University of Texas Genetic Counseling Graduate Program

10/08/2026

A well deserved recognition for our very own program director, Claire Singletary!!

Great mentors do more than share what they know. They see potential, build confidence and help others find their own path.

Congratulations to Jian Hu, PhD, and Claire Singletary, MS, CGC, recipients of the 2026 D. Dudley and Judy White Oldham Faculty Award. Through their different fields, both have made mentorship central to their careers — from helping students develop their scientific voice to offering guidance that continues long after graduation.

Meet this year’s honorees and learn what mentorship means to them: https://loom.ly/N11qWjA

University of Texas Genetic Counseling Graduate Program

10/05/2026

We are back with another second year take over! Join us tomorrow on Instagram stories as Allison Brewer gives us a snapshot of her life on her advanced cancer rotation here at the UTGCP!

09/28/2026

Join us over on Instagram tomorrow 9/29/26 to check out what life is like as a second year at the UTGCP! Melana Vaughn is currently on her advanced medical genetics rotation and will take you along with her as she goes about her day. Follow along in our stories!

09/25/2026

Happy Friday folks! To kick off the weekend, we want to share a new installment on UTGCP socials: Faculty Fridays!

We have an amazing group of faculty and supervisors here at the UTGCP and love to brag on them, their accomplishments, and their roles with the program. To get us started, our first faculty member is our very own Associate Program Director, Meagan Choates!

Meagan is a prenatal genetic counselor and assistant professor within the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School. She was recently promoted to Associate Program Director of the UT Genetic Counseling Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. A title reflective of all of the hard work she puts into the UTGCP.

Let's hear from Meagan directly on what she loves about her job and her role with the program!

“The part of my job I love most is teaching! I teach a large part of our first and second year classes, and love getting to see and interact with our students frequently as a result. Hearing our students' insights and questions is so intellectually stimulating and pushes my own growth; I also love getting to see the lightbulb moments for the students when things click. I also love findings innovative solutions for things that aren't best serving the students or program, like transitioning our thesis and logbook system into REDCap!

Outside of teaching, a large part of my role is overseeing our students' thesis research process by providing mentorship, helping with aspects of study design, data analysis, and science communication. I am also heavily involved in tracking of student progress, admissions, and evaluating and reflecting on areas for change and growth within the program and developing plans for implementation. I love a good project!”

Thank you Meagan for all that you do! We couldn’t do it without you 🎉🧬

09/24/2026

Another great opportunity for prospective students! Starting at 11 am CST 9/24/26 join NSGC to learn more about the genetic counseling profession. Then from 1-3pm, stop by our individual program zoom room to talk with faculty and current students. Come ask questions and learn about what makes the UTGCP special. We hope to see you there!

https://studentfair.nsgc.org

09/22/2026

Attention prospective students!

Coming up in three days! Join us September 24 at 4:00 PM ET as Jessica Giordano, MS, CGC, Assistant Professor of Genetic Counseling at Columbia University Irving Medical Center provides guidance for students and trainees interested in exploring as a career.

The FREE session will be followed by a live Q&A, allowing students to ask questions about genetic counseling, education and training, patient care, research, and career preparation.
https://tinyurl.com/E392026

09/09/2026

UTGCP faculty and friends had a major presence at the 3rd annual International TSC Consensus Conference this summer, where experts collaborated to advance care for individuals living with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Following that, faculty also had a presence at the TSC World Conference, a family centered meeting of more than 2,000 attendees from all over the world.

We are proud to recognize UTGCP medical director, Dr. Farach, medical genetics GC, Kate Richardson, and medical genetics faculty, Drs. Northrup and Rodriguez, for their work on various presentations and panels.

Second year Melana Vaughn also attended the conference and recruited for her thesis research studying sleep concerns among individuals with TSC.

Keep up the good work!

https://med.uth.edu/pediatrics/2026/09/04/uthealth-houston-tsc-experts-lead-on-the-international-stage/

08/27/2026

08/23/2026

We had a great time yesterday at our annual welcome party! So excited to kick off another great semester and get to know the class of 2028.

08/21/2026

Today we celebrate the retirement of Dr. Jacqueline T. Hecht, founding director of the UT Genetic Counseling Program, and honor her 38 years of service to UTHealth Houston.

In 1989, as the field of genetic counseling was rapidly emerging, Dr. Hecht established the program with a vision to educate compassionate, highly skilled genetic counselors prepared to meet the evolving needs of patients and families. Through her leadership, mentorship, and dedication, she helped shape generations of genetic counselors and built a program recognized for excellence in education and training.

To honor her lasting impact, we invite you to support the Genetic Counseling Program Director Endowment, which will provide resources to strengthen genetic counseling education and enhance the student experience for years to come.

If the fundraising goal of $50,000 is not met by January 31, 2027, gifts will instead support the Jacqueline T. Hecht Founding Director Scholarship Endowment. Join us in celebrating Dr. Hecht's legacy and investing in the future of the profession.

Visit the link below or scan the QR code to make your gift today.

https://give.uth.edu/honoring-dr-jacqueline-hecht