2026 Outstanding Student Achievement Award: Master’s Community Service Category
Yusra Yusuf
MS in Genetic Counseling
Yusuf matriculated into the MS in Genetic Counseling Program in 2024 and is preparing to graduate from the program in May 2026. During her time in the program, she centered her community service work on expanding access to and awareness of genetic counseling among underrepresented communities.
“For me, patient care and support extend far beyond the clinic,” Yusuf said. “Getting involved in community service is one way to accomplish that.”
Yusuf has supported several outreach initiatives across Massachusetts and New England, including volunteering with the Achieve Program, where she presented to middle and high school students about genetics and genetic counseling.
She has also volunteered with the Massachusetts Sickle Cell Association, where she helped to support the Walk for Sickle Cell. As part of this initiative, Yusuf engaged youth participants in fun and interactive activities while navigating conversations about their experiences with sickle cell disease.
“Through mentorship, educational outreach, and patient-centered resources, my goal has been to make these spaces more accessible and inclusive,” Yusuf said. “These experiences have shaped my commitment to ensuring genetic counseling is both equitable and culturally informed.”
Yusuf works as a Graduate Housing Assistant at Boston University, where she supports graduate student life and strengthens community-building. Her community engagement extends beyond BU into the broader genetic counseling academic community. She serves as a co-facilitator of the Black Genetic Counseling Student Association. As a co-facilitator, she helps foster a cross-institutional network that supports and empowers Black genetic counseling students throughout their training programs.
“As a first-generation student, I see community service as both a responsibility and a form of advocacy,” Yusuf said. “Learning that Black genetic counselors make up only 2% of the workforce further strengthened my dedication to representation and advocacy within the field.”
During her time at BU, Yusuf and three classmates coordinated a fundraiser with four other genetic counseling programs supporting Rosie’s Place, a Boston-based women’s center. The fundraiser raised over $600 and contributed to 24 care packages for the organization.
She is also involved in community-engaged research with Somali, Hmong, Black/African American, and Latine/Hispanic communities to better understand what members of these communities prioritize in a genetic counseling toolkit.
“In the future, I hope to contribute to mentorship and community engagement efforts that support individuals from underrepresented backgrounds entering the field,” Yusuf said. “I aim to work toward a genetic counseling profession that reflects the diversity of the communities it serves.”
Read about our other Outstanding Student Achievement Award winners here!