The Johns Hopkins University/National Human Genome Research Institute Genetic Counseling Training Program

Faculty

Program Director Barbara Biesecker, Ph.D.

The faculty consists of tenured investigators, scientists and health care providers at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Leadership for this joint program is provided by the faculty who serve on the Executive Committee.

The genetic counseling coursework, student supervision, coordination of clinical rotations and American Board of Genetic Counselors (ABGC) accreditation are overseen by Program Director Barbara Bowles Biesecker, Ph.D., an associate investigator in the NHGRI Social and Behavioral Research Branch. Debra Roter, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., Department of Health, Behavior and Society at JHU provides instruction, faculty advising and research oversight in her role as the program's academic director. Ellen Sidransky, M.D., senior investigator, Medical Genetics Branch, NHGRI, serves as medical director of the program, and Gillian Hooker, Ph.D., Sc.M., NHGRI, serves as associate director of the program. Program coordination is provided by Mary Ann Dunevant and Tyler Fisher at JHU and at NIH, respectively.

Below is a list of GCTP faculty and course instructors.

Executive Committee

The Program Executive Committee meets at least quarterly to assess the Program and students' progress. Members of the Committee also constitute the Admissions Committee and serve as faculty and thesis advisors. The Executive Committee is composed of genetic counselors, social scientists and medical geneticists. Their varied backgrounds are an asset to the Program and to students as they develop their thesis.

Executive Committee Members (2011-2012)

Barbara Bowles Biesecker, M.S., Ph.D., C.G.C.
Associate Investigator, Social and Behavioral Research Branch
National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH

Leslie Biesecker, M.D.
Chief & Senior Investigator
Genetic Disease Research Branch
National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH

Lori Hamby Erby, Sc.M., Ph.D., C.G.C. [faculty.jhsph.edu]
Assistant Scientist, Department of Health, Behavior and Society
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Gillian Hooker, Ph.D., Sc.M, [fishercenter.georgetown.edu]
Genetic Counselor, Social and Behavioral Research Branch
National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH

William Klein, Ph.D. [cancercontrol.cancer.gov]
Associate Director, Behavioral Research Program
Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, NIH

Donna Krasnewich, M.D., Ph.D. [nigms.nih.gov]
Program Director, Division of Genetics and Developmental Biology
National Institute of General Medical Sciences, NIH

Lori Leonard, Sc.D. [faculty.jhsph.edu]
Associate Professor, Department of Health, Behavior and Society
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Howard Levy, M.D., Ph.D. [hopkinsmedicine.org]
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine
Johns Hopkins University

Holly Peay, M.S., C.G.C.
Senior Director of Outreach and Education
Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy [parentprojectmd.org]

Debra Roter, Dr. P.H. [faculty.jhsph.edu]
Professor, Department of Health, Behavior and Society
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Joan Scott, M.S., C.G.C. [nchpeg.org]
Chief Executive Officer
National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics

Ellen Sidransky, M.D.
Senior Investigator, Medical Genetics Branch
National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH

Program Faculty

Jennifer Johnson, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist
Genetic Disease Research Branch
National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH

Colleen McBride, Ph.D.
Chief and Senior Investigator
Social and Behavioral Research Branch
National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH

Julie Sapp, Sc.M., C.G.C.
Genetic Counselor/Protocol Coordinator
Genetic Disease Research Branch
National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH

Course Instructors

Lana M. Asuncion, Ed.D.
Instructor, Department of Counseling and Human Services [education.jhu.edu]
School of Education
Johns Hopkins University

Karen Bandeen-Roche, Ph.D., M.S. [faculty.jhsph.edu]
Professor and Chair, Department of Biostatistics
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Gail Geller, Sc.D. [hopkinsmedicine.org]
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics and the Bioethics Institute
Johns Hopkins University

Suzanne Hart, Ph.D.
Associate Investigator
Medical Genetics Branch
National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH

Nancy Kass, Sc.D. [faculty.jhsph.edu]
Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, Berman Institute of Bioethics
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Vishwajeet Kumar, M.B.B.S., M.P.H.
Associate Professor, Department of International Health [jhsph.edu]
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

William J. Moss, M.D., M.P.H. [faculty.jhsph.edu]
Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology
Additional Departmental Affiliations: Infectious Diseases, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, International Health, Pediatrics
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Kate Smith, Ph.D. [faculty.jhsph.edu]
Assistant Professor, Department of Health, Behavior and Society
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Jonathan Weiner, Dr. P.H. [faculty.jhsph.edu]
Professor, Health Policy and Management
Additional Departmental Affiliations: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Top of page

Last Reviewed: March 22, 2012