Student Work Position: Precision Medicine Program Assistant

My name is Vickie Bacon. I started in the MPH in Public Health Genetics program the year before being accepted into the MS in Genetic Counseling program, and am now working on the dual degree in Genetic Counseling and Public Health Genetics. Last summer, I started working for the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) at the University of Pittsburgh. CTSI is part of a National Institutes of Health program designed to support research related to clinical and public health practices and policies.
I have been fortunate to work on two projects through CTSI. The first being the All of Us Research program, a national program aimed at improving precision medicine for everyone. To do this, we’re working on recruiting one million people across the country. My role with All of Us has been in recruitment and engagement, going to different community sites and events to talk to people about research, health, and genetics. It’s been a wonderful opportunity to speak with diverse people with varying educational levels about how genetics can influence their health and the health of their family. This was particularly interesting to me because of my passion for Public Health Genetics. While in this role, I’ve had people share their experiences with genetics, as well as their hopes  and concerns for the future of genomic medicine.

The second project I have worked on is the Pitt+Me Discovery Biobank. Pitt+Me Discovery is working on building a biobank and collecting information for researchers to use in the future. I was able to start with Discovery around the time of the Pitt+Me Discovery launch. Pitt+Me Discovery has allowed me to work on developing skills to present complicated concepts in understandable ways. While working with this team, I’ve been able to write material about various topics, including informed consent, privacy and genetic testing, and pharmacogenomics. Part of genetic counseling is helping people prepare for and appreciate the nuances of genetic results so that they can make informed decisions regarding testing. This semester, my time with Pitt+Me Discovery has been focused on return of genetic results.

Prior to starting my position with CTSI, I had no work experience in research. In addition to working on topics I care deeply about, working for CTSI has allowed me to learn more about the process of designing and implementing a research study. I think that this experience has helped me build important professional and interpersonal skills that will be vital in my career. 

Vickie Bacon, class of 2020