Michele Hazzam (Spring 2022) graduated from Central Connecticut State University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomolecular Science. She works full-time as an ASCP-licensed Medical Laboratory Scientist at UConn Health and is a dog mom to three puppies. Michele developed an interest in healthcare genetics from her educational background and her current position in the clinical laboratory. She is fascinated by clinical science and is excited to correlate cases seen in the clinical laboratory with her graduate studies in the Health Care Genetics PSM program. Michele's favorite quote, “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know” (Albert Einstein), sums up life as a scientist and her desire to be a lifelong student.

Kristi Herlth (Fall 2021) graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University with her Bachelor's in Biochemistry. She was lucky enough to get recruited in May 2020 to work at The Jackson Laboratory in their CLIA Lab as a Clinical Accessioning Technician, helping with the testing of COVID-19 samples. After 3 months, Kristi was promoted to the role of Genomic Technologist. She transitioned to an oncology specialty, where she performs bench testing duties for clinical sample processing. Her responsibilities include sample accessioning, library preparation for hybrid capture panels, library prep for whole transcriptome RNAseq, and utilization of Illumina NextSeqs and NovaSeq. Kristi also processes varying levels of research/development projects such as PDX STR analysis, and the development of future clinical assays like methylation arrays. Outside of work, Kristi loves going on hikes and visiting her parents in Florida! She learned about this program through her amazing co-workers and supervisors from The Jackson Laboratory. She can’t wait to see where this program takes her!

Valerie Kadysheva (Fall 2021) graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor's in Healthcare Management from UConn. As someone who was always interested in personalized healthcare, Valerie began looking into the field of genetics/genomics. To start off her experience, she became a part of UConn's 1-year Clinical Genetics and Genomics Graduate Certificate online program. She loved researching and presenting on different genetic conditions as well as learning about patient perspectives such as the emphasis on diagnostic odysseys. Valerie looks forward to starting classes this fall and hopes to pursue a career path in bioinformatics. As of now, she is working at Danbury Hospital's lab as a specimen processor. In her free time, Valerie enjoys going on nature walks and exercising.

Jessica Raucci (Fall 2021) graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Studies. As part of her undergraduate training, she earned certifications in Screening in Public Health Practice, Patient Rights and Advocacy, and Human Subject Research. Since graduation, she has worked in a variety of settings in health, law, and medicine. Jessica currently works as an Andrologist for Park Avenue Fertility where she assists the laboratory with complex fertility treatments. Jessica's long-term goal is to obtain her Ph.D. in Genetics and become a Geneticist. Outside of the classroom and workplace, she enjoys writing fantasy novels, learning Arabic, and traveling around the world.

Ally Voelker (Fall 2021) graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree from Davidson College in 2021. At Davidson, Ally worked with Dr. Karen Hales on the genetics of mitochondrial shaping in fruit flies. Ally worked as a resident advisor for the College, which stimulated her interest in clinical genetics research. Ally was also an active member of Davidson’s all-soprano-alto acapella group, where she served as the president and oversaw the beginnings of the group’s eighth CD. She learned about the Health Care Genetics Program through an undergraduate friend at UConn and was drawn to the possibility of indulging her academic and personal interests in clinical health care research. 

Kimberly Joseph (Fall 2021) is leaning into learning after raising four children and mastering volunteerism. A recent graduate of the Clinical Genetics and Genomics Program at UConn, she is excited to now be a part of the PSM Health Care Genetics cohort. Kim has twenty years of community service in the international exchange student arena and is a certified personal trainer for special populations. Her former employment includes Ernst & Young (audit), Progressive Insurance (internal control), Apple Inc. (genius), Cuyahoga Community College (adjunct faculty), and Scottstbridge Trading Company (owner). She is a Board member of the In Motion Parkinson’s Clinic and holds the Treasurer position for the Orange City School PTA. Kim's favorite quote is "Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and share in friendship."

Ashley Thammavongsa (Spring 2021) graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a bachelor's in Biological Sciences and a minor in chemistry. Go owls! Ashley is currently working as a research assistant in Dr. Ching Lau's lab at The Jackson Laboratory. Ashley is working alongside her mentor, Dr. Min Tang-Schomer, and they're investigating the upregulation in gene expression of ion channels in Medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer in children. In her free time, Ashley enjoys biking and running the Farmington trail, reading non-fiction books about psychology, spending time with her cats, friends, and family, and blogging about her path to becoming a physician. She's excited to start her graduate education in health care genetics. Since working at JAX, she has witnessed the importance of performing genetic testing on rare pediatric brain and bone cancers. She emphasizes the difference it makes to look at the genetic evidence of poorly understood cancers to better implement a treatment plan that will benefit children.

Lucy Owusu (Spring 2021) graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Central Connecticut State University. After graduating in 2017, she took on different job roles from Amnesty (maintaining floor health and robotics) to a learning ambassador (training new employees in various jobs roles) at the Amazon fulfillment center for two years. During her undergraduate years, she interned at the Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering, Dr. Cato T. Laurencin’s lab participating in ongoing research focused on developing injectable hyaluronic acid hydrogels for knee joint regeneration. Also, Lucy has been an active volunteer and trainer at Hartford Hospital since 2016. She started as a mobility volunteer for the Physical Therapy Department to be the Nursing unit volunteer at the Women’s Health Center. Lucy applied for the Health Care Genetics program because she wanted to gain extensive professional knowledge in genetics, how it affects our health and wellness, improve her laboratory skills, and hopefully, find a career in medicine.

Christopher M. Grant (Fall 2020) earned his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and Biological Sciences from the University of La Verne.  A Californian college student, Chris was an active member of the swimming, diving, and water polo teams.  Chris worked two years for Mobile Med, Inc., a hospital and healthcare company, as a surgical laser technician in Rancho Cucamonga, CA before his move east to CT in 2017.  Chris's next job was in veterinary care as an emergency room technician and for the two years prior to his start in the Health Care Genetics program, he was a medical laboratory technician at IDEXX in N. Grafton, MA.  Chris was responsible for using microscopy, ELISAs, and both manual and automated sampling methods to identify pathogenic parasite species in the BSL-2 laboratory at IDEXX.  Chris has been a long-time leader in his community, a census volunteer, and one of three Health Care Genetics graduate students to complete the 2020 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Tomorrow’s Leaders College Program. In 2020-2021, Chris worked with a team in the ISG and MARS to research and bring COVID19 screening to the UConn campus. He is now working as an Associate Scientist Level II at Biohaven Pharmaceuticals.