Strategies for Making a Difference PART 2

Ann Seman, MS, CGC

Ann Seman, MS, CGC is Assistant Professor in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and Director of Clinical Education for the Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. As the Director of Clinical Education, Ann teaches Fieldwork I and II, coordinates genetic counseling standardized patient encounters at the IMPACT Practice Center, and coordinates observations and participatory clinical and nonclinical rotations. She enjoys sharing with students how to put together the components of a genetic counseling session, encouraging and witnessing their growth over the course of the program, and welcoming their insights into the counseling process. She feels that learning from the students is just as important as teaching them. Ann also instructs the Embryology and Teratology team-based learning course, where she thrives on the challenge of how to break down and teach the complex concept of the development of each organ system in a way that is relatable to the needs of a genetic counselor. Additionally, Ann participates in the Capstone-related portion of the program by serving on student research committees particularly those focused on pediatrics, laboratory, education, and/or JEDI.

In line with the mission of the IHP, Ann believes in the importance of service and giving back to one's profession. She serves as an Equity Advocate on the School of Nursing Search Committee and is a member of the Program Review Committee for the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling. She also is a member of the Philanthropic Education Organization (P.E.O.), which supports women's education through loans, grants, scholarships, awards, and stewardship of Cottey College.

Caitlin J. Fitzgerald, PT, DPT

Caitlin Fitzgerald, PT, DPT, is Associate Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at MGH Institute of Health Professions. Previous to her full-time appointment at the Institute, Dr. Fitzgerald worked full-time as a physical therapist as well as worked at the Institute as a lab instructor and seminar facilitator.

Her most recent full-time clinical position was at Lahey Health – Beverly Hospital at Danvers where she was the clinical team leader and treated patients with neurologic, pediatric and orthopedic diagnoses.

As a member of the physical therapy program’s clinical education team, Dr. Fitzgerald is responsible for continuing the successful development and implementation of the clinical education component of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

Dr. Fitzgerald’s didactic teaching responsibilities in the DPT program include Patient Client Management 3 (Fall of the 1st year of the program). Dr. Fitzgerald has served as faculty advisor for the MGH Institute's chapter of the IHI Open School, the PT department’s PT club, and has chaired the PT department’s Committee on Academic Policies & Procedures. She also has served as chair of the technology committee of the New England Consortium of Clinical Education.

Deanna R. Darnes, MS, LCGC

Deanna R. Darnes, MS, LCGC is a genetic counselor, speaker, and national leader in advancing equitable access to genomic medicine. A graduate of the University of Texas Genetic Counseling Program, she has built a dynamic career spanning clinical care, research, and health innovation. She has held leadership and specialist roles with organizations including Fetal Care Center Dallas, Scripps Research Translational Institute, and Color Health, where she has contributed to large-scale initiatives such as the All of Us Research Program.
Deanna is widely published, with work featured in journals including Nature Medicine and Journal of Genetic Counseling, and she has contributed to the textbook A Guide to Genetic Counseling. A sought-after lecturer and moderator, she speaks nationally on genomic equity, emerging technologies, and inclusive clinical practice. Deeply committed to mentorship, she has consistently supported student shadowing and clinical participation opportunities across every practice setting she has served and mentored through the Minority Genetics Professionals Network.
Known for her engaging style and practical insights, Deanna brings expertise, authenticity, and vision to every stage she steps onto.

Nikki Magliaro, MS, LMHC, CEIS

Nikki Magliaro, MS, LMHC, CEIS, is a licensed mental health counselor with over a decade of experience working with children and families. She is the co-founder and Clinical Director of Puzzle Pieces, LLC, an outpatient pediatric therapy practice in Quincy, MA, that provides neurodiversity-affirming, family-centered support to children ages 12 and under.

Under Nikki’s leadership, Puzzle Pieces has grown into a multidisciplinary team offering mental health therapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and parent support groups. Rooted in the DIRFloortime® approach, the practice emphasizes connection, play, and emotional development as the foundation for growth. Nikki is also a certified Expert Training Leader through the Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning (ICDL).

With a background in Early Intervention and a passion for creating collaborative care models, Nikki regularly presents to parents, educators, and professionals on topics related to child development, emotional regulation, and neurodiversity. She is committed to helping families feel seen, supported, and empowered every step of the way.

Dr. Santoro, MD

Dr. Santoro is a pediatrician-trained clinical geneticist focused on the health of individuals with genetic syndromes.  She is the Genetics Quality Champion and the Director of Quality Improvement Research at the Massachusetts General Hospital Down Syndrome Program.  She completed a K23 award to develop a novel instrument to measure health in Down syndrome. She is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and completed residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.  Dr. Santoro is currently an Associate Professor in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.  Dr. Santoro serves on a number of boards and committees including: the Health Advisory Board of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, the Board of Directors of the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group (DSMIG-USA), the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Genetics, and the Steering Committee of the Trisomy Collaborative.

Sofia Horan (she/her)

Sofia Horan (she/her) is a clinical reproductive genetic counselor at the Center for Fetal Medicine and Reproductive Genetics at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. She is particularly interested in helping patients navigate the complexities of preimplantation genetic testing and advocating for policy changes that help increase access to genetic counseling services. Sofia is also a volunteer with NSGC's position statement committee and the National Organization for Rare Disorders.

Olivia Maher Trocki (she/her)

Olivia Maher Trocki (she/her) is a fetal medicine genetic counselor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Center for Fetal Medicine and Reproductive Genetics. Olivia specializes in prenatal and reproductive counseling, primarily providing care for pregnancies complicated by fetal anomalies. She has a special interest in stillbirth and developed a stillbirth genetics clinic that integrates trauma-informed care to clinical and research genetic testing.

Dr. Marsha Michie, PhD

Dr. Marsha Michie is Associate Professor of Bioethics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Associate Director of the CWRU Bioethics Center for Genomics and Health (CHANGE). Dr. Michie’s research investigates social and ethical issues in biomedical research, translation, and practice, centering around genomics and other novel technologies with a particular emphasis on reproduction, disability, and health equity. She received her PhD in Anthropology from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill and completed postdoctoral training at the UNC Center for Genomics and Society and the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics. She was a faculty member at the University of California, San Francisco before joining the CWRU faculty in 2017. Dr. Michie’s current NIH-funded research focuses on equity and autonomy in prenatal screening and testing and on stakeholder engagement in the translational pathway for genetic therapies. Dr. Michie is also a co-investigator on multiple studies related to prenatal and newborn screening, gene editing ethics, health equity, and reproductive ethics; is co-chair of NHGRI’s Genomics and Society Working group; and co-directs the CWRU PhD in Bioethics program.