syndromes. The roles of these genes in brain development will be investigated through cellular and molecular biology, and the generation of mouse models with targeted disruptions. He also have an interest in tuberous sclerosis complex, an autosomal dominant disorder with severe brain manifestations in affected individuals. A mouse modeling project has been started to analyze brain specific effects of deletions of TSC2, one of the causative genes. Dr. Gambello sees patients at several locations and is actively involved in teaching students clinical genetics. He also serves on the thesis committees of several genetic counseling students.
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Sarah Guerra Seth, MS, MPH |
Sara Seth is a clinical instructor in the Department of Pediatrics. She provides prenatal genetic counseling services at City of Houston and Harris County clinics throughout Houston. She also works with pediatric patients at the Shriners Hospital. Sarah will work with students on rotation and help facilitate coursework. She graduated from Texas A&M in 1998 with a BS in Biomedical Science and received her MPH from the University of Texas Houston School of Public Health in 2003 and her MS in Genetic Counseling from the UT GCP in 2008. |
 Jacqueline Hecht, PhD, CGC |
Jacqueline Hecht is a Ph.D. Medical Geneticist and Genetic Counselor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She is a Professor and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Pediatrics. She has recently stepped down as Director of the Genetic Counseling Program. Dr. Hecht obtained a MS in Genetics and Genetic Counseling from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and a PhD in Genetic Epidemiology from The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston. She provides lectures in Genetic Counseling and Medical Genetics courses and supervises rotating students in their clinical activities. Dr. Hecht's clinical interests are in genetic orthopedic disorders and dwarfing conditions. Her research interests are targeted at identifying the genetic variation that cause nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate and clubfoot and defining how mutations in cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) cause abnormalities in linear growth in pseudoachondroplasia. She is a member of the health professional team that attends Little People of America convention that is held annually. She is involved in numerous organizations related to genetics, genetic counseling and growth disorders.
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 Marianna Hörz Raja, MS, CGC |
Marianna Hörz Raja is a genetic counselor and clinical instructor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of medical genetics, at the University of Texas Medical School. Her clinical responsibilities include coordinating the genetic consult service within the Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and providing counseling regarding familial risks, genetic testing opportunities, and genetic information to physicians, patients and families within the hospital. In addition, she is involved in various pediatric clinics through the Shriners Hospital for Children where she has a special interest in providing information to families and children with genetic forms of bone disease. Marianna participates in the teaching, training and mentoring of genetic counseling and medical students, residents, and fellows in her affiliation with the genetic counseling program at UT. Marianna received her BS in genetics from Texas A&M University and her MS in genetic counseling from the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center Graduate School of Biomedical Science in 2006.
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 Jennifer Hoskovec, MS, CGC |
Jennifer Hoskovec is a Genetic Counselor and clinical instructor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Texas, Medical School at Houston. She has a BS degree in Biology from Truman State University and a MS in Genetic Counseling from The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Her primary responsibilities are providing prenatal genetic counseling to patients seen at a number of area clinics and genetic consults at Hermann Memorial Hospital. Jennifer is also involved in facilitating courses and supervising students in the genetic counseling program. As a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, Jennifer is the vice-chair of the education committee.
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 Jennifer Czerwinski , MS, CGC |
Jennifer Czerwinski is a Genetic Counselor and clinical instructor in the Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences Department at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She received a B.S. degree with Honors in 2003 from the University of Texas at Austin in Human Biology. She went on to receive her M.S. degree in Genetic Counseling in 2006 from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Her primary focus is to provide prenatal genetic counseling services at several Houston area clinics as well as to perform genetic consults at Memorial Hermann Hospital. She will soon be involved in facilitating courses and supervising students from the University of Texas Genetic Counseling Training Program. She is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors.
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 Cathy Sullivan , MS |
Cathy Sullivan is a Genetic Counselor and clinical instructor in the Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences Department at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She has a B.S. degree in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin and a MS in Genetic Counseling from the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Her primary focus is to provide prenatal genetic counseling services at several Houston area clinics as well as to perform genetic consults at Memorial Hermann Hospital. She will soon be involved in facilitating courses and supervising students from the University of Texas Genetic Counseling Training Program.
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Van Tran-Fadulu, MS, CGC |
Van Tran-Fadulu is a Genetic Counselor working in clinical research. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and a Master of Science degree in Genetic Counseling from California State University, Northridge. Her primary responsibilities are recruitment of patients and families with familial thoracic aortic aneurysms/dissections, providing genetic counseling to patients with connective tissue disorders or cardiovascular diseases at the UT Clinic, and providing genetic consults in CVICU at Memorial Hermann Hospital. Van mentors high school, undergraduate and medical students during their clinical research internships and teaches research nurses and research coordinators about general genetics and pedigree in-take. She is a member of the Core Planning Committee of the UT Genetic Counseling Program and the Cardiovascular SIG. Her interests are diversification of the field of genetic counseling, multicultural genetic counseling, licensure, psychosocial counseling and professional issues.
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 Kate Wilson, MS |
Kate Wilson is a Genetic Counselor and clinical instructor in the Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences Department at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She received a B.S. degree in Zoology from North Carolina State University. For three years she worked at LabCorp as a certified cytogenetic technologist. She then went on to receive her M.S. degree in Genetic Counseling in 2007 from the University of South Carolina. Her primary focus is to provide prenatal genetic counseling services at several Houston area clinics as well as to perform genetic consults at Memorial Hermann Hospital. She will soon be involved in facilitating courses and supervising students from the University of Texas Genetic Counseling Training Program. She is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors and will sit for her ABGC board exam in 2009.
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 Andrea Harbison, MS |
Andrea Harbison is a Genetic Counselor at LBJ General Hospital where she provides prenatal and pediatric genetic counseling. Andrea is a clinical supervisor with the UT Genetic Counseling Program and also helps facilitate coursework. She received her BS degree in Biology from the University of New Mexico and graduated with her MS in Medical Genetics from the University of Cincinnati in 2005. Andrea’s main interests are health literacy, the Surgeon General’s Family History Initiative, bilingual genetic counseling, multicultural issues, and continuing to learn Spanish. |
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (top)
 Molly Daniels, MS, CGC |
Molly S. Daniels, MS, CGC has been a Genetic Counselor at the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center since 2002, and is a special member of the faculty of the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. She provides hereditary cancer risk assessment and genetic counseling services to patients in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology. She is also involved in clinical studies aimed at the prevention and early detection of endometrial and ovarian cancers in women at genetically high risk. She lectures on hereditary cancer for both trainees and the general public, and provides clinical supervision for graduate students in genetic counseling. Ms. Daniels received a M.S. in medical genetics from the University of Cincinnati genetic counseling training program in 2002, and achieved certification from the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 2005. Ms. Daniels also received a M.S. in biochemistry from the University of California San Francisco, and a B.S. in biological sciences with honors and distinction from Cornell University.
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 Kimberly Muse, MS |
Kimberly Muse is a cancer genetic counselor in Clinical Cancer Genetics within the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Her primary focus is to provide risk assessment and genetic counseling services to individuals with a known or hereditary predisposition to breast cancer. Kimberly works closely with Dr. Banu Arun and her research team on various studies related to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. She is committed to educating her patients, the public, and the medical community about hereditary cancer syndromes, genetic testing, and genetic counseling. Additionally, Kimberly has involvement in the University of Texas Genetic Counseling Program where she assists in the Cancer Genetics Course and will serve as a clinical supervisor for students. Kimberly received her B.S. from Howard University in 2003 and a M.S. in Human Genetic and Genetics, with a concentration in Genetic Counseling from Howard University in May of 2007. She is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors and will sit for her ABGC board exam in 2009.
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 Kaylene Ready, MS, CGC |
Kaylene Ready is a cancer genetic counselor in Clinical Cancer Genetics within the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Her primary focus is to provide risk assessment and genetic counseling services to individuals with a known or hereditary predisposition to breast cancer. Kaylene works closely with Dr. Banu Arun and her research team on various studies related to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and is committed to educating her patients, the public, and the medical community about hereditary cancer syndromes, genetic testing, and genetic counseling. Additionally, she is involved with the University of Texas Genetic Counseling Program as a clinical supervisor and enjoys training new students in the field of genetic counseling. Kaylene received a M.S. in Genetic Counseling at the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in May of 2006.
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 Theresa Rich, MS, CGC |
Thereasa A. Rich is a cancer genetic counselor in the Clinical Cancer Genetics program at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Her clinical responsibilities include providing risk assessment and genetic counseling services to individuals concerned about hereditary conditions with an endocrine component. Thereasa works in the Department of Surgical Oncology to evaluate and facilitate medical management for patients with conditions such as MEN1, MEN2, VHL, and hereditary pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma. She is also interested in cancer genetics research. Her master's thesis was a psychosocial study of young adults with familial adenomatous polyposis. She is currently collaborating on psychosocial projects involving individuals with MEN. Thereasa received her BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Penn State University in State College, PA and her MS in Genetic Counseling at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. She has been with the Clinical Cancer Genetics team since 2006.
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 Devki Saraiya, MS |
Devki Saraiya is a cancer genetic counselor in Clinical Cancer Genetics within the Department of GI Medicine and Nutrition at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC). Her primary focus is to provide risk assessment and genetic counseling services to individuals and their families for hereditary colorectal cancer. She works closely with Dr. Patrick Lynch on various studies related to hereditary colorectal cancer and is actively involved in coordinating the MDACC FAP registry. Devki is looking forward to working with genetic counseling students from the UT Genetic Counseling Training Program as a clinical rotation supervisor. Devki received her BS in Microbiology from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA and her MS in Human Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY.
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 Diana Turco , MS |
Diana Turco is a cancer genetic counselor in Clinical Cancer Genetics within the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. She has been employed at M.D. Anderson since June of 2007. Her primary focus is to provide risk assessment and genetic counseling services to individuals with a known or hereditary predisposition to breast cancer. Diana works closely with Dr. Banu Arun and her research team on various studies related to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and is committed to educating her patients, the public, and the medical community about hereditary cancer syndromes, genetic testing, and genetic counseling. Additionally, she is involved with the University of Texas Genetic Counseling Program as a clinical supervisor and enjoys training new students in the field of genetic counseling. Diana received her B.S. in biology from Truman State University and her M.S. in Genetic Counseling at the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health in April of 2007.
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 Thuy Vu, MS, CGC |
Thuy Vu is a cancer genetic counselor in the Clinical Cancer Genetics Program at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Her clinical responsibilities include providing risk assessment and genetic counseling services to individuals concerned about hereditary predisposition to cancer. Thuy also works closely with the GI Center to evaluate and facilitate management for patients for hereditary colorectal cancer. She is active in cancer genetics research, and served as the study coordinator for the Colon Cancer Sibling Pair Study, which was a national, multi-center study. Thuy enjoys interacting with the UT Genetic counseling Training program where she serves as a co-facilitator for the Cancer Genetics Course and a clinical supervisor for students. Thuy received her BA in Biology at Austin College in Sherman, TX and her MS in Genetic Counseling at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ. She has been with the Clinical Cancer Genetics team since 2003.
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Dyangene/LabCorp (top)
 Janice Smith, PhD |
Janice Smith received a Ph.D. in medical genetics/cytogenetics from the University of Alabama - Birmingham and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Medical Genetics at Indiana University Medical School before joining the staff of Laboratories for Genetic Services, a private cytogenetics diagnostic laboratory. The lab is now called Dynagene. With ABMG certifications in Clinical Cytogenetics and PhD Medical Genetics, she serves as Laboratory Director and as a consultant to the staff genetic counselors. Her major areas of interest are in the fields of cancer cytogenetics, inherited susceptibility to cancer and in the correlation between chromosomal and phenotypic abnormalities. As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Dr. Smith gives cytogenetic lectures in the various genetics courses, participates in weekly genetics clinical conference and supervises the rotations of students through Dynagene. She served on the Laboratory Services subcommittee of the Texas Genetics Network (TEXGENE) as well as the Steering Committee and Ethics Subcommittee.
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 Tammy Solomon, MS |
Tamara Solomon is a genetic counselor at Dynagene/Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp). Her primary responsibilities are providing prenatal genetic counseling to patients that are referred from multiple clinics. She is involved in supervising genetic counseling students with the UT Genetic Counseling Program. Tamara recently joined the Dynagene counseling group in May 2007. Prior to this setting, she was a cancer counselor with M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Tamara is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors as well as a member of the EBS subcommittee. She received her two B.S. degrees in Biology and Psychology from the University of New Mexico in 1997 and her M.S. degree in Genetic Counseling from The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 2005.
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 Laura Valentine, MS, CGC |
Laura Valentine is a Genetic Counselor with Dynagene/LabCorp. She received her B.S. degree in Medical Technology from the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center School of Allied Health Sciences. Laura also received a specialized post-baccalaureate certificate in cytogenetics from The University of Texas –HSC, and worked as a cytogenetic technologist for several years before receiving her M.S. in Genetic Counseling from The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Laura received her genetic counseling board certification from the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 2005. She provides prenatal and cancer risk counseling to patients that are referred from multiple clinics. She has participated in several community out-reach hereditary cancer awareness projects. Laura is a member NSGC and the special interest group – Familial Cancer Risk Counseling. She is involved in supervising genetic counseling students with the Genetic Counseling Program. She has been employed at Dynagene/LabCorp since 2002.
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Baylor College of Medicine (top)
 Sandra Darilek, MS, CGC |
Sandra Darilek is a Genetic Counselor in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine. She has a BS degree in Genetics from Texas A&M University and a MS in Genetic Counseling from The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Her primary responsibilities are providing genetic counseling for preconception, prenatal and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) patients. She works primarily with private-practice OB/Gyn and IVF groups in the Houston Medical Center. Sandra also helps coordinate the Texas Children's Hospital Otogenetics clinic. As a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, Sandra is a member of the Prenatal and ART Special Interest Groups and has served as the Texas state representative. Sandra received her board certification from the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 2005.
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Tanya Eble, MS, CGC |
Tanya Eble is a board certified Genetic Counselor at Baylor College of Medicine in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics. She received her Bachelors degree in Biology with a psychology minor from the Pennsylvania State University and her Masters in Genetic Counseling from the University of Pittsburgh. Her primary role is as a prenatal genetic counselor at Ben Taub. There patients are referred from the Ben Taub OB High Risk Clinic and from Harris county and city clinics. She also coordinates and provides counseling in the Ben Taub Adult Genetics Clinic. In addition to counseling Tanya works in Dr. Ignatia Van den Veyver’s laboratory as a project coordinator for the Aicardi syndrome and Goltz syndrome research studies and was a co-author of the recently published paper which identified the gene that is mutated in individuals with Goltz syndrome. Each spring semester Tanya is a group discussion leader for the First Year Medical Ethics course. She is also active in the NSGC and is the co-chairperson for the Prenatal SIG and a member of the membership committee. She is also a member of the Texas Society of Genetic Counselors. Her interests include multicultural and multilingual counseling, genetic counselors role in a research setting, and medical ethics.
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 Patti Furman, MPH, CGC |
Patti Furman is a Genetic Counselor and Instructor in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine. Her primary responsibilities are counseling and coordinating cases in the general pediatric genetics clinics housed at Texas Children's Hospital. She also serves as the genetic counselor for the clinical research study on Duplication 17p11.2 (Potocki-Lupski Syndrome). Patti has a B.S. in biology from the University of Houston and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health. She was originally board certified in genetic counseling in 1993 and recertified in 2007. Patti has been involved in NSGC activities, serving on the board as Region V Representative from 2001-2003 and continues to be involved in NSGC conference planning. Patti was a member of the faculty of the UT Dept of OB/GYN from 1990-2002 and served as a supervisor and mentor to many early graduates of the UT Genetic Counseling Program. She welcomes the opportunity to collaborate again with the UT program!
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 Pilar Magoulas, MS, CGC |
Pilar L. Magoulas is a Genetic Counselor at Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine. She has a BS degree in Psychology from the University of Florida and obtained her MS in Genetic Counseling from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois in 2003. After graduation, she worked as a pediatric genetic counselor at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, where she was actively involved in the medical genetics and metabolic genetics clinics. She coordinated treatment for many of the patients seen with lysosomal storage disorders and became actively involved with different parent support groups. She was also involved in the planning and implementation of the Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling at the University of Utah. She has been with Baylor College of Medicine since 2006. Her primary responsibilities include coordination of the inpatient consultation service and the adult genetics clinic. Her interests include the mucopolysaccharidoses and enzyme replacement therapy, the cardio-facio-cutaneous (CFC) syndrome, adults with congenital heart disease, and establishing a medical home for children and individuals with genetic disorders.
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 Katie Plunkett, MS, CGC |
Katie Plunkett is a genetic counselor at Baylor College of Medicine. She is an Instructor in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics. She has a B.S. from the University of Illinois and earned her M.S. in Genetic Counseling from the University of California, Berkeley. She achieved Board Certification in 1993. Her primary responsibility is clinic manager of the Genetics Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital. As clinic manager, she supervises the administrative staff and works closely with management at Texas Children's Hospital to insure compliance with hospital issues. She participates in the pediatric and adult genetics clinics and is coordinator of the Neurofibromatosis Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital. Since 1995, she has coordinated the Presymptomatic Huntington’s Disease testing program at Baylor College of Medicine. Over 100 individuals have been tested since the program began. She is a long-standing member of the NSGC and former Region V Representative. Her main interests are helping families with Huntington’s disease in the Houston area and professional management issues.
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 Melissa Strassberg, MS, CGC |
Melissa Strassberg is a Genetic Counselor in the Department of Molecular & Human Genetics at the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). Her primary clinical responsibilities are providing prenatal genetic counseling to patients seen at the BCM Prenatal Diagnostic Center, a joint effort between the BCM Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics and Maternal Fetal Medicine. In addition, she serves as a care coordinator for the Texas Children’s Fetal Center. Melissa is involved in teaching didactic courses and supervising genetic counseling students. She serves on the UT Genetic Counseling Program Core Planning Committee. Melissa is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. She is the Chair of the Prenatal Special Interest Group Grant Award Committee and a member of the Billing and Reimbursement subcommittee. Melissa has a BA degree in Behavioral Neuroscience from Lehigh University and a MS in Genetic Counseling from the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health. Melissa received her genetic counseling board certification from the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 2002.
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Jennifer Lemoine, MS, CGC |
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Blair Stevens, MS |
What does the UT GCP Faculty love about Houston?
I came to Houston for the genetic counseling career and I stayed because the quality of life here is excellent, much more so than I had initially anticipated. The cost of living is low for such a large metropolitan city and so your dollar allows you to do more - and there is a lot to do here!
Thereasa A. Rich, MS, CGC
Certified Genetic Counselor
Clinical Cancer Genetics
MD Anderson Cancer Center
I came to Houston for the genetic counseling career and I stayed because of the great job opportunities and the diversity and openness of the city.
Jacqueline T. Hecht, PhD
Professor of Pediatrics
Vice Chair for Research
University of Texas Medical School at Houston
I came to Houston for the genetic counseling career and I stayed because of the strong network of counselors in the Houston area. I can't imagine a better group of colleagues, friends and counselors!
Blair Stevens, MS
Genetic Counselor
Baylor Clinic
I came to Houston for the genetic counseling career and I stayed because I get to work with the most amazing people who teach me new things about myself daily.
Jennifer M. Hoskovec, MS, CGC
Genetic Counselor / Clinical Instructor
Director Prenatal Genetic Counseling Services
UT Houston Medical School
I came to Houston for the genetic counseling career and I stayed …for the belly dancing classes
Molly Daniels, MS, CGC
Certified Genetic Counselor
Clinical Cancer Genetics
MD Anderson Cancer Center
I came to Houston for the genetic counseling career and I stayed because of the friendly people, abundant chips and queso and nearly year round pool weather.
Cathy Sullivan, MS
Genetic Counselor / Clinical Instructor
UT Houston Medical School
I came to Houston for the genetic counseling career and I stayed because of the wonderful diversity of the city. As the 4th largest city in the nation, you can really find anything and everything you might want … great shopping, outstanding restaurants, professional sports teams, concerts, wonderful cultural events, the world renowned Texas Medical Center and very friendly people! It is a great place to not only live & work, but to raise a family as well.
Sarah J. Noblin, MS, CGC
Board Certified Genetic Counselor, LBJ General Hospital
Assistant Professor -- UT Department of Pediatrics
Assistant Director -- UT Genetic Counseling Program
I came to Houston for the genetic counseling career and I stayed because I love the diverse opportunities in Houston, from going to an Astros or Texans game, to eating at an amazing local restaurant, to the outstanding shopping (I missed Crate and Barrel!). Houston offers a world class education for my daughter. As a bonus, I have the best job on the planet and work with amazing people every day. Who could ask for more?
Claire N. Singletary, MS, CGC
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Director, Genetic Counseling Program
University of Texas Houston Medical School
