Springtime Shenanigans:

The top ten things #PittGC students look forward to in the spring!

Although the weather in Pittsburgh has been nothing more than temperamental this year, it is finally starting to feel a bit like spring. So it’s time for our students to get outside and enjoy some sunshine...or stay in when it decides to rain (or even snow!).

A view of the cathedral of learning #HailtoPitt

  1.     Mt. Washington. On a clear day, going to Mt. Washington is a breathtaking sight. Seeing the city helps you appreciate where the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers meet. Not to mention, downtown looks gorgeous as well and you can take the Monongahela Incline!

The view! 

2.     Lumberjaxes. A good way to get some stress out, or have some fun, is axe throwing! You may even find yourself picking up a new hobby.

Just taking a study break and a stroll (Frick Park)

3.     A stroll through the park. With Schenley, Highland, and Frick parks, it’s easy to find a spot to go for a quiet, afternoon stroll. When you’re admiring the woods of Schenley Park or skirting the reservoir at Highland, you can forget you’re in the city.

4.     Phipps Conservatory. Right now, there is a butterfly room at the conservatory. In addition to seeing the beautiful blooms, you can watch these colorful creatures flit about without worrying they’ll fly out of your sight forever.

5.     Get a tea or a coffee. Don’t forget that your favorite cafe most likely offers cold versions of that Japanese Sencha you like so much! Cold brew season is upon us, and with hotter days spring-ing into Pittsburgh, it can certainly be needed. Plus, it’s important to stay hydrated

6.     Teatime. If it’s not enough to just grab a quick drink, there are some tea houses that have teatime once a week - so put on your teatime best and get ready for finger sandwiches.

                                                                                                                                               

7. Baseball anyone? Pittsburgh has sports for everyone all year round. This time of year is the perfect time to catch a game at PNC Park. You can watch the game and try out the “Tastes of Pittsburgh” (the food court at PNC Park) which includes famous Pittsburgh eateries like Primanti brothers, Mrs. T’s Pierogies and more traditional baseball food.

Spring means baseball season has started!

8.  The Roberto Clemente Museum. The legacy of baseball great Roberto Clemente can be found in a retired fire station near downtown area, it boasts an impressive amount of memorabilia, awards and photos of a Pittsburgh baseball hero. Clemente was born in Puerto Rico and used his baseball prowess to escape poverty. Clemente would go on to  have numerous awards and he was also posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame (the first Latin American and Caribbean player to do so). He was also known for his philanthropic endeavors (such as earthquake relief missions). 

Roberto Clemente Museum (care of their website)

9.     Farmers market. It’s that time of year again, by the end of May the farmers markets will be back and amazing fresh fruit and vggies will be in your grasp. Many of our students love the Squirrel Hill farmers market, it is a great way to spend a Sunday morning.

10.  Dance in the park! Free weekly dance sessions in Schenley Plaza on Wednesdays starting May 30 through the rest of the summer. They start at seven and cover everything from Balkan dance to the waltz and the argentine tango!

Leadership Seminar: Laura Hercher Edition

The University of Pittsburgh Genetic Counseling Program annual Leadership Seminar invites a leader in the genetic counseling field to come speak to current students and local counselors each year. The speaker is chosen by the students, and the class of 2018 invited Laura Hercher - writer, ethicist, Tweeter - as the third speaker in the series. It was quite a memorable experience. See what current students had to say about the experience. If you are interested in viewing any of the talks from the seminar series, you can find them on the program’s homepage.

This year's speaker was Laura Hercher.

I was both very excited to listen to Laura speak and to have the opportunity to introduce her before the lecture began. She is not only entertaining, but very insightful. I think her underlying message of conscientious action within the ever-growing field of genetics and genomics speaks volumes to me and pushes me to become a professional that advocates for their clients and keeps public health in mind. She also inspired me to find more of my own voice when it relates to genetics issues. - Meg Hager

Visiting with Laura at breakfast before her talk was inspiring.  I found her perspective on genetics, and on life in general, refreshing.  She spoke openly about her opinions on controversial subjects like gene editing and DTC testing.  Her honesty was matched only by her wit, and somehow she managed to be entertaining at the same time.  It was a great experience, and I hope to have more interactions with her in the future, and use her inspiration to help me find my own path. - Seth Lascurain

As a genetic counseling student, I found the depth and expanse of her knowledge on emerging technology and innovations in genetics awe-inspiring. She truly is a lifelong learner! It was inspiring and reassuring to hear such an established genetic counselor explain that in spite of her years of counseling and research experience there is still so much for her to learn especially as new technologies emerge. Our education as genetic counselors does not stop at graduation. - Joya Petersen

It was such a privilege to meet with Laura before her talk and hear her thoughts on the role genetic counselors can play in shaping public policy. As a first year student just starting to find my professional voice, I was inspired by her ability to balance compassion with conviction when weighing in on such charged topics as gene editing. I especially enjoyed the talk she later gave on “Hot Topics” in genetics: I can’t wait for it to spark meaty discussions with my friends and family, who will definitely be getting the link to watch! - Caitlin Russell

This year’s leadership seminar was an outstanding event.  Speaking with Laura during the breakfast session allowed her to provide us with great insight into the issues that are important to us.  Then in the afternoon, her seminar presentation showed us which issues she felt were most important.  Personally, the seminar made me aware of issues I had not been aware of before.  Her engaging personality created a comfortable environment where discussion and questions were not only welcomed, but encouraged.  Laura is truly a leader in the field who plays many roles; writer, podcaster, ethicist, student research coordinator, and author.  Her passion and dedication to the field is inspiring. – Meghan Cunningham

Direct-to-consumer testing was one of the topics Laura covered
during her talk. [DepositPhotos/ Julia_Tim]

Laura was a striking presence. She gave me the impression that she is not afraid to take a stance; listening to her talk about some of the important controversies genetic counselors have had a hand in settling during her career, made me think about what my career as a genetic counselor may entail. I felt inspired to imagine how I could embody roles outside of strictly patient care, as a patient advocate, concerned public health professional, and even legislative advisor, in the future of this rapidly-expanding field. – Charlotte Skinner

As a first-year genetic counseling student, having the opportunity to meet with Laura and hear her speak was an invaluable experience. At breakfast, she was open and passionate about ethical issues and challenges she sees for genetic counselors. As she spoke, it became apparent to me how important it is to find your own voice and to not be afraid to use it. Laura had great advice about the different avenues she has utilized to share hers and how to get involved in these crucial conversations ourselves. I know the inspiration Laura left me with will follow me well into the future. - Alyssa Azevedo

Laura was incredibly generous with the stories and wisdom that she shared with students at her breakfast visit, and she provided us with valuable information on how the field is growing and evolving during her seminar. After she discussed eye-opening advancements in genetic technologies and genomic medicine, I realized that the sky's the limit for the genetic counseling field. In addition to her passion and enthusiasm, I will also take away all the resources she provided during her time with us, from websites to blogs to podcasts for genetic counselors. Laura inspired me to forge my own path as a genetic counselor, and I look forward to being a lifelong learner and leader just like her. - Rebecca Clark

Laura Hercher speaking at the seminar series.

Having the opportunity to meet with Laura before the lecture and listen to her talk about her experiences and achievements was such a great experience. She answered controversial questions with ease and was personable in telling us stories based on some of her experiences. Laura is a captivating public speaker, and it was so interesting to hear about her thoughts on headline genetic stories from this year, and the impact those stories will have on genetic counseling in the future. It was such a great experience and her passion for the field of genetics and genetic counseling was contagious. - Rachel Sutton

Laura is a forward thinker of the genetic counseling field, and being able to speak with her and hear her perspective was absolutely fantastic. Being a first year student, her insight will shape the way I think going forward in the field. She inspired everyone to think critically, to be a lifelong learner, to utilize nontraditional avenues, and to address challenges head on. – Megan Hoenig

It’s always inspiring to hear from leaders in our field, especially one as passionate and articulate as Laura Hercher. She is a fascinating speaker who commands attention with her strong stances on important issues. The opportunities to meet more informally as well as witness her lecture were extremely motivating experiences that will continue to influence me as I move forward in my training as a genetic counselor. - Emily Spoth

I really enjoyed learning about the variety of things that one can do with their genetic counseling degree, and how we can utilize different avenues to advocate for our patients.  I was, personally, really excited to see Laura speak as I've been an avid follower of the DNA exchange and listener of Mendel's pod.  For students who are coming back to school to pursue genetic counseling, especially those of us who didn't start off in the sciences, seeing how much Laura has been able to take from her previous work and make it applicable to genetic counseling was really great. - Natasha Robin Berman

I am thrilled and incredibly grateful that Laura Hercher accepted our invitation to speak to our program. Our discussion over breakfast was quite stimulating, and her presentation on the top 5 genetics stories of 2017 (so far) was both entertaining and thought-provoking. I am personally interested in the ethical issues surrounding prenatal and preconception genetic counseling, so I found her opinions and perspective surrounding ethics, access, and possibilities of prenatal genetic testing particularly intriguing. - Julia Stone 

NSGC Impressions

The start of NSGC.

Our second years were able to attend the NSGC conference in Columbus, Ohio this year. Each one of them has a unique perspective on the event and what it meant to them.

My first NSGC conference was amazing! I had a blast spending time with my classmates, listening to lots of interesting talks and poster presentations, and catching up with my friends and colleagues from other programs, many of whom I hadn’t seen since interview season 2016. It was inspiring and humbling to be sharing the space (and the week!) with so many amazing genetic counselors in the field who I look up to (and hope to become one day), and a much needed reminder of what I am working towards. - Julia Stone

It was wonderful to be surrounded by other people with similar interests and experiences, but very

different perspectives and approaches. I was reminded again why I am so excited about genetic counseling, and my stress about finding a job was replaced with enthusiasm! Of course, bonding and spending time with my classmates, supervisors, and program directors was one of the best parts. I’m looking forward to joining Special Interest Groups and giving back to the GC community! - Kaitlin Sullivan

The NSGC conference was amazing! Sitting in the huge lecture hall amongst hundreds of genetic

No NSGC is complete without a water bottle.

counselors, I felt awestruck and proud to finally be a part of NSGC. The workshops and panels helped me to learn about a variety of pertinent topics in genetics and gain a better understanding of NSGC’s goals and current agenda. - Joya Petersen

I enjoyed my first NSGC conference. It’s easy to get tunnel-vision while in the GC/MPH program, but this conference reminded me about what all of us (students) are working towards, the community we’re now a part of, and the families and individuals we’re doing this for. - Emily Mazzei

I remember thinking halfway through the NSGC conference, “I’ve found my tribe.” It’s incredible to be surrounded by so many people passionate about the field of genetic counseling and to see everyone come together to work on professional development at NSGC. That being said, the NSGC conference was one of the most exhausting experiences I’ve ever had. There was so much information to take in and so many things to do in Columbus. There was never a dull moment! I’m looking forward to my next NSGC conference. - Meg Hager

My first NSGC conference experience won’t be my last.  I had an opportunity to meet other genetic counselors with interests similar to mine, and the experience was amazing.  For me, this conference was all about taking in the experience.  I went to some seminars and heard about really interesting topics related to genetic counseling, but I spent most of my time talking with others at the conference.  I talked with people who shared my interest in issues like Direct to Consumer (DTC) testing, VUS reclassifications, insurance fraud, new testing options, and so many more topics.  I made contacts that will help me find a job when I graduate and help me complete my thesis project so I can graduate.  I found myself utterly exhausted at the end of each day, but eager to do it again in the morning.  - Seth Lascurain

An interactive art piece at the Greater Columbus
Convention Center featuring one of our second-
year students.

The NSGC conference was a fantastic opportunity to connect with other genetic counselors from all over the country. It was exciting to be surrounded by so many other people who share passions and experiences, especially being on the threshold of the profession. I was thankful for the chance to learn so many new and exciting things from the leaders in our field. - Emily Spoth

I loved learning about all of the current advancements as well as participating in discussions regarding professional issues in our field. I now have a better understanding of ways to get involved in our national society. The conference was also a great opportunity for networking! - Claire Leifeste

The NSGC conference was a good opportunity to look towards the future, and speak with potential employers in a casual, uncontrived environment. - Jenni Peck

I really enjoyed my experience at the NSGC conference! There was so much information, and on so many different subjects, that we were all able to really tailor our time there to our own interests. It was also a great opportunity to learn about different things you can be as a genetic counselor, and make connections for going into the field in whatever capacity you choose. - Julia Verbiar

I loved being able to attend the various talks and meetings that happened during the conference. Hearing discussions between counselors with a variety of different professional experiences made me even more excited to become a part of such a dynamic field. Visiting the booths in the exhibit hall also reinforced the wide variety of different career opportunities and resources currently available to genetic counselors. The Pitt alumni dinner was also one of the highlights. Seeing how successful Pitt graduates have been helped to remind me how grateful I am to be receiving such a strong educational foundation. - Jaclyn Amurgis

-- The Class of 2018