The results of genetic testing can have a profound impact on individuals and families. Thus, a thoughtful and individualized approach to the process of genetic testing is required. Genetic counseling is a vital part of this process. Choosing Malibu Genetics Concierge provides you with more than merely genetic testing. Dena will be your guide on your genetic testing journey, providing information, guidance, and support, all of which will be seamlessly incorporated into your medical plan.Visit MalibuGenetics.com for more information.

- Spread awareness of medical genetics and medical genetics services to the general public through media and marketing techniques not typically used by the medical community (www.DenaDNA.com)- Create educational resources for those interested in seeking or learning about medical genetic services such as graphics and animations to communicate complex genetics topics - Work as Independent Contractor to create science animated videos and graphic design work- Currently working on a genetics documentary as an executive producer and host- Created Indiegogo campaign; raised $2700 for thesis research- Designed and launched the Genetic Counseling Awareness Shirt campaign; sold >1000 shirts- Created video series available on YouTube, IGTV, TikTok, and Facebook (https://www.youtube.com/denadna) - Created HR3235.com website and unifying graphic campaign #ISupportHR3235- Run Twitter account with more than 2900 followers (@DenaTalksDNA)- Run Instagram account with more than 2500 followers (@Dena.DNA)- Sell genetics themed merchandise via Etsy- Created presentation for Jewish groups about carrier screening and inherited cancers, and collaborate with JScreen to run screening events

- Counsel patients for known hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes including: Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, hereditary breast-ovarian cancer syndrome, juvenile polyposis syndrome, pancreatitis, Peutz-Jegher syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia, Cowden syndrome, Gorlin syndrome, serrated adenomatous polyposis, MUTYH-Associated Polyposis and Li Fraumeni syndrome. - Skilled at cancer counseling involving taking a three or greater generation pedigree on paper or progeny, documentation of all cancer diagnoses, assessment of cancer risk, evaluation of psychosocial distress, education regarding cancer predisposition syndromes, screening recommendations, and discussion of genetic testing possibilities within the framework of institutional protocols and informed consents. - Contract work with Color Genomics to develop marketing materials, give community presentations, and provide telephone results disclosure- Helped develop, collect, and report data from our Genetic Testing Station novel model of care delivery- Serve as moderator, writer, and designer for Kintalk.org- Attend tumor boards and run our departmental weekly case conference- Coordinate research studies with GI Fellows to identify better ways to ascertain individuals at risk for hereditary cancer in an endoscopy center and easily refer them for genetic counseling- Coordinated National Genetic Counseling Awareness Day tabling activities to spread awareness and created brochure of all genetic services available at UCSF

Experience with case preparation, contracting, pedigree construction, genetic counseling, risk assessment, short and long-term follow-up, testing options, and psychosocial counseling in prenatal, pediatric, cancer, adult, and metabolic settings

Create and review info sheets for new Cardiology panels launch Update website contentWork with product managers to create new educational material

Experience with case preparation, contracting, pedigree construction, genetic counseling, risk assessment, short and long-term follow-up, testing options, and psychosocial counseling in pediatric settingsWhole Exome Sequencing board discussionsClinical experience: Craniofacial, Pediatric Oncology, Disorders of Sexual Development

Studied the epigenetic and genetic alterations that confer genomic instability and fuel cancer initiation and progression of breast cancer in the Tlsty LaboratoryWorked in tissue culture, created growth curves, and performed DNA extraction

Analyzed sNP mutations in mtDNA to find haplogroup of Native American samplesCarried out and trained others in PCR, Gel Electrophoresis, SAP-EXO, Plating, Assaying, real-time PCR, genotyping, sequencing, and human DNA extractionMitochondrial DNA diversity studies have been successfully used to learn about the broad details of the peopling of the Americas addressing questions such as the source population(s), number of migrations, and routes of colonization. Unfortunately, these earlier studies were limited to analyzing the hypervariable region of the mitochondrial genome and the high incidence of recurrent mutations obscures the details of the peopling process as well as more recent population history that has occurred within the Americas over the past 15,000 years.In this project we sequenced the whole mitochondrial genomes of a broad geographic and cultural array of Native Americans. From this analysis we performed population genetic, phylogenetic, and model-based analyses in combination with archaeological and linguistic data to learn about the population history of Native Americans.