In the broadest sense, I help people understand genetic contribution to human disease. I provide genetic consultations to both pregnant and nonpregnant patients for a variety of indications. Women who will be of advanced maternal age (>35 years old) at the time of delivery are often referred to the genetics clinic at our hospital, as they are considered to be at high risk to have a baby with a chromosome condition. It is my job to provide patients with accurate, unbiased information about the etiology and natural history of these conditions, as well as to provide them with information about screening and testing options available in pregnancy. Many women undergoing 20-week anatomy ultrasounds often face unexpected situations in which an anomaly is discovered. In these situations, I help explain the ultrasound findings, their association with underlying genetic syndromes, and the relevant genetic testing available through prenatal diagnosis. I also commonly see patients in the preconception setting, when there is a known family history of genetic disease. I provide patients with the estimation of recurrence risk of the condition, and also discuss reproductive options such as prenatal diagnosis, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), gamete donation, and adoption, depending on the situation. The facilitation of decision-making is a major component of my work, as it is my responsibility to help patients make the best screening & testing choices possible for them based on their own personal goals and familial values. I also help patients identify healthy coping mechanisms and community resources in these times of uncertainty.
Messiah College helped prepare me for both my graduate education and my career in unimaginable ways. I transferred to Messiah from a public university in the hopes that I would have a better chance at receiving a more personalized and intensive academic experience, with greater opportunities for research and personal growth. At Messiah, I found the perfect balance of academic rigor, interpersonal connection, and spiritual development. I was able to work within the Psychology Department, assist with Dr. Bechtold's cognition research, complete an internship at a pregnancy clinic in Harrisburg, compete on Messiah's swim team, and graduate a semester early. Learning such discipline in time-management was an enormous attribute in graduate school, when my time had to be devoted not only to didactic coursework, but also to clinical responsibilities and research endeavors.
I think the single greatest contribution of Messiah College towards my career development was the lesson of reconciling my personal faith and my vocation. The senior psychology seminar class challenged me to have a deeper understanding of my calling, and to develop a plan for displaying the type of unconditional positive regard and support that I know Jesus would have towards women facing such potentially agonizing situations as a prenatal genetic diagnosis. It is my hope that my research will someday make a contribution to healthcare and help providers learn not only to attend to a person's physiological needs, but also their emotional and spiritual needs when they present for medical care. I know this research and its future applications would not have been possible without the unparalleled undergraduate training I received at Messiah, and I am forever indebted to this wonderful community.