Ryan J German

Genetic Counseling Student

Email

ryan.german@bcm.edu

Positions

Genetic Counseling Student: School of Health Professions
Baylor College of Medicine

Education

BS from Calvin University: Grand Rapids, Michigan United States; Biology & Biotechnology

Professional Statement

My first exposure to genetics was studying rare craniofacial genetics at Chiang Mai University. From there, my interest grew as I researched BCS1L-related mitochondrial disorders using zebrafish as a model at Calvin University. My knowledge of genetics grew tremendously during these years, and I sought ways translate this genetics knowledge to helpful information for patients and families. I began volunteering with the Calvin Rare Research and Support group in their annual conference for families affected by rare disease. After completing my undergraduate degree in biology, I became a genetic counseling coordinator for a reproductive genetics lab. Through my interactions with patients and research in genetics care delivery I became interested in clinical research, which led to my transition to a clinical research coordinator at Baylor College of Medicine. I worked alongside many genetic counselors and saw the impact genetics services have for medically underserved people and families with rare disease. I'm thrilled to be completing my graduate studies in the School of Health Professions at Baylor College of Medicine and hope to practice in areas that lack sufficient access to genetic services because of language, geographic, and economic barriers.