2026 TSGC AEC Recap
By Aly Badalamenti and Jana Heady
The Texas Society of Genetic Counselors hosted the 2026 Annual Education Conference (AEC), “Genetics Without Borders: Uniting Specialties, Empowering Patients,” on February 27th in Austin. The day was filled with interdisciplinary education and collaboration, networking, and practical updates for genetic counselors and providers across Texas.
AEC Co-Chairs Jesse Stanton, Amanda Colton, and Olivia Roy organized a thoughtful and action-oriented program. Centered on shared perspectives, the content addressed disparities in access to genetic services across regions and populations while advancing patient-centered care that empowers individuals and families to make informed decisions about their genetic health.
We were honored to welcome Pam Andrews as the keynote speaker, whose decades of public service and policy expertise were powerfully complemented by her deeply personal story. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience across state and federal systems, Pam shared not only her professional insights but also the journey that reshaped her work after her daughters’ diagnoses of Niemann-Pick Disease Type C. Her openness in sharing her family’s experience brought a profound human perspective to the conversation and underscored the urgency of early detection and systems-level change. We are incredibly grateful for her leadership, vulnerability, and the lasting impact of her words on our community.
We additionally heard from:
Olivia Roy, MS, CGC, who reviewed AI approaches to exome and genome interpretation, with case examples, limitations and challenges, and practical strategies for integrating AI as a tool into workflows for variant triage and reporting.
Grace Getchell, MS, CGC, who outlined UT Southwestern’s model and strategy for implementing follow-up clinics and care pathways to improve risk assessment, prevention, and care coordination for patients with hereditary cancer syndromes, including actionable steps for multidisciplinary collaboration and reduction in barriers to care.
Anne Mardy, MD, who reviewed prenatal sequencing applications across anomalous and non-anomalous pregnancies in Texas, covering counseling implications, ethical considerations, and guidance from professional organizations.
Christine Quinn, MS, CGC and Donnice Michel, MS, CGC, who provided an overview and updates on newborn screening policy and practice in Texas, highlighting recent changes, limitations, and recommendations for timely follow-up care.
Jennifer Kennedy, MS, CGC, who examined cross-disciplinary uses of cell-free DNA screening in prenatal care, oncology, and transplant medicine, discussing utilization and benefits to patient outcomes.
Liz Mizerik, MS, CGC who described equity-focused counseling approaches and multidisciplinary collaboration models that close gaps in access and continuity of genetic care in the inpatient versus outpatient setting.
Caitlin Mauer Hall, MA, MS, CGC, Daniel Riconda, MS, CGC, and Samantha Montgomery, MS, CGC, faculty from Texas’ three genetic counseling training programs, who provided program overviews and updates.
Kelsey Karasinski, grant award recipient and Baylor College of Medicine student, who shared data from her student research project, “Exploring Caregivers’ Experiences Supporting Individuals with Down Syndrome Transitioning to Adulthood: A Qualitative Study.”
TSGC President Heather Lucas delivered the Status of the Society, highlighting updates to the strategic plan and celebrating the success of key initiatives, including the Mentorship Program, coverage of match application fees for prospective students who identify as underrepresented minorities in medicine, and the Educational Stipend Program in 2025. Looking ahead, upcoming work in 2026 includes the development of a Continuing Education Grant, the return of a DEI workshop in the fall, and the creation of a DEI resource list.
We also celebrated the contributions of two genetic counselors selected as Volunteers of the Year: Bailey Leal and Donnice Michel. Bailey served as a mentor in the 2025 TSGC Mentorship Program while also contributing to the Social Media Committee and helping plan promotional materials and the Dallas-based Genetic Counselor Awareness Day event. These contributions are especially notable given that 2025 marked her first full year as a genetic counselor in Texas, demonstrating an immediate and meaningful impact. Donnice was recognized for her longstanding service, including co-chairing Camp Phenomenal which supports families of children with PKU and volunteering as a guest lecturer and admissions committee member for the UT Southwestern Genetic Counseling Program. She also shares her time through music and community engagement, including volunteering with a choir at Children’s Health and performing with a community choir in Dallas.
Thank you to all session speakers, sponsors, leadership, volunteers, and the AEC Co-Chairs for their dedication and hard work in making this year’s conference such a success. We look forward to seeing many of you at next year’s TSGC AEC in Dallas.