Faculty, Students & Alumni

Meet Our Team

Sundos Al-Husayni

Sundos grew up in Massachusetts and graduated from Northeastern University with a B.S. in Health Science and a minor in Biology. As an undergrad, she worked as a newborn hearing technician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, performing hearing screens and counseling families whose babies do not pass. She found her calling while working as a GCA at the Manton Center, a rare disease study, at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is passionate about addressing health disparities and working with immigrant communities, having been involved in initiatives to address language barriers in the local Boston community. In her free time, Sundos enjoys keeping her hands busy with tatreez (traditional Palestinian embroidery) and crochet projects, as well as spending time in nature.

Olivia Benson

Olivia Benson (she/her/hers) grew up on the South Shore of Massachusetts. She received a BS in Forensic Science with a concentration in Biology and minor in Criminal Justice from the University of New Haven. During her undergraduate years she began to develop a passion for solving complex cases which she is excited to bring to the genetic counseling field. One undergraduate memory she is most proud of is participating in a philanthropic club and raising over $100,000 for the kids at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Following graduation, she worked as a Research Technician at MGH Radiation Oncology and a Genetic Counseling Assistant at MGH Center for Genomic Medicine. In her free time she enjoys painting and being creative. She also loves traveling around New England, reading at the beach, and trying new restaurants and coffee shops. 

 

Maura Boerio

Maura grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina and moved to Houston, Texas in 2017 to attend Rice University. There, she studied Cell Biology and Genetics, inspiring her to join a cardiovascular genetics laboratory after graduating. For three years, she worked on multiple clinical research studies that explored the genetic causes of heritable aortic disease. She still collaborates with the lab, and her current research focuses on cardiovascular complications faced by patients with ACTA2 variants. She is also passionate about disability justice and patient advocacy, realized through her time spent volunteering at Gigi’s Playhouse as a tutor for children with Down syndrome as well as through working with individuals who have rare cardiovascular genetic conditions. She hopes to stay connected with these communities while at BU. Maura is a singer and dancer who can often be found engaging in these activities in her free time, in addition to exploring the Boston food scene. She is very grateful to be starting this next chapter of her career at the BUGCP. 

Makayla DeCesare

Makayla DeCesare (she/her) is originally from Salem, NH, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Roger Williams University.  During her undergraduate years, she also minored in psychology with a focus on neuroscience and child development.  After graduation, Makayla spent time as an SAT and chemistry tutor before transitioning to a role as a medical assistant in a primary care office.  Her professional passion lies in patient care, particularly with pediatric patients, and in her free time, Makayla indulges her nerdy side by reading, writing, paying Dungeons & Dragons with friends, and collecting Pokémon cards.  At home, she shares her life with two mysterious cats named Jett and Gotham.

Chloe Evans

Chloe grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii and graduated from Northeastern University with a BS in Behavioral Neuroscience in 2023. While at Northeastern, she was heavily involved in the Genetic Counseling Student Interest Group, Lifespan and Emotion Development Lab, and the Northeastern Shakespeare Society; she also had the pleasure of working as a GCA at the Fetal Diagnostic Institute of the Pacific in Hawaii and at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. After graduation, she returned home and worked with the UH Internal Medicine Residency Program and had the opportunity to assistant direct multiple theatrical productions with local community theatres. In her free time she can be found directing theatre, rock climbing, or eating sweets. 

Erin Hennessey

Erin graduated from the College of William & Mary in 2017 with a degree in Biology. She then worked as a research technician at Mass Eye & Ear, where she developed high-throughput assays for variant classification in IRD genes. In 2021, she joined the BU PiBS PhD program. She currently works in the Kotton lab, where her research focuses on ABCA3-associated childhood interstitial lung disease.

 

Alanna Horowitz

Alanna is originally from Newton, Massachusetts. In 2022, she graduated from Johns Hopkins with a degree in Public Health and a minor in Bioethics with a focus on informed consent and health literacy. In addition to starting at BUGCP she’s also pursuing her MPH in health communication. Before starting graduate school, she worked at Beth Israel Lahey Hospital in Burlington, MA as a genetic counseling assistant in their cancer genetics program and as the coordinator for the cancer survivors programs in the hospital. She also works part time as a staff member of Yachad which is a program for adults with disabilities in Brookline, MA. In her spare time she likes to crochet, paint, and plan trips to faraway places! She’s also a voracious reader and is on a mission to read a book by an author from every country in the world.

Haylie McSwaney

Haylie is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and graduated from Penn State University in 2022 with a major in biology and a minor in psychology. In her time at Penn State, she was very involved with THON, raising money for childhood cancer research and treatment, and Camp Kesem, a free annual summer camp and yearlong support for kids impacted by a parent’s cancer. She spent two years after graduation as a genetic counselor assistant at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and a Helpline Volunteer at Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) and is very excited to take the next step in her education as a part of the Boston University Genetic Counseling Program. In her free time, she loves crocheting and reading and is a huge movie lover. Haylie also has two boston terriers Rosie and Stella, who are very excited to be the BU terrier mascots during her time in the program. 

Kim Nguyen

Kim Nguyen is from Tampa, Florida, and graduated from the University of South Florida in 2024 with a B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology, and a B.A. in Psychology. During her time as an undergrad, she worked as a research assistant in a study exploring dementia knowledge and understanding among Florida’s elderly, LEP (limited English proficiency) Asian-American populations, where she got to closely interact with the local Vietnamese-American community. In addition, she co-founded a Pre-Genetic Counseling Club at the University of South Florida and served as its president. Kim was an intern at Advocate Genetics, where she explored existing barriers faced by Asian-Americans in genetic testing & counseling, culminating in the creation of an English-Vietnamese GC Glossary. During her time with Advocate Genetics, she also explored her interest in cross-cultural/international genetic counseling by interviewing genetic counselors working in different countries in a collaborative project. She and her colleagues wanted to better understand the field’s unique issues and challenges in different countries. Kim has also volunteered as a Travelers’ Aid Volunteer through her local crisis center at the Tampa International Airport, where she provided support and resources to travelers and individuals in distress. Kim aspires to fight healthcare disparities and the stigmas that exist within the Vietnamese and Southeast Asian communities. As someone whose family was deeply impacted by medical trauma, she is deeply passionate about efforts to address medical trauma, especially in underserved communities. In her free time, she likes to read, crochet, play Stardew Valley, and occasionally dabble in bookbinding.

Wajiha Syed

Wajiha is Pakistani-American and grew up in the California Bay Area. Wajiha graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a B.S. in Public Health Sciences and is pursuing an MPH in addition to genetic counseling at BU. While at UCI, Wajiha was a research assistant for an adolescent biobehavioral development lab and investigated teen mental health, risky behavior, and eating habits. Additionally, Wajiha was an orientation coordinator for UCI, creating and facilitating programs for over ten thousand incoming students and their families. To complete the program’s required public health practicum, Wajiha interned at a center for LGBTQ+ health and HIV care, providing essential nutrition services to community members affected by HIV. To relax, Wajiha enjoys live music, roller skating, crafting, and cooking with friends.

Kim Ta

Kim grew up in Orlando, Florida (less than 10 miles from Disney World!) and graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2022 with her Bachelor’s in Health Sciences (Pre-Clinical Track). She also minored in Biology and Music. During her time in undergrad she was a teaching assistant for preventive health care where she lectured about autoimmune disorders. She was also part of a nonprofit organization that allowed for students to be part of a unique environment to learn and perform in ensembles outside of their school from world class clinicians. After graduating she went back to volunteer at Give Kids the World, where she met many families who shared their stories with her and it inspired her even more to pursue genetic counseling. Upon applying she was selected to be part of John Hopkins’ Genetic Counseling Summer Internship, where she learned about the impact that genetic counselors have on the preventative side of people’s health. She worked on updating John Hopkins’ Hospital patient-facing website on genetic conditions such as Huntington Disease, Klinefelter syndrome, and Mucopolysaccharidosis. Growing up as a Vietnamese ad hoc interpreter supporting her family, she hopes to become a genetic counselor who brings awareness to people of all backgrounds and advocates for those in underserved communities. In her free time she likes going to concerts and soccer matches, playing puzzle/word games, going for walks, binging Korean dramas and anime series, and playing with her dogs, Lucky and Ghost. She has never left home or seen snow and is excited to start her new journey in Boston.

Yeabsira Tufa

Yeabsira is originally from Ethiopia and has been living in Maryland for a significant portion of her life. She graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in Biology. After graduating, Yeabsira worked as a research coordinator at Johns Hopkins, where she contributed to research aimed at improving cognition to promote the health and well-being of older adults. She then transitioned to a Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. In this role, she was part of natural history studies using a genotype-first approach to uncover novel insights into complex genotype-phenotype relationships. Alongside this work, Yeabsira also volunteered for organizations such as Facing Hereditary Cancer Empowered (FORCE) and provided crisis counseling. In her free time, Yeabsira enjoys reading, hiking, cooking, watching TV shows and movies, spending time with friends and family, and playing with her dog, Hopu.

Lina Waughman

Lina is originally from Woodinville, Washington, a small winery town northeast of Seattle. She graduated from Gonzaga University with a B.S. in Biology, as well as minors in Comprehensive Leadership and Spanish. Before coming to BU, she worked for Seattle Children’s Hospital as a lab assistant in their Therapeutic Cell Production Core and as a Genetic Counseling Assistant for their Lab Genetic Counseling team. Outside of work or school, she loves reading, cooking, exploring new movies, and when the weather allows, sailing and hiking! Becoming a genetic counselor is a goal she have been working towards for a long time, and she is so very excited to be here at BUGCP!

Megan Yoder

Megan grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated with a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Georgia. While at UGA, she was involved in Special Olympics and UGA Miracle, a fundraising group that championed for children being treated at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She also served as a peer tutor and mentor for students in the Honors College, and spent much of her time volunteering with victims of domestic violence at the local shelter. After graduating, she worked as a genetic counseling assistant at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital where she was able to gain clinical experience in several pediatric speciality clinics, prenatal, cancer and inpatient settings, solidifying her interest in the field. In her free time, Megan enjoys running, engaging in contemplative dialogues on reality television, and keeping her Goodreads and Letterboxd updated frequently.

Yusra Yusuf

Yusra Yusuf was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and earned her B.S. in Health Sciences from the University of Minnesota Rochester. During her undergraduate years, she held numerous leadership roles, including serving as the Rochester Student Association’s Student Body President, where she frequently collaborated with the university’s chancellor, the mayor, and community leaders to enhance student life. Yusra also worked as a float patient care assistant at the Mayo Clinic and as a Resident Assistant (RA) on campus. Yusra’s passion for mentoring and her commitment to diversity and inclusion were evident during her time as an undergrad student. She volunteered as a mentor/tutor for the Somali American Social Service Association and worked with youth across various subjects.  Yusra was an active member of her university’s diversity and inclusion committee and served on the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Board. In undergrad, she was recognized with the President’s Award for Student Leadership, Gilman Scholar, and Distinguished Capstone Award. Additionally, Yusra completed a genetic counseling internship at the Mayo Clinic.  Yusra’s pursuit of diverse learning experiences landed her in a study abroad program in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where she completed an internship at a traditional Thai medicine clinic. Her fluency in both English and Somali further enhances her ability to connect with diverse communities. Prior to studying abroad. After graduating, Yusra worked as an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapist, supporting young children with autism and learning disabilities. In her free time, Yusra enjoys painting, spending quality time with loved ones, traveling, and indulging in her favorite drink, an iced vanilla latte. Her travels this year have taken her to Sydney and Melbourne, Australia!

Alaa Al-Hindi

Alaa grew up in Saudi Arabia and later moved to Colorado so her brother could access disability services. She graduated from The Ohio State University in December 2019 with a B.S. in Molecular Genetics and a second major in Microbiology. She began her career at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH, where she joined the Institute for Genomic Medicine as a clinical genetics laboratory technologist. Starting on the Nucleic Acid Extraction team, she gained experience isolating nucleic acids from a wide range of sample types, then transitioned to the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) team. There, she prepared sequencing libraries for clinical whole-genome and exome sequencing, as well as targeted DNA and RNA cancer gene panels. During her time in the laboratory, she earned her Technologist in Molecular Biology and Specialist in Molecular Biology board certifications from the American Society for Clinical Pathology. Alaa also collaborated with the Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) team to digitize NGS workflows, integrating assays into the laboratory database to enhance data accessibility, integrity, and visibility. She looks forward to bringing this depth of laboratory and data experience into her genetic counseling education and future practice. Outside of science, Alaa enjoys capturing Boston’s historic charm through digital and film photography, playing piano, and exploring the natural beauty of Massachusetts’s landscapes and Atlantic coast.

Maggie Bauer

Maggie is originally from Redondo Beach, California, and graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Global Disease Biology. During her time at UC Davis, she worked on research on Entamoeba histolytica and its disease-causing mechanisms. She is passionate about education and has worked with volunteer organizations to support those impacted by the carceral system, providing workshops and resources. After graduation, she moved to Columbus, Ohio, where she worked as a GCA at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, while also getting involved with genetic counseling prospective student organizations. In her free time, Maggie enjoys taking walks, taking barre classes, and listening to music.

Ruby Bolton

Ruby was raised in Minneapolis, MN, and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, along with a minor in Psychology. During her undergrad, she worked in several research labs focused on genetic counseling communication skills and outcomes, pediatric cancer survivorship, and the impact of carcinogens in Minnesota on elevated blood cancer rates. She also led her school’s NORD Students for Rare club and volunteered at the campus food pantry. She is passionate about advocating for food security, decarceration, and supporting low-income communities, something she hopes to continue in Boston. In her free time, Ruby loves to play guitar, hunt for more vinyls, find new coffee shops, and hike.

Olivia Diodato

Olivia grew up in Harvard, Massachusetts and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a minor in Science & Patient Advocacy. During her time at ND, she conducted research in human genetics, worked as a lab TA, and was involved in patient advocacy efforts through the Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare Diseases. After graduation, she spent a year as a Genetic Counseling Assistant at Labcorp on the molecular genetics team, focusing primarily on prenatal carrier screening.In her free time, Olivia enjoys workout classes, crossword puzzles, and cheering on the Irish!

Amber Esqueda

Amber grew up in Southern California and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a B.S. in Human Biology and Society and a minor in Spanish. While at UCLA, Amber was involved with various campus organizations including the American Medical Women’s Association, Community Medicine for Los Angeles, Advocating for Intersectional Medicine, UCLA CampMed, and Teens for Screens. Her interest in genetic counseling first began through her role as a research assistant for a genetic counseling student researching the awareness and perceptions regarding genetic counseling in diverse, urban populations in Los Angeles. Through this role, Amber interacted with individuals of various socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds, helping spread awareness on the role of genetic counseling and testing in healthcare. She also served as a research assistant for the REACH Lab at UCLA, where she analyzed the impact of mindfulness treatments on PTSD in unhoused women. Outside of UCLA, Amber was involved with Caraway, an organization dedicated to advocating for women’s healthcare in the college space, and the Los Angeles Department of Public Health Youth Advisory Council, where she organized a project focused on addressing food insecurity in her community. After graduating from UCLA, Amber went on to become a genetic counseling assistant at Hoag Hospital Presbyterian. There she acted as an outreach coordinator for various of their high-risk cancer programs such as the Early Risk Assessment Program, the Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Program, and the Pancreatic Cancer Detection Program. In her free time, Amber loves to read, try out new coffee shops, and spend time outdoors. She hopes that her time at BUGCP will continue to foster her commitment to diversity and equity in healthcare.

Carmen Glaze

Carmen Glaze is originally from San Diego, California, and graduated from Pepperdine University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Hispanic Studies. During her time in college, she held leadership roles in her sorority and the Women in STEM club, and also participated in undergraduate research in a microbiology lab. After graduating, she moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she spent two years working as a Clinical Genomics Assistant at the Broad Institute performing Variant Interpretation. In this role, she contributed to the Chan Zuckerberg Rare as One Initiative, studying the prevalence of rare genetic conditions. Her work allowed her to collaborate with patient advocacy organizations and deepened her commitment to rare disease advocacy. Outside of her professional work, Carmen has volunteered as a biocurator for the Leukodystrophy and Leukoencephalopathy Gene Curation Expert Panel (GCEP) and with Somerville and Cambridge Elder Services. In her free time, she enjoys singing in her local community chorus, sewing, traveling, exploring Boston with friends, and visiting new coffee shops.

Hailey Goffin

Hailey (she/her) is originally from New Jersey and graduated from Northeastern University in 2025 with a degree in Behavioral Neuroscience. While at Northeastern, she worked as a research assistant in a lab studying cerebellar circuitry at Harvard Medical School. Additionally, she served as a GCA in the Manton Center and Beggs Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital, focusing on rare disease research. She also spent multiple semesters as a teaching assistant for an introductory lab techniques and research course. Outside of work, she was active in Northeastern’s Pep Band as a clarinetist and section leader, Nu Rho Psi (the National Honors Society in Neuroscience), and the Genetics Club. In her free time, Hailey enjoys going to hockey games, watching movies, and traveling to new places.

Eve Henry

Eve grew up in Saint Paul, MN, and graduated from the University of Iowa in 2023. During her time in undergrad, she investigated the genetic mechanisms underlying myoclonic epilepsy in her professor’s lab and gained firsthand clinical experience in the university’s neuromuscular clinic, supporting both patients and providers. After graduation, she returned home to Minnesota and joined the University of Minnesota Genomics Center, where she generated large-scale genotyping data to advance research projects across the country. These experiences cemented her desire to pursue genetic counseling, particularly in making complex genetic information more accessible. In her free time, Eve is always on the search for the best iced vanilla latte in the city, is working her way through the New York Times top 100 books of the 21st century, and loves the thrill of a good thrift find.

Michelle Katemauswa

Michelle (she/they) is Zimbabwean American and grew up in Houston, TX. She graduated from Duke University in 2021 with a BA in Interdepartmental Studies, where they explored how gender, race, and sexuality influence health outcomes and disparities. During undergrad, Michelle worked as a Resident Assistant and a Peer Sexual Health Educator. They also spend several months abroad, studying health systems in Kenya, South Africa, Vietnam, and Argentina. After graduation, she returned to Houston to work as an education consultant and an EMT at large-scale events like the Houston Rodeo (yeehaw!). Most recently, she’s been supporting first-generation, low-income students as an Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Counselor at SUNY ESF. Michelle is very passionate about health equity, especially in Black and Queer communities and is excited to continue that work as a genetic counselor. In their free time, you can find Michelle playing video games, going to the movie theater, and working on several unfinished crafting projects.

Sam McGurgan

Sam McGurgan, originally from Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, graduated from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities in December 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minors in Genetics and Public Health. During her undergraduate studies, she served as a teaching assistant for a research methods course and worked as a research assistant with the university’s genetic counseling program. Following graduation, Sam worked as a Behavior Therapist supporting children with autism, where she gained firsthand insight into how genetic conditions can impact families and how interventions such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) are implemented. In pursuit of more direct experience in genetic counseling, she relocated to New York City in August 2024 to join the high-risk cancer genetics program at NYU Langone Health as a Genetic Counseling Assistant. Outside of her professional interests, Sam enjoys playing soccer and exploring new coffee shops and thrift stores. She is excited to continue building her career in genetic counseling while discovering all that Boston has to offer.

Sheilly Patel

Sheilly Patel (she/her) grew up on the North Shore of Massachusetts. She received her BA in Biology with a specialization in Cell, Molecular Biology and Genetics with a minor in Psychology from the undergraduate campus at Boston University. At the start of her academic journey at BU she learned of Genetic Counseling from her Pre-Health advisor and soon thereafter never forgot about it. She has been a texting suicide prevention hotline volunteer since the Fall of 2022 and continues to support the Samaritans team by training new Hey Sam volunteers and continuing her work on the hotline. She also interned as a Warren Alpert Intern at the Boston University program during the summer of 2023 where she shadowed Genetic Counselors in pediatric, cancer, prenatal, and industry roles, researched a gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease, and confirmed her interest in the clinical space of Genetic Counseling. Her interests led her back to BUGCP during the summer of 2024 where she was able to research under the guidance of Nikkola Carmichael and Kimberly Zayhowski to write a manuscript regarding the perspectives of BIPOC Genetic Counseling students on career-oriented social media use. During her free time, Sheilly loves to go on walks, get food with friends, paint, and explore new places. She is excited to be back at BUGCP now as an official student and hopes to continue building her strong connections at the program.

Katie Phillips
Katie grew up in Vermont, and graduated from the University of Rochester with a B.S. in Neuroscience and minors in Dance and Health Psychology. After graduating, Katie spent 3 years working in Tim Yu’s lab at Boston Children’s Hospital, developing personalized therapeutics for children with rare neurodevelopmental disorders. While there, she discovered a love for science communication and engaging with patients and their families. In her free time, Katie enjoys reading and playing ultimate frisbee, and she’s currently learning to crochet.

Catherine Prasad

Catherine grew up in Manasquan, New Jersey. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a B.S in Psychology and a concentration in neuroscience in 2023. While at UMass, she got involved in neuroscience research which led her to move to Boston after graduation where she started working at Boston Children’s Hospital as a clinical research assistant in a neurogenetics lab. In her role there, she communicated directly with families about enrollment into a brain malformations gene discovery study and facilitated sample collection. Additionally, she performed many wet lab tasks, such as DNA extractions on samples from families as well as Sanger validation on variants of interest identified within the lab. She also volunteered at the Crisis Text Line and was involved in employee-led advocacy groups at BCH. In her free time, she enjoys reading, going to the gym, trying new coffee spots or restaurants and going to the beach!

Athena Sarafoglou

Athena grew up on the South Shore of Massachusetts and graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology in 2023. While an undergraduate, Athena served as a teaching assistant for an introductory biology course and a research assistant in the Clinical Affective Sciences Lab, which aimed to advance the understanding of emotional suffering and intentional self-injury to improve evidence-based, accessible treatments for individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). After graduating, Athena began working as a Genetic Testing Coordinator at Dana–Farber Cancer Institute and met with patients recently diagnosed with cancer to discuss genetic testing through DFCI’s Rapid Access Cancer Genetic Testing Program. Outside of school and work, Athena enjoys live music, cooking, exploring new restaurants and cafes, spending time outside, and collecting little trinkets.

 

Jenna Walls
Jenna grew up in Connecticut and graduated from Northeastern University with a B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology and a minor in Psychology and Public Health. She worked as a GCA in a cancer clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital and at the Manton Center, a rare disease study, at Boston Children’s Hospital. After graduation, she returned to the Manton Center and Beggs Lab. In her free time, Jenna enjoys taking yoga classes, knitting, baking, and reading thrillers and mystery novels.