May is Neurofibromatosis (NF) Awareness Month. Neurofibromatosis is a group of genetic conditions that cause tumors to form on nerve tissue, and every journey with NF is unique. Genetic counselors play a key role in helping individuals understand their diagnosis, navigate genetic testing, interpret results, and make informed decisions about their health and family planning. This month, we honor the strength of the NF community and highlight the importance of access to genetic counseling, early diagnosis, and multidisciplinary care. #NFAwarenessMonth #alwayslearning
This week, our 1st year students are completing their Reproductive Genetics Lab Week. Classes are suspended this week and students are immersed in understanding the importance of laboratory professionals and genetic testing that is offered during pregnancy. Yesterday, they traveled to the New York Genome Center to learn more about ongoing research and clinical collaborations between the Genome Center and the OB/GYN Department at Columbia. #alwayslearning #labweek #sciencecommunication
Today is our second (and last) day of our 2nd year students’ Scholarly Project platform presentations. Faculty, mentors, students, friends, and family will gather to learn more about the mentored research our students and their faculty committees have been working on for the past year. #alwayslearning #classof2026
Today is the first day of our 2nd year students’ Scholarly Project platform presentations. Faculty, mentors, students, friends, and family will gather to learn more about the mentored research our students and their faculty committees have been working on for the past year. #alwayslearning #classof2026
Join us today (May 8) at 12pm Eastern for Columbia’s ELSI Friday Forum, a monthly series addressing the ethical, legal, and social implications of genetics and genomics. This month’s forum examines how genomics research and science communication can be conducted in ways that center community trust, accountability, and broad public engagement. Learn more and register at: /event/rpqntk5dnk59 #alwayslearning #ELSI
Congratulations to the 2025-2026 Columbia LEND fellows – Caitlin Coker and Alex Keth – and their entire cohort, pictured here. Today is their graduation from the LEND program at the Westchester Institute for Human Development, and we are especially excited that Caitlin was selected by her classmates to be a speaker at the ceremony! LEND is an interdisciplinary leadership training program with a comprehensive curriculum in neurodevelopmental disabilities. We look forward to seeing how Alex and Caitlin apply what they learned as they become future leaders in the field of genetic counseling. Learn more about LEND here: /training/lend/ #LEND #interdisciplinarylearning
Join us on May 14th from 4-5 pm Eastern for May’s Virtual Genetics and Genomics Grand Rounds featuring Dr. Caitlin Baptiste presenting: "Beyond the Fetus: Unveiling maternal health risks through prenatal genome sequencing.” You can attend at this link: https://columbiacuimc.zoom.us/j/94526605040?pwd=I7teFqUKY9lkARtJgY7V12c6ZE53K6.1 #alwayslearning
May is Inherited Retinal Disease (IRD) Genetic Testing Awareness Month. Genetic testing can help individuals and families better understand the cause of vision loss, clarify inheritance patterns, inform medical management, and identify potential eligibility for emerging therapies or clinical trials. Genetic counselors play a key role in guiding patients through testing decisions, interpreting results, and providing personalized support. Raising awareness about IRDs helps empower patients with knowledge and expand access to precision care. #IRDawareness #alwayslearning
We are delighted to welcome the Columbia University GC Program Class of 2028! Congratulations to everyone who is headed to Washington Heights for graduate school; we can’t wait for you to join us on campus in August. #geneticcounseling #alwayslearning
This month’s faculty spotlight is on Amanda Chan, a genetic counselor who specializes in neurogenetics and supervises many of our first and second year students in clinic. Amanda is an ABGC board-certified genetic counselor and completed her genetic counseling graduate education at Columbia University (GC'23). She is a genetic counselor in the Division of Aging and Dementia and provides care for people with Alzheimer disease and their families, as well as supporting various research studies in Alzheimer disease genetics. She is also the Alumni Coordinator for our GC Program, supporting our alumni and building connections between alums and our current students. Thanks for all that you do, Amanda! #ColumbiaGCProgram #FacultySpotlight
Our student spotlight for the month of April is first year student Maddy Marcus. Maddy says, “Moving to NYC and being a part of Columbia’s Genetic Counseling program has always been a dream of mine. I’m grateful to be learning alongside such dedicated faculty and supportive classmates who make this journey so meaningful and rewarding.” #StudentSpotlight #ColumbiaGCProgram
Tomorrow is National DNA Day, commemorating the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003 and the discovery of DNA's double helix in 1953. This year, ASHG’s DNA Day Essay Contest focuses on genetic treatment or therapy that has been developed or widely used in recent years, such as Casegevy for sickle cell disease or Roctavian for hemophilia. Genetic counseling plays a key role in gene therapy by helping patients and families understand eligibility, potential benefits and risks, and the ethical and long-term implications of treatment. Read more here: /dna-day/ #DNAday #sciencematters #alwayslearning
