Our Richard R. Ferrante Friend of the Genetic Counseling Program Award, S. Robert
Young Outstanding Genetic Counselor Award, School of Medicine Distinguished Alumni
Award and Victoria A. Vincent Clinical Supervision Award help us recognize individuals
who have made a significant impact on the field of genetic counseling and the USC
Genetic Counseling Program.
Friend of the Genetic Counseling Program Award
Richard R. Ferrante, PhD
Richard R. Ferrante, PhD, former Director of Disability Resources for the University
of South Carolina School of Medicine, was the first recipient of the Friend of the
Genetic Counseling Program Award. In 1983, he urged the genetics faculty to develop
the program and has served as primary faculty in the classroom and on thesis committees
ever since. His stalwart support led us to name the award in his honor.
Shannon Davis, PhD
Our 2023 Friend of the Program is Shannon Davis, a developmental biologist with the
University of South Carolina. Dr. Davis has supported our human development course
through many lectures to our first year genetic counseling students and serves as
an advisor for the evolution of the development curriculum. Thank you Dr. Davis for
your continued dedication!
2022 Honoree
Sonja Higgins, MS, CGC
Sonja Higgins is a telehealth genetic counselor with Metis Genetics who specializes
in prenatal and pediatric genetic counseling. Sonja is a 1996 graduate of the USC
Genetic Counseling Program and an education leader in the field, having served as
Assistant Director for the UNC Greensboro Genetic Counseling Program. She continues
to invest in our students with telemedicine education, leading a reaccreditation subcommittee
and serving as a member of our Advisory Board. Thank you Sonja for your continued
dedication!
2021 Honoree
Gene Palmer
Gene Palmer is the Media Specialist for the UofSC School of Medicine Dean's Conference
Center. Gene directs the videoconferencing and multimedia needs for the UofSC Genetic
Counseling Program. Gene is graciously relied upon to troubleshoot, facilitate and
implement the necessary technological components to support both students and faculty.
He has been a friend of the program for almost a decade and with his help this past
year, we were able to successfully navigate the virtual classroom brought on by the
pandemic.
2020 Honoree
Stephanie Meredith, MA
Stephanie Meredith is the executive director of Lettercase, which produces high quality
materials for health care providers to share with prospective parents of children
with Down Syndrome and other trisomies. She is the author of "Understanding a Down
Syndrome Diagnosis" and similar resources for other genetic conditions. She offers
presentations and training nationwide about bridging relationships between patient
advocacy groups and medical professionals.
2019 Honoree
David Everman, MD
Dr. David Everman is a clinical geneticist with the Greenwood Genetic Center. Dr.
Everman served as our medical director from 2011 to 2021 and is an invaluable guest
lecturer for several of our program's courses. He is also involved in clinical and
basic science research on the genetic basis of human limb malformations and in the
supervision and education of medical genetics residents, pediatric residents and medical
students.
2018 Honoree
G. Shashidar Pai, MD
Dr. Pai was honored for sharing our original vision to create a southeastern genetic
counseling training program. He served as our first medical director for many years. He
currently serves on our Advisory Board where his experience and perspectives strengthen
the Program and guide our growth into the future.
2017 Honoree
Courtney Truluck
Courtney Truluck and family were trailblazers, the very first family to undergo cancer
genetic testing in Columbia over twenty years ago. By sharing her story with the Palmetto
Health Foundation in 2016, Courtney raised awareness for the impact of cancer genetic
counseling throughout our community.
2016 Honoree
Roz McConnaughy
Roz McConnaughy was recognized for investing her medical librarian expertise in the
program as she guides faculty and students in integrating the latest evidence base
in thesis research and clinical practice.
2015 Honoree
Lydia Matesic, PhD
USC Associate Professor of Biology, Dr. Matesic, was honored in 2015. Dr. Matesic
challenges our students to understand the edge of genomic research technologies and
where research is leading our clinical practice.
2014 Honoree
C. Thomas Caskey, MD
C. Thomas Caskey was the 2014 honoree, having created the impetus to launch the USC
Genetic Counseling Fall Symposium with his 2013 avant-garde keynote address, "Counseling
the Genome".
2013 Honoree
Faculty of the Greenwood Genetic Center
The faculty of the Greenwood Genetic Center have provided lecture, laboratory and
clinical expertise to our students’ development since the inception of the program
in 1985. The award was presented by Dr. Ferrante himself at the May 2013 Greenwood
Genetics Center case conference, at which time we recognized the significant contributions
of the center and especially of Doctors Skinner, Stevenson and Everman for their consistent
support of genetic counselor education.
2012 Honoree
Professors Rich Goodwin (Cell Biology) and Erica Blanck (Anatomy)
Professors Goodwin and Blanck were honored in 2012 for their commitment to genetic
counseling education. These professors, along with others from our basic science faculty,
provide foundational education in human development in a four credit, two semester
course for first year students. They go above and beyond for us every year.
2011 Honoree
Ken Corning, MS '93 and Angie Lichty, MS '99
Special Friends of the Program, Ken Corning and Angie Lichty, were recognized in 2011
for their teaching expertise which has become integral to the education of genetic
counselors. Ken and Angie develop students’ pediatric genetic counseling skills through
classroom instruction, interactive workshops and clinical rotations.
2010 Honoree
Ruth K. Abramson, PhD
The 2010 honoree Ruth K. Abramson, PhD, has taught psychiatric genetics to our students
since the program's inception. Dr. Abramson developed the S.C. Huntington Disease
Testing and Counseling Program more than 30 years ago, serving the families of South
Carolina in this special area of medicine.
2009 Honoree
Madeleine Will
Director of Public Policy for the National Down Syndrome Society was honored in 2009,
for her engagement in conversations and support of master of science thesis research
as we have worked together to build greater understanding between the genetics and
Down syndrome advocacy communities.
2008 Honoree
Wendell H. McKenzie, PhD
We recognized Wendell H. McKenzie, PhD., Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus in
Genetics from North Carolina State University upon his retirement in 2008. Dr. McKenzie
has lit the genetics enthusiasm of many undergraduate students over his career.
2007 Honoree
Richard R. Ferrante, PhD
Richard R. Ferrante, PhD, former Director of Disability Resources for the University
of South Carolina School of Medicine. In 1983, Richard urged the genetics faculty
to develop the program and has served as primary faculty in the classroom and on thesis
committees ever since.
Outstanding Genetic Counselor Award
S. Robert Young, PhD
Each spring, the Genetic Counseling Program faculty select one member of the graduating
class for the Outstanding Genetic Counselor Award, named for our founding director
Dr. S. Robert Young. This graduate has performed in an exemplary manner in every facet
of their professional education: in academic coursework, clinical rotations, interactions
with faculty, service learning and as a representative of the Genetic Counseling Program.
We always find it difficult to select just one.
The Genetic Counseling Program has always recognized our success as a program comes
from the accomplishments of our very active alumni. Since 2001, the School of Medicine
has honored an outstanding alum each year, welcoming them to the School of Medicine
Black Tie-White Coat Gala and the Dean’s Awards Dinner in the spring, and inviting
the alum to visit with program faculty and students, often as a special guest lecturer.
We are proud of our graduates!
Allison Bellomo, MS, CGC
Allison Bellomo, MS, CGC, graduated from Furman University with a Bachelor of Science
in Biology in 2007, before obtaining her Master’s of Science in Genetic Counseling
from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia Genetic Counseling
Program in 2009. Upon graduation, she began clinical hereditary cancer genetic counseling
at the Greenwood Genetic Center – Greenville Office. Bellomo obtained certification
through the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 2010 and transitioned to pediatric
and adult genetic counseling in the same office at the Greenwood Genetic Center. She
was employed by the Center for almost 10 years before transitioning to the Prisma
Health Upstate Cancer Institute in 2019, where she is currently employed as a hereditary
cancer genetic counselor.
Bellomo has served as a lead supervisor for genetic counseling students in the USC
program as part of their required clinical rotations since 2010, and she has also
provided lectures for the online course Genetic Counseling: Career for the Future
through the program. She is a strong advocate for her profession and has spearheaded
efforts to garner state licensure for genetic counselors in South Carolina since 2012.
Bellomo has also advocated for the genetic counseling profession at the national level,
speaking to congressmen regarding CMS/Medicare recognition of genetic counselors as
providers.
Bellomo, who is married with three young children, resides in Greenville. She is active
in her local church and involved in multiple extracurricular activities that her children
participate in.
2022 Andrea Sellers (2005)
2021 Ginger Hocutt (2013)
2020 Kate Wilson (2007)
2019 Holly H. Zimmerman (2007)
2018 Debbie Zvejnieks (1992)
2017 Emily Ellen Hardisty (2001)
2016 Libby Malphrus (2001)
2015 Peggy Walker (2008)
2014 Katie Berrier Sheets (2009)
2013 Cam Brasington (1988)
2012 Kerry Crandall (1988)
2011 Mary Ann Campion (2000)
2010 Jennifer Sullivan (1996)
2009 Melissa Bennett (1998)
2008 Courtney Rowell Tate (2000)
2007 Holly Peay (1997)
2006 Sonja Eubanks (1996)
2005 Vicki Vincent (1987)
2004 Christine Miller (1989)
2002 Jill Fischer (1993)
2001 Cam Brasington (1988)
Genetic Counselor Supervision Award
Victoria A. Vincent, MS, CGC
Named in honor of Vicki Vincent, MS, CGC who graduated in the inaugural class of the
Genetic Counseling Program and serves on faculty as a teacher, mentor and clinical
supervisor for over 30 years. This award honors a genetic counselor that serves as
an exemplary clinical rotation supervisor. The honoree is nominated by the graduating
genetic counselors annually and awarded to an individual who exhibits the qualities
of an ideal supervisor: "providing balanced feedback, cultivating the critical thinking
process, building confidence, allowing autonomy with respect for student opinion and
fostering a collegial relationship."
Natasha Rudy, MS, CGC
Natasha, a graduate of the USC Program, was recognized as the 2023 outstanding supervisor
for her ability to both support and challenge students in their professional development.
Natasha is a genetic counselor with the Greenwood Genetic Center in Greenville, SC
and provides our students with excellent learning opportunities while maintaining
high quality patient care and serving as an example of what a genetic counselor should
be!
2022 Paige Babb
2021 Shandrea Foster (2018)
2020 Jessica Davis
2019 Alexandra H. Bailey
2018 Sally Shields
2017 Vicki Vincent (1987)
Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.