Supervisor Spotlight:
Tara Stamper, MS, CGC
Wake Forest Baptist Health Pediatric Genetics


Because of the positive influence clinical supervisors had on my career, I was excited when the opportunity to mentor and supervise students arose for me. Every supervisor I had during my graduate training left their personal imprint on my counseling style, and I wanted to be that same guidewire for current genetic counseling students. Being a supervisor continues to be a career highlight and privilege for me. Since we encourage student questions, I am often searching for answers. This searching ensures I remain grounded in the foundation of genetic counseling. Being grounded enables me to stay current and updated on the ever- present changes in healthcare and the important role we have as advocates for our patients.    

There are many things I hope to convey to students who spend time with us. I hope to help them create their own unique style of counseling, while ensuring they have a handle on “Genetics 101.” I hope to foster curiosity and a desire to know their patient’s story. Always take the initiative to ask questions and ensure patient understanding – they are listening to you. Be collegial – our strength lies in our relationships. Invest time in prospective students and GC graduate students – you will learn from them and they are the future of our industry.  

Thankfully, my supervising style is always evolving and earlier in my career, I wanted to check off the evaluation boxes. Now it is about understanding the differences we all have, helping students reach their own goals and giving them a safe space to grow. I tell every student I meet that I can truly understand their emotions because I have been exactly where they are, even if it was 30 years ago! I am honored and humbled to be recognized. Thank you!
Nominated by Rajkiran Baskaran, MS (c/o 2022)
Tara was welcoming, guiding, accommodating, forgiving, instructive, and collaborative throughout my rotation at WF. She spent ample time in the beginning of the rotation learning my personality, skills, goals, strengths, challenges, and needs. Using this information, she tailored the experience to me and facilitated growth. Tara improves the rotation experience after each student by incorporating feedback and addressing common issues at the start of the rotation. Taking the time to create a strong supervisor-supervisee relationship is necessary for successful supervision and student growth.  

Supervisor Spotlight:

Rachel Veazey, MS, CGC
UNC Prenatal


I am so honored by this nomination and am excited to share recognition with all of the incredible supervisors who influenced my career! I have had the amazing opportunity to supervise many students, and I can honestly say that I learned from each and every one of them. I am consistently impressed by their hard work and passionate energy; I often find that working with genetic counseling students invigorates my own commitment to the field of prenatal genetic counseling. I would like to emphasize that supervision did not come naturally to me. It took quite a bit of patience and commitment (on my end and the students’) to work through my perfectionistic tendencies. But over time, I have been able to let the students take the lead and shine, aiming to minimize fears of failure for everyone involved! With a background in psychology, I love to work with students to interpret patients’ reactions, and gain flexibility in their ability to cater sessions to the patient’s needs. I try to focus on developing quick critical thinking skills, and build the students’ confidence as they navigate complex prenatal sessions.

Teaching in general has become one of the primary facets of my career, and I am beyond grateful to UNC, UNCG, and the other institutions that provide me the opportunity to work so closely with their learners. From 1:1 supervision to developing the genetic curriculum for advanced-degree medical learners, I enjoy having a ‘seat at the table’ and an impact on the next round of healthcare providers. A universal goal of developing providers who are open minded, kind, and compassionate who value inclusivity and diversity should be shared among educators. I strive to be that type of provider, and model and teach it to the next generation. 
Nominated by Jade Sentker, MS (c/o 2021)
Rachel struck a great balance of providing encouragement and constructive feedback, letting me spread my wings and providing backup when needed, and generally helping me navigate my first clinical rotation. She encouraged me to take on new roles and try different techniques with patients, and made sure to point out what I was doing well, which built my confidence and allowed me to experiment without fear of failure or criticism. Rachel also has a great sense of empathy and humor, which I have learned is invaluable in a specialty where the subject matter is often heavy and we are working with women who are under significant stress or in crisis. I really appreciate how much I learned and grew during this rotation, and Rachel was a big part of that! 

Supervisor Spotlight:

Kristin Paulyson Nunez, MS, CGC
Duke Prenatal


I appreciate the opportunity to be involved in the development of students and young professionals.  It’s a privilege to serve in this capacity and I hope that my years as a Genetic Counselor have offered them the opportunity to grow both in practice and in person.  My approach to supervision has evolved, much like my career and I value the work that these young professionals bring to the clinic and their desire to learn.  I learn just as much from them and I hope they learn from me.  Collaboration, encouragement, belief and safety are the values I adhere to when working with students. 
Nominated by Raphael Smith, MS (c/o 2021)
Kristin challenged me to slow down and expand on my psychosocial skills. She is an exceptional counselor herself and provided me with very concrete examples of how to engage in contracting and make use of open-ended questions. I appreciated that she made the time to extensively debrief after sessions. She also helped me take ownership of certain cases by allowing me to engage in all the follow up work. While she has high expectations of students, she also made it a comfortable space to try new things and make mistakes.