Advice for Class of 2020 from Class of 2019

We are excited to welcome the class of 2020 to the University of Pittsburgh Genetic Counseling Program!  The second-year students have compiled some tips and a bit of advice to share in hopes of making the next two years go as smoothly as possible.  

Some of the class of 2019 and 2020 at our welcome picnic

You will be provided with a wealth of information over these two years that will ensure you are a competent and thriving genetic counselor. I was amazed at the growth I had, both in the classroom and my few months in the clinic. Learn as much as you can but know that a lot will come over time. I joined this field because I wanted lifelong learning - and that means I will never know everything, and that is okay!

My best advice is to keep things in perspective. You are all going to be incredible genetic counselors, in less than 2 years! The day-to-day can sometimes be difficult, but I have found that gratitude and positivity are two great motivators. Speaking of the day-to-day, I am a big advocate of being organized and staying on top of school work.

Study parties are a great way to stay on top of school work!

Make sure to take time out for yourself and enjoy the little things - whether it’s a walk around the neighborhood, dinner with friends, or calling a loved one back home. 

The University of Pittsburgh is a great place to be!

 I am a huge advocate for staying organized!  Some days you may need to triage between studying, assignments, readings, etc. so knowing what you need to get done and when is a huge help!  Don’t forget that everyone is here to help you become a successful genetic counselor, so don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek help when you need it.  Of course, I’d also recommend taking the time to experience all Pittsburgh has to offer, it’s a great city!

Don’t forget that there is so much more to learn outside of school through clinic and extra-curricular activities - try to get a diverse experience. Your peers are a fantastic resource, not only for academics but also for stress release and comfort. Take your time and enjoy these two years- they’ll go faster than you think. You’ll do amazing, and I hope you all enjoy it!

Be ready to accept and ask for help. This is all new and exciting material and it’s important to take care of yourself, and one of the ways to do that is by getting help when you need it! Take some time for yourself on a regular basis to practice some self-care. And remember you’ll have learned more by the end of each day than what you knew before and that is a magical thing! 

This bit of advice has become important for me to remind myself of lately, in moments when it seems like I am just trying to power my way through and get finished with the program: being in school doesn’t mean you are hitting pause, waiting to start your “real life”, or taking a professional detour. Especially because I came back to get my master’s degree after several years working, it can sometimes feel like people view a return to school as one of the above. I also remember feeling similarly when I started my undergraduate degree- like I couldn’t wait to speed through and get to my “real life” or start “adulting”. The truth is, this is life, and it is one of the times it will be the fullest (a blessing and a curse at times haha)! Try to be present- soak up the contact you will have with incredible people from the field, being at the center of it all, hearing the newest news, and watching yourself grow exponentially in your personal and professional skills.

Some of the class of 2019

My Experience Working with Sickle Cell

One of my favorite aspects of Pitt’s program is that it encourages us to hold a relevant work position throughout our two years here. Having spent some time “in the real world” before making the plunge back into school, I came to appreciate that there are skills and lessons best learned outside of the classroom. Ultimately, Pitt is training us to excel as genetic counselors. Our work positions provide an additional avenue to build vital professional skills.

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh 

As a dual degree (MS/MPH) student, I am fortunate to have found a work position with a similar dual nature. Each week, I split my time between the Pediatric Sickle Cell Department at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP) and the Children’s Sickle Cell Foundation (CSCF). These two groups work collaboratively to provide comprehensive care to children with sickle cell disease and to their families. It is a true model of public health, addressing the physical, emotional, and social well-being of this community. Through working with both teams, I have learned ways to address common issues such as transportation to appointments and communication with schools about missed days due to illness. These are things that may get overlooked by health care providers but are real impediments to an individual’s management of their health.

In my student worker position at CHP, I am able to shadow appointments during clinic days. This augments the already robust clinical experience that Pitt provides. Through shadowing the Sickle Cell team, I get to learn about clinical management and genetic counseling for hemoglobinopathies (genetic disorders that are caused by variant forms of hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen around in our blood). My supervisor at the clinic, Dr. Hillery, encourages me to take advantage of all educational opportunities. In the spring, this included a talk on sickle cell pain by a visiting clinician, followed by a more intimate Q&A session. I also get to develop patient educational tools, specifically fact sheets about various hemoglobinopathies. Additionally, through my help with managing the Sickle Cell database, I have learned how to navigate the infamous Electronic Medical Record system. This was one less thing to learn when rotations started! Finally, you cannot be in Pitt’s Graduate School of Public Health without learning about Newborn Screening. My position provides me first-hand experience with this public health program through sending biweekly letters to parents whose babies have screened positive for sickle cell trait. We are currently evaluating the letter that western Pennsylvania sends out for this purpose, and my feedback has contributed to the revision process. I have been able to incorporate this into my thesis research, which will examine the impact of the notification letter on families’ understanding of sickle cell trait.  As you may be able to tell, there is no shortage of opportunities for learning at the clinic alone!

Newborn Screening

My second role is as a program assistant with CSCF. Here, I work with a team of Community Health Workers to coordinate activities and services for those within the sickle cell community. We offer programs such as swim lessons and math tutoring on the weekends, trips to plays, museums, and amusement parks throughout the year, and special holiday events. One of the highlights of my year has been our Season2Give event where the children were able to pick out gifts for their siblings, which we as “Santa’s Elves” wrapped. All these events provide a wonderful opportunity to get to know families in a context beyond the clinic. CSCF additionally performs a patient advocacy role, which includes assisting with the development of Individualized Educational Programs and providing assistance with meals and transportation to families when needed. As a future genetic counselor, I am so appreciative to be learning how to navigate the logistics of these crucial support services.

Time is one of your most precious resources in graduate school. While work can sometimes seem like one more thing to try to cram into an already packed schedule, my work position has provided me with some of the most valuable (and fun!) experiences of graduate school. As I continue working towards my career as a genetic counselor, I am excited to see how many other ways my work with this wonderful team can help me build my professional toolkit.

Caitlin Russell 

 Summer Things to do in Pittsburgh:

Looking for fun things to do in Pittsburgh in the warm summer months? We have a list for you of what our students have been up in between their clinical rotations!

• Legos. Looking for an indoor activity? Ever wonder how many legos it takes to recreate Degas’ Little Dancer? Try the Lego exhibit: Get your block on! The Lego exhibit in Pittsburgh. Held in the Carnegie Science Center: The Art of the Brick is the largest exhibit of lego art. And after, you can enjoy the rest of the Science center http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org/exhibits/the-art-of-the-brick/

• Views! While not specific to summer, you can take a ride to the 36th floor of the Cathedral of Learning. On a clear day, you can see up to 50 miles!

• Yoga. Looking to relax? Go to yoga in the park! There are free yoga sessions Saturday mornings at Schenley Plaza. They’re led by yoga instructors from around the city. It’s a great way to start the morning!

• Ice cream. Looking for a way to cool down this summer? Ice cream is always a delicious summer treat and Pittsburgh has several shops that are a real hit. Millie’s in Shadyside and Dave and Andy’s in Oakland or really lean into the Pittsburgh food scene by stopping by Ritas (custard and Italian ice)! 

• Outdoor adventures. Kayaking at the north shore/the point. Are you looking for an adventure? Maybe kayaking will be your thing. 

https://www.ventureoutdoors.org/kayak-pittsburgh/kayak-pittsburgh-north-shore/

• Kennywood! Are you looking for roller coasters nearby? Did you know there was an amusement park in Pittsburgh?

https://www.kennywood.com/ 

• Hershey Park. Have you NOT had enough amusement park fun? Are you willing to go for a bit of a drive? Would you love to load up on chocolate while riding roller coasters? Might we recommend Hershey Park? http://www.hersheypark.com/

•  Love a good movie? Multiple parks in Pittsburgh offer an outdoor summer movie experience ranging from classic movies to newer releases. Once the sun goes down the movies in the park can start with Cinema in the Park:

            https://www.pittsburghparks.org/blog/2018-cinema-in-the-park-schedule

• Hungry? Pittsburgh offers multiple types of food festivals that might appeal to you. Does a Food Truck festival, pickle centered festival (pickelsburgh), apples and honey festival, or even a Perogi festival sound tempting? We have them all! 

 

• Need a walk to work off all the festival foods? Maybe you can head to Fallingwater, just outside of Pittsburgh there is a Frank Lyod Wright house seated on beautifully conserved land. You can find out about one of Pittsburgh’s famous families and see their home away from home. https://www.fallingwater.org/ 

Summer Series: Back to School (again)

We are excited to kick off our summer series of blogs about going back to school (again), which will focus on students who have taken some time off prior to returning for graduate school. These students worked in a variety of fields and jobs and bring an interesting perspective for those who are considering making the plunge of going back to school. 

For this series we will cover the following topics:

How did you decide to go back?

How did you prepare to apply to graduate school?

How has it felt to be a student again?

What recommendations do you have for surviving graduate school?

Would you do it all over again? 

And finally, what advice do you have for those considering going back to school?

We hope you will find our experience to be helpful! So without further ado the first part of our series will cover how students made the decision to go back to school…

How did you decide to go back?

I think there were several opportunities that came together and brought me to the decision to go back.  I had been volunteering at a hospital and found it was incredibly professionally satisfying.  A group of cancer genetic counselors in the hospital system was very welcoming and gave me the chance to shadow them in action.  The more I read about the genetic counseling profession, and the University of Pittsburgh genetic counseling program and the Medical Center specifically, the more enthusiastic I became about applying.  I had a very specific end goal in mind and Robin and Andrea and Candy gave me the opportunity make it a reality.  When I spoke with Andrea over the phone about accepting the offer to study here I found that I didn’t need to think about my decision.  A “Yes, thank you!” burst out and I felt as if the decision was so perfect it made itself. – Sarah Brunker

After college, I planned on working a few years and then going back to school for something specific that was not genetic counseling. But I learned quickly that while I had a good idea of what was interested in, I had no ideahow I wanted that interest to manifest itself in a career. At least, it was not what I had originally thought. I tried out quite a few things and honed in on what qualities I prioritize most in a career, as well as my life in general. When I learned about genetic counseling, it was kind of “ah hah” moment. I shadowed a few genetic counselors. From there, I really had no second thoughts as I prepared to apply to programs, because I knew it was the next step to get there.

—Caitlin Russell 

During my undergraduate program, I was able to secure an internship at a biotech company. This opportunity turned into a full-time work position, which allowed me to gain invaluable professional experience. It was during this time, I realized I wanted more from my career than just science. I was missing the connection with people and I knew genetic counseling would offer both of these things. I decided to take a leap of faith and began strengthening my resume in order to apply to programs. It was a year long process for me but I knew the sacrifice would be well worth it! —Alyssa Azevedo

I knew I wanted to go back to school, because I knew I didn’t love what I was doing at the time. I also knew I didn’t want to come back to school unless it was for something I knew I could see myself being involved in for the rest of my life. I already had a graduate degree and realized that it wasn’t the career path for me so I knew I didn’t want a degree just to get one, but one that would take me where I wanted to go. Once I found genetic counseling I felt like it might be a good choice, but I wasn’t sure I would be able to ‘hack it’.  Luckily, I had a very supportive environment to do my prerequisite classes, which really helped me know that going back to school was the right choice for me. I also spent a lot of time discussing going back to school with my husband, who agreed that life is better when you love your job. He encouraged me to read a textbook about genetic counseling (thinking if I could make it through the textbook and still be interested that is a pretty good sign) and I made it through the green book and loved it. --Natasha Robin Berman

I had always planned to pursue education beyond a four-year degree, but didn’t feel ready to commit to more schooling after finishing up a B.S. degree in Biology, and a Chemistry minor. A few years after graduation, while working as a cytogenetic tech in a clinical genetics lab, I discovered genetic counseling. I loved my job, so it was hard to leave, but when I had mastered my position as a cyto tech, and begun to feel like it was no longer helping me grow, I knew it was time to go back to school- and genetic counseling was calling my name. –Charlotte Skinner

 

Honestly this was more of an ease back into being a student.  After undergrad, I joined Teach for America to become a middle school science teacher.  After several years in the classroom, I had to decide whether to continue teaching or return to research.  As a sort of middle ground, I took a leave of absence from my position and pursued a research Masters program in the UK. The accelerated program allowed me to really “try on” being a researcher. – Kelsey Bohnert

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!