Cohort of 2024
Hi! My name is Grace, and I am from Toronto, Ontario. I graduated from Queen’s University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Honours Biology and a minor in Health Studies. At Queen’s, I had the opportunity to be a research mentorship student in the Bendena lab, where I studied the role of specific neuropeptides in a receptor pathway in C. elegans to better understand the pathways involved in narcolepsy. During my third year of undergrad, I discovered genetic counselling. I instantly knew from the profession’s combination of genetics and providing care to patients that I wanted to pursue the career.
Following graduation, I worked in marketing and volunteered for the Familial Breast Cancer Research Unit at Women’s College Hospital (WCH) to gain further experience in genetics-related research. After working in marketing for a year, I became a research assistant for the Rapid Genetic Testing 2 Study at WCH – this study provides rapid genetic testing to women at the time of breast cancer diagnosis. This job expanded my knowledge of cancer genetics, research genetic counselling and working in patient-facing roles and reaffirmed my desire to be a genetic counsellor.
Additionally, to prepare for genetic counselling school, I volunteered for Swimming with a Mission, where I taught swimming lessons to children with disabilities, the Sexual Assault Centre Kingston crisis line and Crohn’s and Colitis Canada’s monthly peer support groups (acting as a peer support facilitator). These experiences furthered my passion for connecting with and supporting individuals.
In my spare time, I enjoy travelling, baking, running, and spending time outdoors. I am so excited about what is ahead and to be a part of UBC’s Genetic Counselling Cohort of 2024!