Natalia Tszine Leach, Ph.D. Human Genetics (2001)

Natalia Leach is currently a research fellow in pathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School. She has finished her Clinical Cytogenetics Fellowship and is pursuing a Clinical Molecular Genetics Fellowship in conjunction with pursuing her research. Leach is interested in identifying developmentally important genes by analyzing balanced chromosomal rearrangements in patients with at least one major congenital anomaly. She feels quite at home at her present location as she works with other Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Human Genetics alumni.

“I was very fortunate to get my graduate education at the Department of Human Genetics. This department is truly a VCU jewel. It is strong and well respected in the genetics community, and it has forged a constellation of key figures in the field of human genetics. Here is an example: when I joined Harvard Medical School ABMG fellowship, I found out that majority of main players in human genetics here — such as the head of the cytogenetics laboratory, head of antenatal diagnostics unit and director of the cytogenetics training — are all alumni of the department. This success of the graduates is the testimony to the power of the department’s curriculum and the strength of the faculty members.”

Leach contributes her present success to the unique training environment at VCU. The Ph.D. students in the Department of Human Genetics are exposed to clinical aspects of human genetics as well as strong training in research.

“I am forever in debt for the very solid and well-rounded education I received. On numerous occasions during my postgraduate training I thanked professors from the Department of Human Genetics as their dedication gave me a great advantage in the clinical field as well as in research.

One of the main appeals of the department is the diversity of trends it offers. Anyone interested in human genetics would be able to find a right niche there. “I had a chance to get an exceptional training in human cytogenetics being able to use cutting-edge technology, thanks to my mentor Dr. Jackson-Cook, and there are not that many universities that would have laboratories dedicated to this beautiful branch of human genetics.”

Also, the department had a very “healthy microclimate,” with every faculty member being very open to the knowledge transfer and treating you more like a colleague than a student. 

“It is beyond any doubt for me that being a VCU Human Genetics graduate student was one of the most important and valuable steps in my career and the lessons I learned there serve me well today.”

Gretchen Oswald, M.S. Genetic Counseling (2001)

Gretchen Oswald is currently a senior genetic counselor in the Pediatric Genetics Clinic at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. She specializes in connective tissue disorders and skeletal dysplasias. Oswald feels that her education at VCU has given her a strong foundation for her career in genetic counseling.

“I graduated from the Genetics program at VCU with a master’s degree in genetic counseling in 2001. During my time there, I feel like the counselors and physicians really helped me to build a strong foundation of counseling and clinical investigation/history-taking skills that has aided me in my current job in an adult/pediatric genetics clinic at the Johns Hopkins University. There was exposure to diverse populations, not only in terms of diagnoses (connective tissue disorders, inborn errors of metabolism, skeletal dysplasias, and chromosome anomalies) but also in terms of the social, emotional and socioeconomic status of the patients.”

In addition to her many clinical duties, Oswald also assists with training of genetics fellows and medical students, serves as supervisor for genetic counseling students from National Institutes of Health/Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland and Howard University genetic counseling programs and is involved in clinic coordination and administrative duties. Oswald feels that her graduate training at VCU prepared her well for these aspects of her job.

“I especially appreciate the “behind the scenes” education I received — learning how to send out labs, run clinics, schedule patients, work with insurance companies. These practical skills are a major part of everyday practice and it is invaluable to get exposure to them as a student. The program has a great balance of clinical, educational and research requirements. In fact, it was this well-rounded balance that led me to take on my job at Johns Hopkins. I get to enjoy similar dynamics of seeing patients, supervising residents and genetic counseling students, being part of clinical research and constantly being educated and challenged about genetics and counseling. My experience at VCU definitely equipped me for the realities, including the joys and frustrations, of being a genetic counselor in the clinical setting today.”