What's New from the Genetic Counseling Program
From our faculty
Amanda Laterza Ozarowski and Michelle Primiano, faculty members in the Genetic Counseling Program, played key roles in the inaugural Innovations in Cancer Genetics Symposium, hosted by the Genetics and Personalized Cancer Prevention Program at Weill Cornell Medicine in partnership with Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE). Over three days, the symposium brought together nationally recognized experts in hereditary cancer and personalized prevention to share emerging research, discuss innovations in clinical care, and foster collaboration among healthcare professionals, researchers, and patient advocates.
Dr. Omar Abdul-Rahman, Chief of Medical Genetics at Weill Cornell Medicine, is a co-editor of the newly published second edition of Signs and Symptoms of Genetic Conditions: A Handbook (Oxford University Press, 2026). Featuring contributions from leading clinical geneticists, the handbook provides practical diagnostic algorithms to help clinicians recognize and evaluate genetic disorders based on presenting signs and symptoms. The updated edition includes expanded clinical content and advances in genomic sequencing and genetic counseling.
Shenela Lakhani, Program Director, was an invited speaker at the 3rd MENA Congress for Neurogenetic Disorders in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. She spoke on the growing complexity of consent in the genomic era and strengthened international connections with colleagues in the field.
September 2026
Dr. Ross, Chair of the MSGC program, advocating for the profession genetic counseling at the September 2026 "State of Weill Cornell Medicine" event.
June 2026
NYP/WCM/CUMC recently hosted a joint neurogenetics symposium at the New York Academy of Sciences titled Advances in Neurogenetics: Diagnostics, Therapeutics, and Clinical Applications. Dr. Ross, Chair of the MSGC Program, and Shenela Lakhani, Program Director, served on the planning committee alongside faculty from both Weill Cornell and CUMC. The event also welcomed rising second-year genetic counseling students from five programs — Weill Cornell Medicine, Sarah Lawrence College, Long Island University Post, Rutgers, and UConn — providing a wonderful opportunity for future genetic counselors to connect and explore this rapidly evolving field.
From our students
September 2026
Second-year MSGC students visited the Positive Exposure Gallery, where they met with photographer and founder Rick Guidotti to discuss community engagement and strategies for increasing awareness and understanding of genetic conditions through storytelling, education, and representation.
October 2025
For the first time ever, we brought together all first year students from the MD program, the PA program, and the Masters of Science in Genetic Counseling program! The students watched a film screening about a patient with a rare genetic disorder and a participated in a Q&A with the filmmaker.
Although each of these programs has a distinct curriculum designed to meet the professional development needs of each discipline, we are committed to finding appropriate times for interprofessional education opportunities. Medicine is a team sport.
September 2025
We are proud to celebrate the Inaugural Cohort of the Genetic Counseling Program at Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences — the Class of 2027. This remarkable group of students is paving the way in genomic medicine!
