2020 has been an interesting year! We finally got moved into our retirement home after living in an RV for 8 months. Most of our summer plans were cancelled, but we managed to get in one beach trip with the grandbaby. We have enjoyed being grandparents and it’s hard to believe that he will be one very soon! I have really missed seeing the students in the building since no classes could be held here due to social distancing guidelines. Some days I bring Angie to work so I have a little company. I think it’s one of her favorite places to be. Please continue to update the program with your current contact information for our alumni database. You can email me at mmgriffi@uncg.edu.

Hi everyone! It seems more important than ever to both reflect back and look forward. This year has been a challenging one yet instilled hope. It has taxed and tested our students and community yet brought us together, closer than ever in many ways. It has created separation, yet we remain united in our common goals, passions and in service. These are powerful truths to exist in the same space, yet we have done it gracefully, with perseverance, resiliency and with hearts wide open. Filled with trust in ourselves and each other. It is true that in trying times, true character is revealed. It has been a privilege and honor to witness this unfold and declare itself for our program and genetic counseling community.             

We long for this year to be over, but let’s not forget the important lessons learned from the events of this year which are necessary for growth. We are all connected to each other. Our actions and decisions affect each other. We can choose to bond together and create a network of support which benefits everyone but also requires buy in from everyone. It is what we make of it, whatever the “it” may be, like anything else in life. And opportunities abound all around us. That does not change. What must change is our perception of what opportunities look like. These are important lessons from this year to carry forward into the new year and beyond.

Thank you for your buy in. Thank you for your ongoing support. Thank you for working with us to make the most out of what we have and lift each other up in the process. Thank you for seeing the potential, and for not accepting what is as all that it can be. Genetic counseling training is a special opportunity to shape the future, to make a difference. A gift. We are surrounded by a wonderful community of people (including you!) who lean into that, which I will always be grateful for.

Sending the energy of love, gratitude and hope to you all today and every tomorrow!

Randi

This has been a very busy year for me! I have been settling into my role as assistant professor and Research & Capstone Coordinator with the training program, and my role as “mom.” It was so exciting to see the class of 2020 present their Capstones back in May, and to work with the class of 2021 through developing their research ideas and starting their projects. I’m so proud of the class of 2020 who all submitted abstracts to NSGC that which were accepted as posters or platform presentations. I have been busy as the NSGC Annual Conference Program Planning Committee Chair. Shifting to a virtual platform has been a challenging but enlightening experience! Although I wish we were all able to be together in-person at the conference, I appreciate the caution that the organization is taking and the level of engagement and accessibility that’s possible through a virtual platform.My family’s usual spring and summer full of Durham Bulls baseball games and road trips looked a lot different this year! I took the opportunity of staying at home to take a couple summer courses for my PhD work, and we spent many weekends at my parents’ lake house. My husband, Justin is an awesome stay-at-home dad, and he and Rhett have covered miles and miles of trails along the Eno River over the past few months. We have made the best of a very unusual year and are hopeful for a safe, healthy and more normal-feeling 2021!

I doubt that Janne and I thought when we got married 50 years ago this August that we would be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary wearing masks when we venture outside and sheltering at home for our 50th celebration. The picture is from four year ago during a trip to the Bahamas. Janne hasn’t changed a bit. I have less hair on the top of my head, but considerably more on the sides since I haven’t been going to the barber as frequently.

We have been staying busy during the pandemic. Janne is teaching a 6-week course this fall for UNCG’s Emeritus Society program; her topic is Plagues. We read and talk a lot about Covid-19 around our house. I taught my 6-week online graduate course on Nobel Prize science in the spring starting in March.  Fortunately, my course was already online so I did not have any adjustments to make. I’ll be teaching it again starting in January 2021.  I do remember teaching about 2002-2004 SARS outbreak in my Virology and Microbiology courses. I wish I had asked my grandparents about their experiences during the 1918 flu epidemic, but I wasn’t a microbiologist yet.

I continue to do health career advising for a national advisor's organization,and occasionally at UNCG. This is done by email and phone calls, although I probably should consider switching over to Zoom. I am still a member of the ConeHealth IRB, and have done some volunteering for the Guilford County Department of Public Health calling people who have tested Covid-19 negative;they were very grateful for the call. I still do occasional mediations virtually, but hope to get back to face-to-face mediations when the pandemic recedes. 

In the spring, I often think about my years on the Genetic Counseling Admissions Committee. I don’t miss the review of all those applications. However, I do miss those weekends of in-person interviews where I could talk with highly motivated future genetic counselors asking what was the last book they read for pleasure, and what was their vision for themselves in 10 years among other questions. I always enjoyed the cupcakes too.

I proudly display my UNCG Genetic Counseling 20th Anniversary magnet on my car. So far, no one has asked me for ancestry information, why they have blue eyes, or wanted to give me a DNA sample.  

Stay safe and well.

Rob Cannon

Emeritus Professor of Biology

Hello all! I look forward to reading everyone's updates in this newsletter. It really is fun to see where life has taken each of you. We are well although have adapted to life in the pandemic. The kids were home in the spring and summer, but are back to school this fall so far. My stepdaughters are at the College of Charleston and Clemson this fall, and my little ones are in kindergarten and first grade this year. I continue to work part-time for Metis Genetics, seeing patients, working with genetic counseling students, including UNCG students and teaching. I also consult with genetic counseling programs on various projects and teaching when the opportunities present. I am completing three years on the NSGC Research, Quality, and Outcomes this fall and considering the next step in service to the profession. Life is full and fun!

Hello UNCG Alumni, colleagues, and friends.  I am looking forward to reading your updates in this issue of the newsletter.  2020 has certainly been an interesting and challenging year for many.  I sincerely hope that each of you, and your families and loved ones have remained in good health.  The photo I sent with this note was taken just about a year ago – a lovely day spent with Roger and Brandy in Western NC.  Of course, at that point, none of us could have imagined how our lives were about to change due to the pandemic.  Instead of planned travel to Austin, Vancouver, and Victoria, I spent the spring and summer sewing masks – 100s of them- and finding creative ways to source groceries.  At the same time, I have been striving to remain optimistic and to remind myself each day of everything I am grateful for, including the years I spent at UNCG, especially teaching, mentoring and working on projects with genetic counseling students.

This past year I also enjoyed collaborating with my friends Bonnie LeRoy and Pat Veach on the updated edition of “Genetic Counseling Practice: Advanced Concepts and Skills".   I was especially pleased that three UNCG Genetic Counseling Program alumni (Andrea Durst, Rachel Mills and Kelly Schoch) contributed chapters to this book.  We hope this will be a welcome resource for genetic counseling students and practicing genetic counselors. 

I have also continued my work as Executive Manager for Genetic Metabolic Dietitians International, the professional organization for metabolic dietitians.  It is a privilege to work with this group of healthcare professionals whose dedication, focus and professional issues are so similar to those of genetic counselors. 

The second photo is one of our new “grand-dog”, Danni, who is bringing us a lot of joy during these interesting times.

I hope you will stay in touch – I really appreciate the occasional emails and phone visits.  Best wishes to you and yours during this holiday season.

Nancy

This summer, Lindsey made the transition to full-time clinical work at Three Birds Counseling and Clinical Supervision, where she sees clients (virtually!) in Raleigh and Greensboro, NC. Lindsey also continues to teach for both the Department of Counseling and Educational Development at UNC-Greensboro and the Family Institute at Northwestern University as an adjunct professor. Outside of work, Lindsey has enjoyed spending lots of time at home with her husband and their two dogs, Honey (6 y/o Beagle mix) and Boomer (2 y/o Dachshund), and extensive collection of houseplants. She hopes you all are staying safe and well! 

Below is a photo of Pam's daughter Sofia and their new puppy Lily!