AEC 2023: Back together in one room!
By Sara Mokhtary and Mary Grace Roden
Photo credit: Andi Lewis
The Texas Society of Genetic Counselors hosted the Annual Education Conference (AEC) on March 4 in Dallas, the first in-person AEC since the COVID pandemic! Co-chairs, Cheryl Reeves, Tawanna St. Lewis, and Jackie Baquet worked tirelessly to organize a wonderful day of learning and networking. Huge thank you to our co-chairs, professional issues chair Hannah Helber, the speakers, sponsors and everyone that attended! The conference schedule covered a wide variety of topics and showcased how Texas genetic counselors are making a difference in our field.
If you missed the conference, make sure to check the Texas Transcript over the next few months, as we’ll be highlighting some of the speakers and topics, including:
Updates from the TX genetic counseling programs
The GC behind HD Genetics, a telegenetics company for Huntington’s disease counseling and testing
Laboratory Stewardship
Data from our Grant Award Recipients
We also wanted to extend another round of applause to our TWO Volunteers of the Year: Hannah Helber and Rebecca Littlejohn!
Hannah is the reigning “Heme Queen” at Texas Children’s Hospital, a camp counselor and coordinator for the Periwinkle Foundation Camp YOLO for teens receiving cancer care, volunteer with the Sickle Cell Education and Research Day and the Marfan Walk for Victory, a committee member on the BCM Genetics Department DEI committee, and a mentor for genetic counseling students.
“I am continually impressed by her selflessness (and time management!) I think some people volunteer because they think they should, or it will be good for their CV, which can be important, but she volunteers because she genuinely wants to make a difference, she enjoys sharing her knowledge and expertise, and she finds volunteer experiences truly rewarding.”
Rebecca has served as a champion for GC licensure in TX. She teaches medical learners and GC students as the lead GC for the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Genetics Department, and also serves at the Lab GC for the institution. She is passionate about improving genetics services in Central and South Texas.
“I’m impressed by her devotion and commitment to seeing GC licensure succeed in Texas. She is the glue holding this effort together and TSGC is so lucky to have her as such a devoted volunteer for many years!”
“Her generosity knows no bounds and her leadership is unparalleled. Thank you for improving genetics care for patients in Texas and beyond!”
We also wanted to include a reflection on the conference from AEC co-chair, Cheryl Reeves, MS, CGC:
“ As I’m sure anyone who has planned a large event will concur, it’s definitely a relief when it’s over! But it is especially rewarding to see all your time and effort result in a successful event. I am especially grateful to my co-chairs, Jackie Baquet and Tawanna St. Lewis, for all their time and effort. As I look back on the 2023 TSGC Annual Education Conference, I am most excited about how many genetic counselors, sponsors, and speakers participated in this year’s event. It was wonderful to see everyone in person again! This year’s speakers did a wonderful job and I enjoyed learning about each topic from their perspective. YOU made the event a success! I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.”
CEU certificates have been released, please contact texasGCaec@gmail.com if you have questions about CEUs.
The Texas Transcript will be introducing the 2024 AEC co-chairs (and providing some exciting details!) Be on the lookout for this soon. We look forward to seeing you next year!