USC: Tooltip template solidnav (text)

Class of 2008

Elizabeth Wiley is from Massachusetts and graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 2003 with a B.S. in Biology. Before coming to USC, she worked as a laboratory technician in the Kung Lab at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and volunteered for the Samaritans, a suicide prevention hotline in the Boston area. Elizabeth is currently working on her thesis, "Prenatal screening and diagnostic testing practices among obstetricians and gynecologists in South Carolina."

Kathy Bet is from Walnutport, PA and graduated from The College of New Jersey in 2006 with a B.S. in Biology. While attending TCNJ, she worked as a chemistry lab assistant, a genetics lab assistant, and interned at the New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Sciences in the Criminalistics department. She observed two prenatal genetic counselors during her senior year and did a variety of volunteer work in nearby Trenton, NJ throughout her college career. She is currently working on her thesis, entitled " Factors that influence the communication of pregnancy termination for abnormality from patients to people in their lives".

Kristen Rohrer is from Friendship, Maryland. In 2005, she graduated from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia with a B.S. in Neuroscience. Throughout college, Kristen volunteered at a convalescent center, an early intervention program for children, and a crisis center for women and children. Following graduation, she worked for one year in a Neurogenetics Lab at the National Institutes of Health as part of a post baccalaureate training program. She is currently working on her thesis, titled "The Current Psychosocial Practices of Pediatric Genetic Counselors."

Peggy Walker is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Genetics & Cell Biology. Her various roles in hospital, academic, and healthcare industry settings have rounded out her experiences of connecting with people. Peggy has completed cancer, prenatal, and pediatrics rotations at Duke, MUSC, and Medical College of Georgia, respectively. She loves counseling patients and families, and is intrigued by the psychosocial aspects of genetic counseling. Her thesis is focused on how patients understand cancer genetics, and the communication connections or disconnects around risk perception. She hopes to find a counseling position in cancer and adult genetics, or in prenatal genetics that allows her to continue to learn more about people and clinical genetics. “The most important element is science is the human element.”

Rebecca Eells is from Myrtle Beach, SC and graduated from Duke University in 2006 with a B.S. in Psychology and Biology. As an undergraduate student, she worked as a research assistant for the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics at Duke University Medical Center and volunteered with a group for siblings of children with special needs. Following graduation, she also worked as a clinical trials assistant. She is currently working on her thesis entitled "The Current Perceptions and Desires of Adults with Marfan Syndrome for Preconceptional and Prenatal Genetic Counseling".

Sarah Hash is from Bowie, MD and graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in 2004 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences. While at UMBC, Sarah volunteered as a campus peer health educator, as well as facilitated an AIDS and STD awareness course to inner city 9^th and 10^th graders. In her senior year, she was a teaching assistant for freshman biology for majors. After college Sarah taught high school marine ecology, genetics, and AP biology for two years. Currently Sarah is working on her thesis, which explores how clergy members in South Carolina would counsel a woman who has a pregnancy affected with a genetic condition.

Katie Berrier is from Lexington, North Carolina. She graduated from North Carolina State University in 2007 with a B.S. in Statistics, a B.A. in Chemistry, and a Minor in Genetics. While at NCSU, Katie worked as an editorial assistant for a grant in the Statistics Department. She also volunteered in student health promotions as a peer educator. Throughout college Katie participated in many leadership roles and service projects with her sorority, including philanthropic events benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Renee Hilber is from Rochester, Michigan and graduated from Michigan State University in 2007 with a B.S. in Human Biology. While at MSU, Renee volunteered at the Genetics Clinic in the Pediatrics department of the MSU Clinical Center. She worked as an assistant in the AFP laboratory of MSU's Prenatal Screening program and volunteered with the Genetic Counselors. Renee also volunteered with a group known as the Foundation for the International Medical Relief of Children, helping out at events for children at Sparrow Hospital and making meals for families staying at Ronald McDonald House.

Dan Wiesman is originally from West Palm Beach, Florida. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh (2007) earning his B.S. in Biology. While at Pitt, he worked at the Child Advocacy Center at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh as a research assistant conducting research on traumatic brain injury. Also, he volunteered as an intern at the Collegiate YMCA and later served as student vice president of the Collegiate YMCA. During his studies, he traveled to Durban, South Africa where he volunteered and represented the YMCA USA at the YMCA World Conference.'

Allison Bellomo is from Hendersonville, NC and graduated from Furman University in Greenville, SC in 2007 with a B.S. in Biology. As an undergrad she worked as a lab assistant for biology and genetics and volunteered as a crisis line advocate at a battered women's shelter. In addition Allison completed a ten week internship with the Greenville office of the Greenwood Genetic Center, mainly seeing pediatric patients but also a few prenatal cases. She also worked as an aid to the adminitrative assistant there for six months.

Sally Cunningham is from Cary, NC and graduated from North Carolina State University in 2007 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a minor in Genetics. At NC State, she was a research assistant in a neurobiology lab, where she conducted an honors research project involving the degeneration of nerves following an injury. Sally also worked extensively with the Meredith Autism Program, providing one-on-one therapy to children with autism.

Ashley Noackis from Columbia, SC and graduated from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC with a bachelors in biology. While at Winthrop she was actively involved in the colligate chapter of Kiwanas called Circle K and the Winthrop Ambassadors. Through out high school and undergraduate she worked at Clemson University as a counselor at summer and respit camps for mentally handicapped children and adults.

Kellie King is from Columbia South Carolina. She graduated from Furman University in June 2007 with a B.S. in chemistry, ACS certified in biochemistry. She spent one summer as a research assistant in a chemistry lab and the following summer doing breast cancer research in a cellular biology lab. She volunteered with a variety of groups throughout college including the Healthy Greenville program, the Greenville Rape Crisis and Child Abuse Center, and as a tutor. In addition, she completed an internship with a prenatal genetic counselor in the spring of her senior year.