November 10, 2022 recognizes Genetic Counselor Awareness Day, which is sponsored by the National Society of Genetic Counselors (nsgc.org). Genetic Counselor Awareness Day is dedicated to raising awareness and utilization of genetic counselors in communities and institutions. The goal of the NSGC is to help consumers understand the importance of the supportive roles of genetic counselors in healthcare.
Genetic counselors are healthcare professionals with advanced degrees and national certification in medical genetics and psychosocial counseling who partner with patients seeking information about inherited conditions affecting them or their families. Genetic counselors work with patients and their physicians to understand family history; discuss the risks, benefits and limitations of genetic testing; interpret results and implications of genetic testing; and help communicate this information to family members.
Over 6,000 certified genetic counselors (CGC) practice in a variety of healthcare settings in the United States, including but not limited to prenatal, fertility, pediatrics, metabolic, cardiovascular, neurology and cancer care. Genetic testing has become an integral part of patient care, and partnering with genetic counselors has never been more important than now.
“Genetic counselors are a vital component of our preconception and prenatal diagnosis programs in our Durham, Raleigh and Cary offices. We are lucky to work with such a talented group of highly educated and empathetic people,” notes Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist Jeffrey A. Kuller, MD, who is certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics.
Genetic Counselor Awareness Day is a great opportunity to highlight the value of the genetic counselors in our Department in promoting patient care and ensuring that physicians and patients have access to genetic counseling and testing at our institution.
The Department of Ob/Gyn, together with the Department of Women and Children’s Services, is fortunate to have seven certified genetic counselors who see patients in one of five clinical locations: the Fetal Diagnostic Center (FDC), Duke Perinatal Durham, Duke Perinatal Cary and Duke Perinatal Raleigh and Duke Children’s Hospital. Genetic counselors welcome the opportunity to assist you with your patients and to be available to you as questions arise.
Please join us in celebrating Duke Ob/Gyn’s accomplished Genetic Counselors, who collectively offer nearly 70 years of knowledge:
Danielle Karlowicz, MS, CGC (she/her/hers) is a Certified Genetic Counselor™ with six years of experience and clinical practice. She specializes in prenatal and preconception genetics. She sees patients at the Fetal Diagnostic Center. In addition to seeing patients, she enjoys working with GC students and was recently awarded the UNCG 2022 Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors’ (AGCPD) Outstanding Supervisor Awardee.
Regan Challinor Matthews, MS, CGC (she/her/hers) is a Certified Genetic Counselor™ with 23 years of experience and clinical practice. She specializes in prenatal and preconception genetics and sees patients at the Fetal Diagnostic Center.
Erin Moore, MS, CGC (she/her/hers) is a Certified Genetic Counselor™ with 3 years of clinic experience in preconception and prenatal genetics and sees patient at Duke Perinatal Consultants Cary office.
Kristin Paulyson Nuñez, MS, CGC (she/her/ella) is a Certified Genetic Counselor™ with almost three decades of experience and clinical practice. She specializes in preconception and prenatal, inherited blood disorders and teratology. She sees patients at the Fetal Diagnostic Center, Duke Perinatal Durham and Duke Children’s Hospital. Kristin is the immediate past-president of the American Board of Genetic Counseling (abgc.net), an advisor to national organizations on topics related to genetics and blood disorder and an adjunct faculty member for the UNC-G Genetic Counseling Program.
Amanda Padro, MS, CGC (she/her/hers) is a Certified Genetic Counselor™ with 15 years of experience. She specializes in preconception and prenatal counseling and sees patients at Duke Perinatal Raleigh and Duke Perinatal Cary. She serves as the clinical supervisor for UNC-G Genetic Counselor trainees.