Texas GCs Honored on the National Stage — TSGC - Texas Society of Genetic Counselors

By Mary Grace Roden

At this year’s National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Conference, some of our very own Texas genetic counselors were appointed to leadership and honored with awards for their impact and hard work in our field. We asked each of our Texas award winners what it meant to them to be recognized on the national stage. See what they had to say!

2023 NSGC Strategic Leader Award – Brian Reys M.S., CGC

“It was a huge honor to receive the NSGC Strategic Leader award. It was actually at a Texas conference a few years back that I once heard a speaker say that they didn't think men experienced 'imposter syndrome.' I've thought about that a lot. Maybe what they meant is that it should have a different definition. I definitely believe there is ownership of privilege that needs to be recognized and that men often take up more leadership space, which could contribute to men experiencing imposter syndrome differently. But I also want to normalize not telling other people what they can and cannot feel. I cannot speak for anyone else, but I have absolutely experienced feelings that match imposter syndrome. Beyond being honored, for me, receiving the Strategic Leader award was really empowering. It felt validating, it felt like having the work we do 'seen.' I'm really grateful to everyone to took time to nominate me and fortunate to have people who take the time to recognize others in our GC community.”

2023 NSGC Diversity and Inclusion Award – Cheyla Clark, M.S., M.P.H., CGC

“It was a true honor and privilege to accept NSGC’s Leader in Diversity and Inclusion Award! This recognition is a testament to the work I have begun and continue to do within this field. My passion for this profession is what drives me to champion the greater cause in advancing our mission of diversity, equality and inclusion in such a way that we all desire to see. I am very grateful that my efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion were recognized by my peers, and I feel an immense amount of pride knowing I will now stand alongside all the previous GC leaders that came before me and whom I admire. I never could have imagined being here this early in my career, but it excites me to know this is only the beginning. I want to thank the NSGC membership again for this incredible honor! ”

2023 NSGC Best Student Abstract Award – Yusra Aziz, M.S.

Yusra Aziz

“Unlike many aspiring genetic counseling students, I started my graduate training with a specific goal in mind: To address gaps in education relating to racial discrimination in the genetics field. This was my form of advocacy and my outlet was through my master’s thesis. As a Muslim woman of color who is also a first-generation college and graduate student researching a subject such as health disparity education was, and is, inherently personal to me. Given the intricacies of equity work in our field I wanted to be thoughtful in quantifying data and having actionable results.

I was in complete shock when I received the award for the NSGC Best Student Abstract Award! I was blinded by my sheer passion for my research subject that I had only hoped others would also value it. I could not have achieved this award without my fantastic chair, Claire Singletary, it was her passion that mirrored mine and her depth of knowledge of research and education that so greatly contributed to the execution of our project. It was an honor to present my research at the NSGC conference in Chicago this year and I send thanks to all of my survey participants for being vulnerable in their sharing. I have hope that as a field we will continue to highlight marginalized voices and collaborate with health equity experts in ensuring that we responsibly educate about health disparities in our field.”

What a huge year for Texas genetic counselors on the national stage! Congratulations!