Dr. Cara Beth Carr, Assistant Professor in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Dr. Clara Hildebrandt, Assistant Professor in Pediatric Genetics & Metabolism, Dr. Elisabeth Leong, Assistant Professor in Pediatric Cardiology, and Dr. Lindsay Marszal, Assistant Professor in General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine have been selected to be a part of the 2023-2024 Passing the Torch Cohort.
This RTI/UNC-Chapel Hill collaboration will be the first US study offering genome sequencing and genetic risk scores for type 1 diabetes statewide. UNC School of Medicine leads are Cynthia Powell, MD and Jennifer Law, MD in Pediatrics. Early Check, a groundbreaking research study that provides free health tests to newborns up to four weeks old in North Carolina, will begin offering genome sequencing to screen for hundreds of childhood-onset genetic conditions and assess a newborn’s risk of developing type 1 diabetes in their lifetime. Enrollment for the expanded study is expected to begin Thursday, Sept. 28.
Jennifer Sullivan joined Genetics and Metabolism on August 21, 2022. In 1994, Ms. Sullivan received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She received a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina in 1996. Ms. Sullivan has worked as a Genetic Counselor at Duke University since 1997. Welcome Jennifer!
Michael Adams joined the Division of Genetics and Metabolism as a Clinical Instructor on February 1, 2023. Dr. Adams earned a master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at Duke University in 2010 and his MD with us at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2016. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in 2019, followed by a Clinical Genetics Fellowship with the Pediatric Division of Genetics and Metabolism at UNC in 2021. He has been maintaining his clinical skills with us in Pediatrics while doing post-doctoral work with the Carolina Health Informatics Program at UNC since 2021. Congratulations Michael!
Sara K. Powell joined the joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Genetics and Metabolism on September 1, 2022. Dr. Powell earned her PhD in Genetics and Genomics from Duke University in 2014. Dr. Powell began her post doctoral training with the UNC-CH Gene Therapy Center in 2014 and has been a Senior Research Assistant in the McCown Lab since 2021. Congratulations Sara!
Tierra Bobo joined the joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Genetics and Metabolism on August 1, 2022. Dr. Bobo received her PhD from The Ohio State University in Human Molecular Genetics in 2016. She also, received her Bachelors of Science Degree in biological science from The Ohio State University in 2010. Most recnetly, Dr. Bobo has been a Post Doctoral Research Assistant the Gene Therapy Center working with Dr. Haiyan Fu. Congratulations Tierra!
Raphael Smith joined Genetics and Metabolism on August 1, 2022. In 2005, Mr. Smith received his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the Appalachian State University. He received a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in May 2022. Welcome Raphael!
Ashlyn Stackhouse joined Genetics and Metabolsim on July 11, 2022. Ms. Stackhouse received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2019. She received a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling from Virgina Commonwealth University in May 2022. Welcome Ashlyn!
Carissa Donica, a high school senior, recently completed a Girl Scout Gold Award project to raise awareness of phenylketonuria (PKU). Carissa sought to educate and provide food for local children with PKU. She created a teaching module about PKU and was able to raise approximately $7,000. Funds raised were used to provide low-protein supplies for the food pantry at the UNC Children’s Hospital for distribution to families of children with PKU. UNC Children’s is proud of Carissa and grateful to her for such an impactful gift!
Dr. Elizabeth Jalazo joined the Division of Genetics & Metabolism as faculty on January 3, 2022. Dr. Jalazo received her BS in Biology from UNC Chapel Hill in 2005 and her medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 2011. Dr. Jalazo completed her pediatric residency at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in 2014 and a fellowship in Academic Pediatrics in 2015. In 2021, she completed her fellowship in Medical Genetics at UNC Chapel Hill. Welcome Liz!
