In 1995 — the same year that Kathy Blazer entered the genetic counseling training program at California State University, Northridge — the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) established its Award for Excellence in Human Genetics Education, later renamed the Arno Motulsky-Barton Childs Award for Excellence in Human Genetics Education. This award recognizes national or international contributions of “exceptional quality and great importance to human genetics education” that represent a “long-standing involvement to genetics education” of “substantive influence on individuals and/or organizations” and “show a commitment to diversity and inclusivity.”
At the 69th Annual ASHG Meeting in October 2019, Kathleen Blazer, EdD, MS, CGC and her colleague Dr. Jeffrey N. Weitzel received this prestigious award for their work in the City of Hope Cancer Genomics Education Program (CGEP). Founded in 1997, the CGEP has provided clinical cancer genomics education to more than 1,200 genetic counselors, physicians, advanced practice nurses, and physician assistants across all 50 states and 27 countries. Education has included grant-funded CME conferences, patient seminars in English and Spanish, an NCI-funded clinical research fellowship program, and an innovative Intensive Course (IC) in Genomic Cancer Risk Assessment. The IC started in 2001 as a 10-day course funded by the State of California and has grown into an NCI-funded, 12-week, interactive, distance-learning training program that includes web-based reviews, case conferencing, and face-to-face workshops. Course alumni become members of the program’s Clinical Cancer Genomics Community of Practice with ongoing access to the professional development and practice support resources.
Dr. Ken Offit, who nominated Drs. Blazer and Weitzel, beautifully summarized that their “contributions to education in cancer genomics take many forms, reach across numerous borders, and improve countless lives. [Their work] represents that unique synergy of genetic counseling and genetics education.” I have benefited from this synergy through my involvement as a course faculty member, and as a collaborator in their Latin American research initiatives. Their international network has allowed my patients’ family members to obtain genetic testing in countries with limited resources.
If you ask Kathy about her path to genetic counseling, it will quickly become evident that while genetic counseling is her second career, it is the career of her heart.
If you ask Kathy about her path to genetic counseling, it will quickly become evident that while genetic counseling is her second career, it is the career of her heart. After leaving corporate public relations to pursue an advanced degree in psychology, she stumbled across a job description for a genetic counselor at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, and promptly called the genetics department to learn more. That conversation led to a volunteer stint at Cedars-Sinai that sold her on pursuing a career in genetic counseling. As with many genetic counselors, she was excited about a profession that combines the opportunity to help people in time of need with working in an intellectually stimulating area.
Her graduate school application stated her desire to “someday contribute to furthering the knowledge and skills of the genetic counseling profession through teaching.” She never imagined to what degree that would become a reality. As she shared at the ASHG award ceremony, “I am deeply honored and privileged to bring the roles of genetic counselor as educator and researcher to a global community of professionals, where every day brings so many rewards.”
Kathy inherited a love of teaching and counseling from her mother, a middle school teacher who advanced her own career to an adolescent and family therapist. Since joining City of Hope in 1998, Kathy has diligently worked to advance and now lead the CGEP education efforts. In a quest for continued professional growth, Kathy obtained a doctorate in education research at UCLA. Her doctoral dissertation, which focused on the effectiveness of distance-mediated approaches to cancer genetics training, received the Outstanding Dissertation Award. Kathy serves on the NHGRI Inter-Society Coordinating Committee for Practitioner Education in Genomics Education (ISCC), and as adjunct faculty and member of the Curriculum Committee for the Keck Graduate Institute Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling Program of Claremont Colleges in Claremont, CA.
"She is a caring, compassionate friend and mentor, and my life is better for having known and worked with her."
Beyond her work as a genetics educator, Kathy is a loving and dedicated daughter, mother, and wife. She is a caring, compassionate friend and mentor, and my life is better for having known and worked with her. I cannot begin to calculate the number of healthcare providers and patients who have been impacted by her commitment to cancer genetics education and training. Congratulations Kathy, and thanks for all you do!
Charité Ricker, MS, CGC received her bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and her master’s degree from California State, University, Northridge. She has 18 years’ experience in cancer genetic counseling. She is a Clinical Instructor of Medicine at the University of Southern California and counsels patients at LAC+USC Medical Center. Charité was the 2019 recipient of the NSGC Leader in Cultural Advocacy award.