Email

mckay.shumway@bcm.edu

Positions

Genetic Counseling Student

SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS
Baylor College of Medicine

Education

BS from Brigham Young University

12/2022 - Provo, UT United States

Physiology & Developmental Biology

Professional Statement

Growing up in Provo, Utah, I had the privilege of being surrounded by the scenic mountains and National Parks of Utah, which ultimately led to my attending nearby Brigham Young University where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Physiology and Developmental Biology. During my undergraduate years I held roles including teaching assistant giving weekly recitations in chemistry & biochemistry, served as a grant writer for 155 faculty, worked as a ranch hand, and also as a CNA in a senior living facility. I also served for five years in volunteer and director roles for Best Buddies, a National organization focused on close interaction with members of the Intellectual & Developmental Disability (IDD) community — something I intend to advocate for throughout my career. Additionally, I held several roles for HealthTree Foundation, where I facilitated patient groups specifically targeting members of the Black community to generate awareness, provide tools to empower, and support anyone suffering from myeloma cancer.

While attending BYU, I also had the privilege of working with a team of students to revolutionize the way male infertility is diagnosed. With the help of a leading male-fertility researcher, we worked to develop a genetic test that can detect sperm counts as low as 40,000 sperm/mL (the current analysis can only detect counts as low as 1 million sperm/mL) which may have significant implications for predicting success in IVF. Our approach used epigenetic markers from sperm-derived cfDNA.

As a graduate student, I am eager to learn from the Baylor College of Medicine faculty as I embark on a career dedicated to advancing knowledge in the field of genetics and providing guidance to individuals and families to successfully navigate the complexities of genetics on a deeply personal level.

Websites