Faculty, Students & Alumni

Meet Our Team

Katie Anderson

Katherine (“Katie”) Anderson grew up in rural upstate New York and attended college in the same area, graduating from Colgate University in 2021 with a degree in Biology. While at Colgate, Katie interned within Stakeholder Research and Engagement at a Washington, D.C-based disease advocacy organization, Genetic Alliance, discovering an interest in policy that impacts healthcare access, specifically for the publicly insured. Following graduation, Katie moved to Boston to work as a coordinator within the Angelman Syndrome Clinical Research Group at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she managed a multisite natural history project and worked closely with parent support organizations, as well as industry partners launching clinical trials. During this time, Katie also became involved in the local community through coaching youth field hockey and volunteering at a women’s shelter in downtown Boston. In her free time, Katie enjoys trying new dance classes, birdwatching, running around the Charles River, and spending time with family in downeast Maine.

Caitlyn Ark

Caitlyn is originally from Portland, OR. She graduated from Northeastern University with a BS in Biology and minors in Human Services and Mathematics in 2023. While at Northeastern, Caitlyn worked as a research GCA at Boston Children’s Hospital with the Manton Center, in policy and research roles, and most recently with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. She is passionate about public health genetics and community health, and looks forward to the opportunity to learn and grow at BU. Outside of work and school, Caitlyn enjoys connecting with food and plants, practicing yoga, and updating her Goodreads.

Samantha Betterman

Samantha grew up in Roseville, Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in 2023 with her Bachelor of Science in Genetics, Cell Biology and Development with a minor in Public Health. While at UMN, Samantha was heavily involved in the university’s Pre-Genetic Counseling Club and was an advocate for the National Organization for Rare Disorders Students for Rare UMN chapter. Additionally, Samantha immersed herself in the research sector of genetic counseling as an undergraduate research assistant, focusing on funding in genetic counseling research. Outside of her schooling, Samantha volunteered with Crisis Text Line, worked as a Certified Pharmacy Technician at Hennepin Healthcare, and coached soccer to kids between ages 5 and 8 at her local soccer club. In her free time, Samantha enjoys reading, staying active through indoor cycling and running, spending time with her family and friends, and searching for any excuse to attend local concerts and listen to live music.

Kai Blumen

Kai (they/them) grew up in Marlboro, New Jersey. They moved to the Boston area to go to Brandeis University, graduating with a B.S. in Biology and Chemical Biology. During undergrad, they worked in a fly genetics lab. After graduating, they worked as a research assistant at Boston Children’s Hospital, working with both trans patients and patients with differences in sexual development/intersex conditions. In their free time, they enjoy hanging out with their dog, Tilly; taking care of their plants; and learning how to cook.

Katherine Bryant

Katherine (Kath) grew up in Boulder, Colorado. She moved to the Boston area for college and, except for one year in California, has been in the area ever since. She received BA and MA degrees in the history of science from Harvard. She has worked in educational publishing for many years as a writer and editor, mostly in math and science with occasional forays into social studies and other fields. A pandemic layoff led to some soul-searching, which in turn led to this exciting career pivot into genetic counseling. She volunteers for Crisis Text Line. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, puzzles, music, community theater, crochet and other crafts, roleplaying games, travel, and snuggling her cat.

Timbria Burke

Timbria is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and graduated from the University of Florida in 2020 where she received a Bachelor of Health Science with a minor in Public Health. During college, she had the pleasure of serving as the Vice President of the Multicultural Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS). She also volunteered at Rahma Mercy Clinic, assisting patients who were underinsured/uninsured, or experiencing homelessness, and at Balance 180 Gymnastics & Sports Academy, where she worked with children with intellectual or physical disabilities, helping them acquire fundamental motor and social skills. During the spring break of 2020, she traveled to Cap-Haïtien, Haiti with P4H (Projects for Haiti) Global for a week-long impact trip where she helped develop and present a health education curriculum. After graduating, Timbria worked for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and Department of Children and Families, assisting callers with COVID-19 pandemic unemployment & food benefits. In 2022, she transitioned to working as a Genetic Counseling Assistant at GeneDx where she managed issues that prevented patients’ testing from moving into the lab or report-writing process. This role ended during the summer in preparation for moving to Boston. Timbria is committed to promoting health equity and health literacy within historically disadvantaged communities, with a special focus on the Black community. Her aspiration is to help increase diversity within the genetic counseling profession on both the patient and practitioner sides and to serve as a mentor to prospective students. During her free time, she loves reading fiction books, going to the beach, cooking, binging a good show, traveling and trying new food, and spending time with her loved ones. In 2020, she also opened an online shirt store with Bonfire called TB’s Collection of Concepts which is focused on positive impactful messages such as health equity and the pursuit of thriving.

Lauren Ellingwood

Lauren is from Seattle, WA. She got her degree in Biology from the University of Redlands while playing collegiate volleyball. After graduating, Lauren worked in immunodiagnostics for two years before quitting her job and moving to Australia with a working holiday visa. Upon returning from Australia, Lauren worked in various lab roles before transitioning into the world of genetics with a job at Blueprint Genetics. In her free time, she loves to exercise, bake cookies, watch reality tv, and read sci-fi novels.

Julia Griffin

Julia is originally from Arlington, MA and graduated from UMass Amherst in 2019 with a degree in Psychology and Education, and a certificate in Social Work and Social Welfare. She returned back to the Boston area after college, where she has spent the majority of her professional life between Boston Children’s Hospital’s Genetics and Metabolism Program, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Department of Genetics and Prevention, as a Patient Coordinator and Clinical Research Coordinator, respectively. In her free time, Julia thoroughly enjoys skiing, teaching spin classes, spontaneous road trips and watching all of Boston’s sports teams!

Helena Hemberger

Helena is from Germany originally and grew up internationally, moving to India, England and eventually Princeton, NJ about 13 years ago. Helena graduated from Dartmouth College in 2021 with a BA in biology with a concentration in genetics. For two years after graduation, she worked at Boston Children’s as a research assistant studying the glycosylation of RNAs, while volunteering for the Crisis Text Line. In her free time, Helena listens to a lot of music, podcasts and audiobooks and loves spending time with friends and cooking and baking for them.

Lupita Sanchez

Lupita Sanchez grew up in California and graduated from Wesleyan University in 2020/2021 with a BA/MA in Biology. At Wesleyan, she worked in the Coolon lab where she investigated the context dependent regulation of Rap1 and its downstream target genes in yeast using RNA sequencing. After graduation, she moved to Boston and worked as a research assistant at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. There, she did work in a human genetics lab focused on investigating gene-environment interactions in Mesoamerican Nephropathy, a chronic kidney disease that presents in young, agricultural workers, primarily in Central America. Around the same time, she began volunteering for the Trevor Chat, a crisis hotline focused on the  LGBTQ+ community. To gain more experience in the clinical setting, she took a position as a genetic testing coordinator at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and assisted genetic counselors with their daily tasks as well as presented patients diagnosed with cancer the option to pursue genetic testing. In her free time, Lupita loves climbing and works as a climbing coach for the non-competitive teams at Central Rock Gym. She also enjoys baking, hiking, running, traveling, spending time with friends and family, and playing with her cat Pepper.

Kaycee Schoellhorn

Kaycee is originally from Eugene, Oregon. She graduated from the R.D. Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon in 2017, with a major in biology and minors in Spanish and Biochemistry. After graduating she worked in various roles in education. She was a one-on-one assistant for a student with osteogenesis imperfecta, provided regular support to a student with autism, and co-taught in a 3-4 grade classroom. Outside of work, Kaycee likes to get involved with her community and has volunteered at a domestic violence shelter and with LGBTQ+ youth. In her free time Kaycee has many hobbies, mostly involving food, crafts, and spending time outside. She loves gardening and then cooking delicious meals with all the things that she has grown.

Erica Sistare

Erica grew up in the small town of Tully, New York and graduated from the University of Rochester in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and minors in chemistry and Spanish. After graduation, she moved to Boston to pursue a career as a patent agent. While working on patent portfolios in the gene therapy space, Erica learned about the genetic counseling field and pivoted to a genetic counseling assistant position at Boston Children’s Hospital. She has volunteered through Horizons for Homeless Children as well as a Big Brothers Big Sisters program for adults with disabilities. In addition to her love of genetics and patient advocacy, Erica enjoys going to the beach, attending aerial yoga classes, eating lobster, and playing frisbee with her dog, Ruby.

Charmaine Toppin

Charmaine is from Botswana and has been living in Massachusetts for over 15 years. She was a Biology major at University of Massachusetts (UMASS), where she obtained her Bachelor of Science. Before UMASS, she graduated from Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) with an Associate of Science in Biology. Her education at BHCC solidified her interest in genetics and passion for giving back to the community through volunteer work. She currently volunteers with Cradles to Crayons and the Many Helping Hands 365 programs. She hopes to continue to give back through programs that are centered around advocacy for underrepresented groups. Charmaine has experience working in the industry space; she’s worked as a Lab Assistant, Quality Specialist and most recently as a Genetic Counselor Assistant for Invitae. In her free time, she enjoys leisurely walks while listening to music, reading, and spending time with her family.

Sarah Wiser

Sarah grew up in Miami, Florida, and graduated from Georgia Tech in 2021 with a degree in biochemistry. In college, she was a peer coach with the Excel program, an inclusive post-secondary education program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After graduating college, she moved to Boston to work at Massachusetts General Hospital as a clinical research coordinator on a project studying the implementation of an electronic decision-aid tool that supports genetic testing decision-making for patients with ovarian or pancreatic cancer. Since moving to Boston, she has loved volunteering at the Cambridge Women’s Center! In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with her dog, Chloe!

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!