February/March 2025 - Student Spotlights

1st Year Spotlight- Rebekah

Before joining the UUGPGC, Rebekah taught as a science teacher for 8 years, first in Nebraska, then later here in Utah. Rebekah taught Astronomy, Biology, Physics, and a little bit of Chemistry. While teaching, she realized she held a fascination for the field of genetics, which helped direct her to genetic counseling. So far, she is enjoying her entry into her second career.
As for hobbies, with the upcoming spring, she is excited to get into her garden. She also enjoys cooking, a hobby that pairs well with gardening. Her husband and her both love to camp and travel, and they are currently working their way through regional national parks. They have plans to visit White Sands and Carlsbad National Parks this spring.

2nd Year Spotlight- Liz

Liz is a second-year genetic counseling student originally from Park City, UT. She earned her B.S. in genetics from the University of New Hampshire in 2013, where she also competed for their NCAA Division I Nordic ski team. Following graduation, she pursued a professional Nordic ski racing career based in Craftsbury, VT, and represented the US in World Cup competitions around the globe.

Before starting her Master’s in Genetic Counseling Program at the University of Utah, Liz worked for two years as a genetic counseling assistant for Igenomix, a preimplantation genetic testing laboratory. She is grateful for the kind mentorship and knowledge she received during her time as a GCA. Liz feels very lucky to have the opportunity to further develop her passion for genetic education and patient advocacy during her graduate training at the University of Utah.

Outside of school, Liz loves to spend time with friends and her partner exploring the beautiful mountains around Utah, whether it’s on foot, on her mountain bike, or on skis. She can often be found adventuring with her border-collie mix, Luna.

February/March 2025 - Faculty Spotlight

Kristen Pauley, MS, LCGC

Kristen Pauley, MS, LCGC is an oncology genetic counselor at Huntsman Cancer Institute. Kristen has been working at Huntsman since 2019 when she graduated from the Thomas Jefferson University Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling program in Philadelphia. In her role at Huntsman, Kristen sees patients who have a personal and/or family history of cancer that may be indicative of a hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome. Additionally, she is the co-director of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) clinic which follows individuals with the condition VHL for their annual surveillance. This is a multi-disciplinary clinic which is designated as the only Clinical Care Center in the state by the VHL Alliance.
In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Kristen’s interests lie in education. She is the director of the Cancer Genetics course for the University of Utah Genetic Counseling Program and is lead supervisor for the students who rotate at Huntsman. She recently finished a three-year term for the Utah Rare Disease Advisory Council and is involved in research projects relating to urology genetics.
Kristen is an avid gardener and enjoys spending her time outside with her partner, three stepdaughters, cat, and five chickens. She has been learning to play the violin (much to the dismay of her cat who has not enjoyed her practicing) and can often be found listening to live music around town.