Cohort of 2023
Hello! My name is Claudia Pfeifer and I was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The holistic approach that genetic counselling provides in healthcare is what first drew me to the career in high school, and I am grateful and excited to be in UBC’s Cohort of 2023!
I graduated in 2023 from the University of Manitoba with an Honours Co-op BSc in Genetics with minors in psychology and chemistry. During my undergraduate degree, I knew I wanted to pursue genetic counselling, but also wanted to gain research experience in genetics and public health. Most recently, I completed Co-op and Federal Student Work Experience Program positions under Dr. Alberto Severini and Joanne Hiebert in the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella unit of the Viral Exanthemata and STDs section within the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). During my time at PHAC, I worked to optimize whole genome sequencing protocols of the Measles virus on the MinION platform. The impact that access to accurate genetic information could provide the WHO network through scientific communication was really meaningful for me, but I knew I wanted a client-facing role where I could directly be a part of the impact genetics research has on individuals.
Aside from my laboratory experience, I was involved as the Science Co-op Student Ambassador at the University of Manitoba where I worked to improve the Co-op experience for my peers. My work as an advocate was further strengthened in my role as a volunteer crisis line counsellor with Klinic Community Health, where I provided support for callers over crisis and information phone lines.
In my free time, I love to go to concerts, watch movies, and spend time outdoors and am excited . I am really excited to be learning and growing in the Genetic Counselling Program at UBC!