Class of 2020: Looking Ahead

The class of 2020 is thrilled to be in Pittsburgh as students in the Pitt GC Program! In the following, we share the things that excite us about living in Pittsburgh and starting the Program:

"One thing I’m excited to experience while living in Pittsburgh is all of the great food!  As for the genetic counseling program, I am excited to learn more about how to talk with patients about how genetics has changed their day to day life and what I can do as a provider to help and advocate for them." -Christine Drogan

"I can’t wait to try all of the amazing food in Pittsburgh, and I’m thrilled to live in a city where I can get by without a car. As for the program, I’m so excited to finally train to pursue the career I’ve been working towards since high school! I’m also excited to be in the dual degree program; there are only two schools in the country where you can get an MPH in public health genetics, and I think training in public health genetics will be a huge asset as I move forward in my career." -Claire McDonald

The class of 2020 celebrates GC Awareness Day

"I’m so excited to continue exploring Pittsburgh’s many things to do -- between museums, sports, hiking, theater, Kennywood, and Pierogi fest, there are many things on my 'Must Try' list! The thing that excites me most about starting in the Pitt GC program is being able to learn from experienced genetic counselors and Pitt Public Health faculty.  I can’t wait to build my skill set and enter the workforce as a genetic counselor and public health professional with the experience I am gaining with these mentors and their patients." -Lauren Winter 

"I’m originally from Southern California, so even though I’ve been in Pittsburgh for a year, I’m still excited about seasons! Pittsburgh has a lot of things to do, and many of these things change depending on the season. I can’t wait for the snow so I can try tubing for the first time. As far as the program goes, it’s hard to come up with one thing. I’m looking forward to engaging with people affected by the conditions we study. It’s important that we understand the perspectives of the people we’re serving and listen to what is important to patients. No one is a better expert on how these conditions affect daily life than the people living with these conditions, and I think we’re really lucky that people are willing to share their experiences with us." -Vickie Bacon

"I’m going on my seventh year living here and haven’t gone to the zoo yet, so I’m looking forward to possibly doing that this year. I’m very excited for the clinical rotation portion of the program because it will allow me to see a broader variety of patients, as my current experience is mostly with cancer, prenatal, and general adult patients. Pediatrics, cardiology, primary care, and neurology are only some of the additional clinic sites that I am looking forward to working in." -Andrew Fazenbaker

"I’m excited to be back in school and can’t wait to learn everything I can about genetic counseling and being a resource and advocate for patients navigating complex situations. However, grad school can’t be all work and no fun, so I’m looking forward to exploring and enjoying all there is to do in Pittsburgh!" -Alyson Evans

Members of the class of 2020 at a Penguins game

"I’m excited to check out all the local sports teams: Panthers, Pirates, Penguins, and Steelers! I’m also excited to be around so many people who are passionate and enthusiastic about genetics. Yay science!" -Rose Venier

"I’m excited to be back in Pittsburgh to be close to family and experience all of the amazing changes that the city has undergone since I was growing up. I’m excited that the GC program will give me the opportunity to learn and grow with amazing classmates, faculty, and mentors by my side!" -Stephanie Betts

"I am excited to be living in a new city and can’t wait to go to a Penguins game! As for the GC program, I am excited for all of the different clinical rotation opportunities and finding the specialty I want to work in!" -Sarah McGee

"Since the state I grew up in does not have a professional hockey team, I never had the chance to attend a game, so I am definitely most excited to go to a Penguins game this season! As for the Pitt GC program, I am looking forward to our clinical rotations starting in the summer-especially since Pittsburgh’s health care systems offer the opportunity of various specialty rotations." -Caroline Bong

"Having grown up here in Pittsburgh, I am super excited to be spending my graduate time here. I am delighted to be living 'dahntahn' and continue exploring all the gems that Pittsburgh has to offer. One thing I am excited for about starting the GC program here at Pitt is diving in to the clinical rotations during the summer. I work in a pediatric setting so I am looking forward to exploring other areas of genetic counseling practice." -Ashley Lahr

Class of 2020 and friends celebrate Friendsgiving!

 

From Undergrad to Grad (Part 4)

In the final contribution of our fall blog series we ask students who have recently graduated from undergrad to share some sage advice for individuals applying to genetic counseling programs:

This week we asked:

Any recommendations for surviving grad school?

Make sure you have people in your life who will keep you in check and give you perspective!

Whenever you focus on the big picture, all the hard work is worth it!

Prioritize! There is always something due, so it is important to figure out the best way for you to balance all of your responsibilities. This includes taking time for yourself and allowing yourself to do something you enjoy every now and then!

My two recommendations would be (1) self-care and (2) staying organized.

Self-care is super important-- don’t forget to schedule time for yourself, whether you go to the gym or watch your favorite TV show every week, take care of yourself!

Staying organized is also really important.

I can say that I pride myself in how organized my email is (I have a folder for just about every aspect of grad school, from classes to interesting articles to read). It may seem insignificant, but it really helps! 

From Undergrad to Grad (Part 3)

This week we continue our fall series, asking current students who came to graduate school right after they finished their undergraduate experience about their advice for others who may be applying soon.  This week the question we asked was:

How has it felt to transition from undergrad to graduate school?

I felt like the transition was smooth, especially at Pitt. Because of Pitt’s confidence-building curriculum, the first year is primarily coursework and classes.

I was very much in my comfort zone, and a lot of my study skills from undergrad came in handy!

Having coursework made it feel similar to undergrad, but there is much more to balance and the courses are more challenging.

While it is challenging, there are many people available to help guide and support you during this period of transition.

For me, the transition was really smooth. Having just graduated from Pitt for undergrad, I was very familiar with the campus and Pitt in general, so that was one less thing to adjust to when starting classes in the fall.

I knew what worked best for me in regards to taking notes and studying, which definitely was helpful!

The classes are challenging and require more independent learning than I was used to previously, but having that fresh out of school crutch helped facilitate that transition.

Fall Blog Series:

From Undergrad to Grad:

This fall we’re asking some of our second-year students about their experience going to graduate school right after completing their undergraduate degrees. We hope their answers will be helpful for anyone taking the journey towards graduate school.

This week we asked:

Any advice for people who want to apply while they are in school?

I recommend taking a step back and asking yourself if you have enough “real-world” experience that you feel prepared for graduate school and beyond. When I did this, I personally felt like I wanted the opportunity to work full-time in a position that provided me with experience and skills related to genetic counseling before starting graduate school. I made the decision to graduate from undergrad a semester early so I could have that opportunity.

I recommend working on your personal statement over the summer, as well as taking the GRE exam.  Having a draft of your personal statement and just adding revisions in the fall can really save a lot of time. 

If you can, I would also look ahead at what classes you will be taking in the fall and spring of your senior year, and make sure it is manageable to get everything done and attend interviews. Ask well in advance for letters of recommendation and provide deadlines to the individuals who will write the letters. 

Overall, my biggest piece of advice is to get a really great planner and write everything down and set goals and deadlines for yourself!

Start early! There are many letters to write, paperwork to assemble, and tests to take and preparing to apply takes more time than you may think. Also, finding multiple knowledgeable people who can review your application materials is definitely a plus! 

Many schools have professional workshops available through their career services departments that could be very useful!

From Undergrad to Grad:

On the way to grad school, can use the same backpack!

Over the summer we brought you the summer series “Back to school…again.” In this series,  some of our students who had taken time in between undergraduate and graduate school in genetic counseling shared their thoughts and experiences. This fall we are starting another exciting series of advice from our students who started their graduate degree immediately after finishing their undergraduate degree. In this four-part series students will answer the following questions:

1.    How did you prepare to apply to graduate school?

2.    Do you have any advice for people who want to apply while they are still in school?

3.    How has it felt to transition from undergrad to graduate school?

4.    Any recommendations for surviving grad school?

This week students will answer the first question: How did you prepare to apply to graduate school? We hope you enjoy our fall series: From undergrad to grad 

How did you prepare to apply to graduate school?

I talked to new counselors who I shadowed about the application process. I also went to a few open houses for information. 

I was part of an internship class that taught us about how to build a great resume, how to interview, and helped us fine-tune our professional skills. The final project for the class was finding a summer internship. 

Studying and preparing for graduate applications can require a lot of books! 

My internship was with a genetic counselor who also gave me advice for applying and read over my personal statement. 

I researched the programs I was interested in and made a list of what pre-requisites they required, average GRE scores, application deadlines, tuition cost, etc. It helped me keep narrow down the schools I wanted to apply to! 

I had one of my professors read my personal statement and she gave me really helpful feedback. 

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