Publications by authors named "Deanna Erwin"

Objective: This article outlines a scalable system developed by the All of Us Research Program's Genetic Counseling Resource to vet a large database of healthcare resources for supporting participants with health-related DNA results.

Materials And Methods: After a literature review of established evaluation frameworks for health resources, we created SONAR, a 10-item framework and grading scale for health-related participant-facing resources. SONAR was used to review clinical resources that could be shared with participants during genetic counseling.

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Genetic counseling graduate programs largely recommend that prospective applicants shadow or gain exposure to genetic counselors (GC) as a means of developing insight into the profession. However, prospective students have cited this need to shadow genetic counselors as harder to access in comparison to other prerequisites. The GC Immersive (GCI) at Color was created as a no-cost, remote, self-paced professional exploration program designed to provide resources and live interaction with a team of genetic counselors to increase accessibility to GC exposure and enhance the competitiveness of underrepresented GC candidates.

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Article Synopsis
  • Multi-cancer gene panels for hereditary cancer syndromes are commonly ordered by genetic counselors, often based on clinical indications and patient requests rather than financial factors.
  • Despite the availability of hereditary cancer panels, many institutions lack formal protocols for discussing these options with patients.
  • Most genetic counselors believe that insurance reimbursement is more reliable for HCPs compared to genetic counseling, as patients are also perceived to be more willing to pay for HCPs than for counseling services.
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The Genetic Counselor SARS-CoV-2 Impact Survey (GCSIS) describes the impact of the pandemic on genetic counselors and genetic counseling services. With this information, the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) can better: (1) support advocacy and access efforts for genetic counseling services at both federal- and state-level; (2) promote effective billing and reimbursement for genetic counseling services provided via telemedicine; and (3) make decisions about how to best support genetic counselors. The survey was hosted on a novel data collection and analysis platform from LunaDNA and was open to all genetic counselors (n = 5,531 based on professional society membership).

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A genetic evaluation may lead to a clinical or molecular diagnosis, which helps clarify prognosis, tailor surveillance protocols based on risks associated with the genetic condition, and aid in assessment of risk to family members. However, individuals of low socioeconomic and/or minority status often have limited access to genetics services, which contributes to healthcare disparities (Journal of Community Genetics, 2018, 9, 233). Our county hospital system, dedicated to providing health care to the underserved, offers a unique opportunity to reduce healthcare inequalities in genetics.

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Postsynaptic density (PSD) proteins have been implicated in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Here, we present detailed clinical and genetic data for 20 patients with likely gene-disrupting mutations in TANC2-whose protein product interacts with multiple PSD proteins. Pediatric patients with disruptive mutations present with autism, intellectual disability, and delayed language and motor development.

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Even in well-described genetic syndromes, such as neurofibromatosis type 1, expansion of the phenotype should be considered as a possible explanation for atypical presentations. However, it is critical to complete the evaluation for a potential dual diagnosis, as there could be significant prognostic and management implications.

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