May 29, 2024
The School of Health Professions — Genetic Counseling Program’s class of 2024 graduated alongside graduates in the School of Medicine and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Tuesday at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.
Dr. William G. Kaelin Jr., a 2019 winner of The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, delivered the John E. Whitmore Lecture commencement address. Kaelin is the Sidney Farber Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He is a senior physician-scientist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator.
During Kaelin’s address, he quoted philosopher Confucius to motivate graduates to choose a fulfilling career that will make them happy. “As Confucius said, ‘If you do something that you like for a living, then you never have to work a day in your life,”’ Kaelin said.
The Genetic Counseling Program kickstarted the celebration of its fifth graduating class ahead of commencement by hosting an annual Graduation Celebration Friday, May 24 in the Cullen Auditorium on the main Baylor campus. The event included a reception and ceremony attended by the graduates, the graduates’ family and friends and members of the School of Health Professions and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics communities.
The reception included an in-person and virtual viewing of the graduates’ thesis project posters. The program and department leadership, such as Genetic Counseling Program Associate Director and Assistant Professor Salma Nassef, delivered speeches that acknowledged the graduates’ growth throughout the program.
“Even though you walk the stage next week, today is the day that marks, in my mind and in my heart, the day you transition from being learners here at Baylor to part of our Baylor family to (members) of our alumni network,” Nassef said. I look forward to witnessing all of your amazing professional accomplishments as you transition.”
After remarks from program and department leadership, the graduates, who completed 1,935 cases during the two-year program, were hooded by their thesis project chairs. The ceremony also included an awards presentation and personal remarks to the graduates from faculty, staff and peers.
View the full list of award winners below.
Faculty and Staff Awards
- Outstanding Clinical Supervisor — Ashley Spector, C.G.C. Based on clinic style and feedback.
- Outstanding Teacher Award — Sarah Scollon, C.G.C. Determined by teaching style, availability and accessibility.
- Outstanding Mentor Award — Andrea Moon, C.G.C. Faculty member who showed warmth and support toward students and provided guidance outside of the class and clinical space.
- Outstanding Non-Genetic Counselor — Jannette Cruz. An instructor, course director, clinical supervisor, thesis committee member or other individual who provides significant input and support to the student learning experience.
Graduate Awards
- 2024 Best Poster —Grayson Northcutt. A genetic counseling graduate whose thesis project presentation was the most impressive among judges. The impressiveness of the poster is determined by a rubric provided to the judges.
- 2024 Outstanding Class Engagement — Arden Wheeler. A genetic counseling graduate who actively participated in class discussions and activities and was outstanding in representing the profession in different settings, including the classroom and healthcare community.
- 2024 Outstanding Clinical Performance —Sara Stansbury. A genetic counseling graduate who demonstrated exemplary patient care through compassion and skilled communication in the clinical setting.
- 2024 Outstanding Leadership Achievement — Arden Wheeler. A genetic counseling graduate who advocated for peers, the program and the profession.
Watch the commencement ceremony.
Watch the celebration event.
