UUGPGC Spotlight

My name is Nathan Shepherd and I am in my second year in the University of Utah Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling. Highlights from last year include our perinatal and cancer genetics courses, as well as community outreach and family match programs that have enabled us to interact with individuals with a disability and their families in our local community. This summer I enjoyed our laboratory rotations as well as my cancer genetics rotation. I’m currently enjoying my pediatric rotation and am amazed at the variety of indications and the resilience from patients and families that I’ve observed in clinic.

In my free time I like playing board games, the great outdoors, and spending time with my family. I was recently gifted a childhood favorite boardgame called Labyrinth and am 1-0 against my early elementary school age children. I also like other classics such as Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride and Scotland Yard.

My name is Melanie Emmerson and I work in adult cardiovascular genetics at Intermountain Healthcare. I enjoy cardiovascular genetics because it is a fast-growing field and the utility of genetic testing for inherited cardiac conditions feels ever expanding. There is literature being published supporting testing for new cardiac indications, and new gene-based treatments that are starting to emerge. For patients with potentially inherited heart conditions, genetic testing may help us understand why they developed heart disease, who in their family can benefit from preventative cardiac care, and in some cases, can give us a better idea of how to manage the patient. I have been involved in the UUGPGC since graduating as a both a lecturer and clinical supervisor. This year, I am co-directing the Genetic Counseling Seminar III course for the first time and am loving the experience! The genetic counseling students are passionate and avid learners, and it is so much fun to see how students grow over the course of their clinical rotations. I learn just as much from them as they do from me. I am originally from Canada around the Toronto area. I came to Utah for UUGPGC and have stuck around ever since. When I’m not working, I love to ski, camp, and hike with my friends, partner, and border collie, Maisy!