DiversityRx 'Your Voice' Webinar Series: Webinar #9
Another “Double Helix”: Language and Cultural Challenges in Genetic Counseling Encounters
Monday, June 14, 2010
Presenters:
Cindy Johnson, MS, CGC received her Master of Science in Human Genetics from North Texas State University in 1984. She is certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics and the American Board of Genetic Counseling. Ms. Johnson has over 25 years of experience in pediatric, prenatal, and cancer genetic counseling. She currently splits her time between the Perinatal Center of Iowa and Mercy Cancer Center in Des Moines, Iowa. She is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors.
Katherine Langan, PhD is a linguist with many years of experience in various applied fields. She did research on a number of topics in Guatemala, where she worked with the Summer Institute of Linguistics and Kaji’ Ch’umil (a not for profit NGO) for many years. In addition to language description and literacy projects (Poqomam), she researched language vitality (K’iche’) and program effectiveness for bilingual schools. She taught in the linguistics programs at Rafael Landivar University and Mariano Galvez University and did free lance interpreting in a variety of settings. In the U.S. she has worked at a number of colleges and universities, including five years in the Anthropology Department at Tulane University in New Orleans. She has worked as a professional interpreter in various states including Rhode Island where she worked with the New England Regional Genetics Group on training interpreters. A resident of Iowa since August 2006, she is a full time medical interpreter at Mercy Medical Center. She became the Interpretation Services Departmental Trainer in 2008. She is active in the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care as a member of the Policy and Research Committee and Advisory Committee for the Standards and Training Committee. She was a subject matter expert for the National Board for Certification of Medical Interpreters.
Nancy Steinberg Warren, MS, CGC is a board certified genetic counselor and educator who has been in the field of genetic counseling for 30 years. During this time, she has taken on genetic counseling roles in clinical, public health, and education as a genetic counseling graduate training program director. Her interest in enhancing cross-cultural health care led Ms. Warren to reach out to colleagues and interdisciplinary experts to develop and lead many local, regional and national research and education efforts to enhance recruitment of underrepresented minorities into the field. She has been an avid volunteer and leader for the profession in this area. As the 2009 Jane Engelberg Memorial Fellow (JEMF) of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, Ms. Warren is developing a website for the profession on cultural and linguistic competence, which will be launched later in 2010.
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National Society of Genetic Counselors:
Incorporated in 1979, the National Society of Genetic Counselors advances the various roles of genetic counselors in health care by fostering education, research, and public policy to ensure the availability of quality genetic services. Executive Director: Meghan Carey, President: Elizabeth Kearney, MS, CGC
National Council on Interpreting in Health Care:
The NCIHC is a multidisciplinary organization based in the United States whose mission is to promote culturally competent professional health care interpreting as a means to support equal access to health care for individuals with limited English proficiency. Executive Director: Gem Daus
DiversityRx:
DiversityRx is a non-profit organization established in 1997 to provide education, support, research and policy development to assist stakeholders in improving healthcare to minority, immigrant and indigenous communities. The DiversityRx Webinar Series is part of the 'Your Voice' project, funded by The California Endowment. The project also features Communities of Practice, Peer Learning Networks, and an online professional education and support network. For more information, visit http://www.diversityrxconference.org/YourVoice