After becoming a parent, I realized that all parents want their children to have a wonderful life.  If we could choose, many parents would want them to have the perfect job, the perfect kids and ultimately a long healthy life.  As our kids grow, we hope that our kids do not have the same health issues or mental health problems that may run in our families. 

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I am a genetic counselor with a PhD in neuropsychiatric genetics. I specialize in helping families who live with psychiatric disorders. From my experience, I know that when someone in a family is diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder like schizophrenia, it can be a very hard thing - for not only the person with the diagnosis, but also for family members.

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Pharmacogenetics refers to using inherited genetic differences to help healthcare providers decide what medications to give patients and at what dosage. The goal is a “personalized” approach

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When Al Roker announced his prostate cancer diagnosis, he shared his desire to use his platform to educate others, presenting an ideal time to continue the conversation. Prostate cancer is common for men--1 in 9 will develop prostate cancer over their lifetime.

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It's not surprising that awareness efforts for hereditary breast cancer focus on the women in the family, but it's important not to leave the men out.  Not only can men get breast cancer, their family health history holds important information to help relatives determine their cancer risk. 

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It’s a question that people have been trying to answer for years and a topic that is frustrating for many.   Why do diets seem to work for some people and not others? How come some people eat whatever they want and never gain a pound while others diet and continue to struggle with weight? People swear by diets like keto, paleo or fasting, touting weight loss of tens or even hundreds of pounds, but when others attempt these diets, they see no results. Why?

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Health insurance can be complex. How do you know if something is or isn’t covered in your plan? And what if you don’t have insurance? This can make decisions about your health, which may include genetic testing and genetic counseling, even harder to figure out.  In this episode, we speak to Heather L. Shappell, MS, CGC, a genetic counselor with expertise in this area, to help demystify insurance as it pertains to genetic testing and genetic counseling.

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Newborn screening is a group of screening tests performed shortly after a baby is born, typically while they are still in the hospital. It includes an evaluation of hearing, heart function and specific conditions detectable via blood. The goal of this type of testing is to look for critical conditions that, while not immediately noticeable, can impact the long-term health of a newborn. This allows for early detection, diagnosis and intervention to improve a child’s quality of life as well as reduce risk for disability or even death.

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Ovarian cancer can be a silent killer. Most women are diagnosed with this cancer at later stages, as the symptoms are often silent or not recognized as indications of cancer in earlier stages in the midst of busy lives. 

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