Class of 2025
Sofia Dallarda
Pronouns: she/her
Sofia is from San Diego, CA and graduated from UC Berkeley in 2020 with a degree in Molecular & Cell Biology and a minor in Italian Studies. At Berkeley, she studied aging-related genes as an Undergraduate Researcher in the Dillin lab. After graduating, she studied 3D genome organization as a Research Assistant in the Dixon lab at the Salk Institute, and later transitioned to clinical work as an Administrative Coordinator for a team of Oncology Genetic Counselors at Scripps Health. In her free time, she loves going to movie theaters, exploring art museums, or listening to new music. She is natively fluent in Italian and Spanish, and hopes to practice as an English/Spanish Bilingual Genetic Counselor in the future.
Noah Greco
Pronouns: he/him
Noah is from Laguna Beach, CA and graduated from the University of Washington in 2022 with dual degrees in Medical Anthropology and Evolutionary Biology. During undergrad, he contributed towards research examining the effects of COVID-19 on neonates, and conducted his own independent project analyzing the intersection of consumer genomics and bioethics. Outside of school, Noah gained genetic counseling exposure interning at DenaDNA and the St. Joseph Cancer Center, while also completing advocacy work in environmental justice, mental health support, and Jewish education. He then began as a project coordinator at a pharmaceutical startup between graduating and starting at UCSF. Noah spends his free time watching horror movies, studying Torah, trail running, playing piano, and sweating at crossfit. He is fluent in English and conversant in Hebrew and Spanish.
Sabina Kabra
Pronouns: she/her
Sabina is from Danville, California and graduated from UC Davis with majors in Genetics & Genomics and Psychology. As an undergraduate, she was a genetics tutor and worked as a research assistant in a personality psychology lab. After graduating, she was a crisis counselor and a genetic counseling assistant for the Cancer Genetics & Prevention Program at UCSF. In her free time, Sabina enjoys traveling with friends and family, listening to true crime podcasts, and trying new desserts. She is conversant in French.
Maggy Kepler
Pronouns: she/her
Maggy (she/her) is from Marin County, CA and graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a major in Biochemistry and minor in Biotechnology. While at Cal Poly, Maggy was a college ambassador/tour guide, worked as a general chemistry learning assistant, and conducted molecular biology research. Following graduation, Maggy worked in the laboratory at a winery in Paso Robles before moving to San Francisco to work as a clinical patient navigator with Spring Fertility. In her free time Maggy enjoys hiking, cooking with friends, knitting, tap dancing, and visiting San Francisco’s many live music venues.
Kelly Landucci
Pronouns: she/her
Kelly grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota and received her BA in Biology, Society, & Environment in 2018 at the University of Minnesota. Her senior thesis explored the intersections of feminist disability theory and genetic counseling. After graduating, she moved to San Francisco, CA to work in Invitae’s diagnostic laboratory and then as a lab GCA providing clinical consultation to patients and healthcare providers for the past 4 years. In her free time, Kelly enjoys walks by the ocean, hosting dinner parties, yoga, playing soccer, and exploring the SF bay area. English is her first language, and she is learning more and more Arabic each day!
Lauren L'Heureux
Pronouns: she/her
Lauren is from Phoenix, Arizona and graduated from the University of California, San Diego in 2019 with a BS in Bioinformatics and a minor in Psychology. During her time at UCSD, Lauren did cancer research and created digital phenotypes for hepatic encephalopathy patients. She also did protein property analysis research in Osaka, Japan. Lauren worked as a genetic counseling assistant at UCSF for almost two years before she joined the genetic counseling program as a student. In her free time, Lauren enjoys reading, hiking, drawing, and playing with yoyos.
Paloma Nakamura
Pronouns: she/her
Paloma is from Santa Fe, New Mexico. She attended Scripps College, where she studied Spanish and Biology. After graduating, Paloma worked as a health center assistant at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, where she gained valuable patient care experience and developed a passion for reproductive justice. In her free time, Paloma enjoys hiking with her dog, skiing, and reading, particularly sci-fi and fantasy books.
Maggy Osha
Pronouns: she/her
Maggy grew up in Oakland, CA and Hong Kong and graduated from Carleton College in 2021 with a BA in biology. She speaks conversational Spanish which she used to tutor beginning students during undergrad. She enjoys most sports and was a sprinter through college. After graduating she spent a year serving with AmeriCorps NCCC doing everything from building houses with habitat for humanity to working with young Afghan refugees. Recently she has worked as a STEM tutor with side gigs selling cakes for birthday parties and working at Jamba Juice. In her free time, she likes watching and making movies and systematically trying to find the best baked goods in the bay area.
Ana Shaughnessy
Pronouns: she/her.
Ana grew up in Massachusetts and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2021 with a degree in Molecular Biology and a minor in Anthropology. After graduating, she worked as a clinical research coordinator at UCSF, working on a clinical trial that uses deep brain stimulation to treat chronic pain. Outside of work, she also served as a bilingual crisis counselor in Spanish and English at Crisis Text Line. These experiences made her realize she wanted to work with patients long term, and genetic counseling provided the perfect combination of science and patient care. She also hopes to pursue bilingual counseling in Spanish, to make counseling more accessible to underserved populations in California. In her free time, Ana loves taking care of her plants, singing, sewing, and spending time with her friends and family!
Emma Sherman
Pronouns: she/her
Emma (she/her) is from Hanford, CA and graduated from UC Davis in 2021 with a B.S. in Genetics and Genomics and a minor in Psychology. During undergrad, she worked as an Orientation Leader during the summer and was a Learning Assistant for an introductory chemistry course. After graduating, she was a junior specialist in the Grimsrud Lab doing pharmacogenomic, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic clinical research in pediatric surgery and burn patients. In her free time, you can find her at the gym, reading fantasy novels, and spoiling her cat.
Sophia Sussman
Pronouns: she/her
Sophia is from Alameda, CA and graduated in 2021 from California State University, Chico with a BS in Cellular and Molecular Biology and a minor in Psychology. During undergrad, Sophia worked as a student researcher in a lab studying the molecular mechanisms of idiopathic scoliosis. After college, Sophia spent two years working as an assistant clinical research coordinator/patient coordinator for UCSF’s Adult Cystic Fibrosis Clinic and the Bronchiectasis and Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacterium Clinic. Sophia is an avid reader and enjoys drawing, spending time with friends and family, and cuddling her dog and cat.
Jean Yassis
Pronouns: she/her
Jean, born in the Philippines and raised in California, holds a BS in Molecular Biology and a minor in Psychology from UC San Diego. She delved into neurodegenerative disease research at UCSD and studied higher-order chromatin structure's impact on human health and disease at Salk Institute. An avid mental health advocate, Jean volunteered for NAMI Friends Resource Helpline. Discovering her passion for genetic counseling, she became a GC assistant at UCSF and joined the GC Prospective Student Network executive board. She co-founded the Undocumented GC Network, supporting underserved, undocumented communities and sharing DACA/undocumented experiences. For fun, Jean enjoys baking for loved ones. She is fluent in English and conversant in Tagalog.
Class of 2024
Sarah Chan
Pronouns: she/her
Sarah is from New Jersey and graduated from UC Berkeley with a major in Integrative Biology. After undergrad she went to dental school for a year before pivoting to the field of genetic counseling. Prior to grad school, she had worked at a telehealth genetics company and she currently works in management at a startup. In her free time, she likes to take her dogs to the dog park, play board games, and go on leisurely walks. She is fluent in English and knows basic Cantonese.
Hannah Haensel
Pronouns: she/they
Hannah is from Saratoga, CA and graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2019 with a BS in Genetics and Genomics. At Davis, Hannah worked as a lab assistant in a plant pathology lab and as a caretaker for adults with developmental disabilities. After graduating, Hannah worked as an ABA therapist for children with autism and volunteered at the Trevor project which supports LGBTQ+ youth. Hannah later began working as a genetic counseling assistant at GeneDx on the rare disorders team. For fun, Hannah likes doing improv, taking care of plants, and crafting.
Jaclyn Hodgson
Pronouns: she/her
Jaclyn is from Bellingham, WA and graduated from Whitman College in 2020 with a degree in biology. Jaclyn interned and later worked as a research technician at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle on a leukemia clinical trial. After moving to the Bay Area in 2021, she spent a year working on the education team at a teen mental health recovery center. Jaclyn is an avid reader and knitter and enjoys taking dance classes in her free time.
Dorothy Li
Pronouns: she/her
Dorothy was born in China and raised in Southern California. She graduated from UC Berkeley in 2020 with a BA in Molecular Cell Biology and a minor in Bioengineering. During undergrad, she worked as a Student Instructor for an introductory chemistry course and a student-led cancer class. After graduating, she obtained her ASCP certification and CGMBS licensure and worked as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist at various genetic testing companies. In her free time, she enjoys playing board games, traveling, and watching reality TV shows. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and has basic knowledge in Korean.
Fion Ma
Pronouns: she/her
Fion is from South San Francisco and graduated from UC Irvine with a major in Biological Sciences and a minor in Global Sustainability. During undergrad, she researched plant hybridization and breeding systems evolution. Prior to starting the GC program, she was a part of UCSF's Endocrine Surgery team as a Practice Coordinator. When she has free time, Fion enjoys spending time with friends and dabbling in various arts and crafts. She is conversational in Cantonese and proficient in Mandarin.
Elida Medina
Pronouns: she/her
Elida is from Hollister, California and graduated in 2018 from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a BS in Biological Sciences. After graduating, she worked as an EMT and a barista for a year. She then worked as a behavioral therapist for kids with autism. and in the year before attending the UCSF GC program she worked as a genetic counseling assistant at GeneDx. Elida loves backpacking, hiking, and spending any free time outdoors. She is a first-generation student and hopes to use her native language of Spanish to work with underserved communities.
Andrea Meraz
Pronouns: she/her
Andrea is an alumna of the University of California, Berkeley, where she majored in Integrative Biology and minored in Journalism. She worked for four years as an undergraduate researcher, first in reproductive endocrinology and then in germ cell biology, with a specialized focus on human infertility. Before starting at UCSF, Andrea worked from home in Turlock, CA as a Genetic Counseling Assistant Intern at Igenomix, a reproductive genetic testing company; she also volunteered at Seva Hospice and Crisis Text Line. In her free time, Andrea enjoys reading, baking, running, and hiking with friends. She is fluent in English and Spanish.
Jessica Prettyman
Pronouns: she/her
Jessica is from El Dorado Hills, CA and graduated from the University of Portland in 2021 with a BS in Biology and minors in Chemistry and Fine Arts. During her gap year, she worked as a research assistant at UC Davis Health studying leukemia stem cells and was a part-time barista. In her spare time, Jessica volunteered as a crisis counselor for the California Coalition for Youth. Some of her interests, other than genetic counseling, include spending time with friends and family, traveling to National Parks and trying out new coffee shops.
David Qiu
Pronouns: he/him
David is from Woodbury, Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities with a BS in Genetics, Cell Biology and Development. At the University of Minnesota, David worked in a lab studying cell adhesion molecules and their roles within nervous system dysfunction. After undergrad, he worked as a bereavement counseling intern at Grace Hospice and also spend time as a medical scribe. In his free time, David enjoys binging trashy Netflix reality shows, going to the gym and playing video games with friends. David is fluent in English and conversant in Mandarin Chinese.
Casandra Vigil
Pronouns: she/her
Cassandra was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She has a B.S. in Biology from Colorado State University and a MA in Secondary Science Education from Relay Graduate School of Education. Prior to entering the UCSF Genetic Counseling Program she taught middle school science for two years with Teach for America in order to empower first-generation students like herself. She hopes to continue her work with marginalized communities as a genetic counselor. During her free time, Cassandra enjoys trying the different cuisines San Francisco has to offer and spending time with her growing family!
Gabrielle Wright
Pronouns: she/her
Gabrielle is from the East Bay area (San Francisco Bay Area). She received her bachelor of science from UC Santa Cruz in Neuroscience. In Santa Cruz, she worked at the Marine Mammal Physiology Project, using positive reinforcement training to conduct research with dolphins, otters, and seals. After college, she spent two years working at the Innovative Genomics Institute's Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory, where her love for genetics was solidified. Gabrielle is a passionate advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, and continues to volunteer as a Crisis Counselor for the Trevor Project, counseling LGBTQ+ youth through mental health struggles. In her free time, Gabrielle enjoys spending time outdoors, crocheting, and cooking.
Class of 2023
Laura Cardoso
Pronouns: she/her
Laura is from Vacaville, CA and graduated in 2019 from San Francisco State University with a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology. As an undergraduate, Laura gained research experience studying chemokine receptors in the setting of breast cancer. After graduating, she worked as an outpatient medical scribe in addition to volunteering as a phone crisis counselor on the StarVista Suicide Hotline. Laura gained exposure to genetic counseling by interning at UCSF’s Cancer Genetics Center, where she was able to shadow genetic counseling sessions and help genetic counselors with various clerical tasks. In her free time, Laura enjoys reading, relaxing by the ocean, and trying new foods.
Merissa Chen
Pronouns: she/her
Merissa is from Fremont, California and graduated from University of Miami with a major in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and a minor in Classics. After graduation she worked as a Research Associate at the Kampmann Lab at UCSF using CRISPR technology to investigate cellular mechanisms behind various diseases such as SARS-CoV-2, Parkinson’s, and multiple myeloma. Her 1 year old mini Australian Shepard, Luna, takes up most of her free time, but when Luna’s asleep she enjoys reading, cooking, paddle boarding, trying new restaurants, and journaling.
Caitlin Cullen
Pronouns: she/they
Caitlin is from Shrewsbury, MA and graduated from UMass Amherst with an individualized BS in Genetic Counseling, minoring in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Caitlin interned for AbbVie Biotech researching immunology and pharmacokinetics while at UMass, and worked with recombinant chromosomes in Dr. Markstein’s Drosophila Cancer Genetics lab. After graduating, they trained as an abortion doula and began as a medical assistant for Planned Parenthood, currently seeing patients via telehealth. She also interned with Empty Arms Bereavement to support community members experiencing pregnancy loss. Caitlin is queer & non-binary and is an avid rock climber, roller-skater, and reproductive justice advocate.
Brittany-Ann Delacruz
Pronouns: she/her
Brittany-Ann is a Bay Area native. She received her bachelor's degree from UCLA in Human Biology & Society. In undergrad, she worked with underrepresented communities to provide free health care services and promote higher education. Before starting graduate school, she was able to partner with patients during their fertility journey as a Clinical Patient Navigator at Spring. It was through this experience where she knew genetic counseling was the career for her. She enjoys trying new foods, being outdoors, and spending time with her family. If you are interested in connecting, her email is [email protected].
Eva Ferino
Pronouns: she/her
A San Francisco native, Eva graduated from UC Davis in 2018 with a BS in Animal Science. While there, she first gained exposure to the world of genetics through part-time work at the Genome Center. After graduation, Eva worked at the UC Davis MIND Institute as a research coordinator in the Department of Neurology before taking on a clinical trial specialist role at a Bay Area biotechnology company. When she’s not busy with school, Eva enjoys reading, playing board games, and going for walks on the beach. She is bilingual in English and French, and proficient in Spanish.
Aleasha Jhanjar
Pronouns: she/her
Aleasha is an alumna of the University of California, Davis, where she majored in Psychology. As an undergraduate, she served as president of the Genetic Counseling Club at UC Davis, organizing events with genetic counselors as well as staying involved with the Davis community through outreach and fundraising. Before coming to UCSF, she worked from home in Bakersfield, California in a population genetics lab. In her free time, you can find Aleasha watching foreign dramas, trying out new teas, and exploring San Francisco’s restaurants and neighborhoods. One interesting fact is that she has an identical twin sister. She is fluent in English with some basic Spanish knowledge.
Justin Peng
Pronouns: he/him
Justin is from Kobe, Japan and earned is BS in microbial biology from UC Berkeley in 2017. After graduating, Justin has worked with cancer in mouse models at UCSF and researched on spindle assembly and replication using Xenopus models at UC Berkeley. Justin has also volunteered at Crisis Text Line and the 7 Long Orthopedic Recovery Unit at UCSF. In his spear time, Justin enjoys playing music (stay tuned for an upcoming EP), watching horror movies, exercising, and playing video games with friends. Justin is fluent in Japanese, and conversational in Mandarin Chinese.
Stanze Quezada
Pronouns: she/her
Stanze graduate from Virginia Tech in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise. After college, she was Teach for America corps member and completed graduate work at Johns Hopkins University to receive her teaching certification. She then worked in operations at KIPP Bay Area Schools, where she managed a portfolio of schools in the Bay Area. Prior to joining UCSF, she worked as an Associate Program Officer at the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation supporting STEM education in California. In her free time, Stanze enjoys reading and playing Dungeons and Dragons with her friends.
Lynsey Rodriguez
Pronouns: she/her
Lynsey is originally from San Francisco’s East Bay and attended college at California State University, Fresno where she earned a B.S. in Biology. She has been living in Fresno, CA for the past dozen years and developed a love and passion for the Central Valley. Prior to the UCSF Genetic Counseling Program, she held several jobs with the County of Fresno and most recently, had been working as a property tax appraiser in the Assessor’s Office. In her spare time, Lynsey enjoys cooking.
Allison Wheeler
Pronouns: she/her
Allison is from Los Altos, California and graduated from UC Davis with a B.S. in Psychology and minor in Public Health Sciences. At UCD, Allision worked in a lab exploring the genetic and environmental influences of autism spectrum disorders and volunteered with low-income families to reach their non-medical health goals. After undergrad, she worked as a genetic counseling assistant with GeneDx’s whole exome sequencing and research teams and volunteered with the peer support Chronic Illness Hotline. In her free time, Allison is a fiber artist and equestrian and enjoys backpacking, reading and exploring new places.
Samantha Wheeler
Pronouns: she/her
Samantha is from Chico, California and graduated from Chico State in 2019 with a BS in Ecological, Evolutionary and Organismal Biology. Prior to coming into this program, she worked part-time as a physical therapy aide before switching over t working full-time as an assistant in a personal injury law firm. She also enjoyed volunteering in her local hospitals Emergency Department. In her free time, Samantha enjoys reading, drawing/coloring, binging shows on Netflix, and doing anything involving the outdoors or traveling. One of her big life goals is to eventually set foot on all seven continents.
Taylor Yamane
Pronouns: she/her
Taylor was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. She graduated from UCLA in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Human Biology and Society. As an undergraduate, Taylor worked as a peer counselor and helped lead the UCLA Genetic Counseling Student Interest Group. After graduating, Taylor spent her gap year working as a chiropractor’s assistant and a genetic counseling volunteer for the cancer genetic counselors at USC. Taylor enjoys traveling, finding new dessert places, and catching up on the latest Netflix shows in her free time. She is super excited to be part of the inaugural class at UCSF!