Welcome to Gene Scene!

With this newsletter, we hope to connect and reconnect the SLC genetic counseling community. We invite you to enjoy the first edition of our biannual publication as we share our experiences and update you on life at Sarah Lawrence. Additionally, we would like to hear about what you are doing personally and professionally, and we welcome any ideas or suggestions you may have. We see this project as a way to connect the diverse experiences of our graduates, and hope that this newsletter will evolve over time, and reflect our multifaceted community.

Current Issue:

Special Edition: Spring 2013
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Living and Loving (but not leaving) the Genetic Life
By Caroline Lieber, MS, CGC, Class of 1980, Program Director

A s I step down from the director-ship of the Human Genetics Pro-gram, I would like to share some thoughts on living the genetic life for 35 years.

Before becoming the Director of the HGP, I was a clinician for 18 years. During the early years, tech-nology was undeveloped and our knowledge was infantile, compared with what we know today. We lis-tened to the families’ stories. We counseled them with what we knew, which was never as much as we want-ed to know, and we made a positive impact on people's lives. We com-forted them in their adjustment to life’s changes, we referred them to others who could help in the family struggle, and we helped them in their plans for their family’s future. We did good work.

Genetic technology has led us in directions that we may have thought of only in fantasy 35 years ago. We can learn the specifics of our DNA, and manipulate it to prevent disease in our children. That same technolo-gy will potentially allow us in the fu-ture to enhance our children’s intel-lectual and physical prowess. As you move forward in your careers, take a critical look at the technologies that come along and the impact they have on patient care. Just because we can do something, does that mean that we should? Is there a line beyond which we should not “advance?” Are there ways in which we should think about NOT using technology? Who will answer these questions? Who will make the decisions about what will be done? I love asking the ques-tions, but your generation will be the ones impacted by the answers. Be vigilant about keeping abreast of new knowledge and then critically evaluat-ing it in terms of its value to you and to society. Be skeptical but be open-minded, make your decisions thought-fully and be fully informed. Talk and debate with your friends and loved ones. Get involved in the debates, so that you are part of the decisions. Stand up for that which you believe in. | Read the full issue»