Coffee Breaks with CGC Mentors

CGC Early Career Initiative Committee

Coffee Break with CGC Mentors

Are you a trainee or early career (1-3 years after training) CGC member?
Would you like to broaden your perspective by making professional contacts at different institutions?
Do you have questions relevant to your training or career development?
Would it be helpful to meet with an expert member in your field to answer these questions and more?

Then we invite you to join us for the CGC Early Career Initiative Committee’s 2025 Coffee Break with CGC Mentors.

What are Coffee Breaks with CGC Mentors?

These mentoring sessions, lasting one hour and facilitated by a CGC mentor, have a limit of six trainee/early career CGC members per session. Sign ups are on a first-come basis and are limited to foster effective small group engagement.

If you aren’t a CGC member, you can become a member today!

Potential topics of discussion

• Working in commercial vs. academic settings
• Translation research focused careers
• Reinventing cytogenetics
• Navigating the journey from fellow to faculty
• Leadership development

Become a CGC Member

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Catherine Cottrell, PhD, FACMG, serves as Section Chief of The Institute for Genomic Medicine (IGM) Clinical Laboratory at Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH). She is a Professor - Clinical in the Departments of Pathology and Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Cottrell is dual certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics in the specialties of Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics having completed her fellowship training at The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Following the conclusion of her fellowship, Dr. Cottrell assumed a faculty position at Washington University (WU) School of Medicine in Saint Louis, Missouri. In the six years she spent at WU, she ultimately served as the Director of the Cytogenetics and Molecular Pathology Laboratory, and as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology and Immunology, and Department of Genetics. She returned to Nationwide Children’s in 2016. 

Dr. Cottrell specializes in the clinical interpretation of high-complexity genomic laboratory tests including next-generation sequencing, Sanger sequencing, chromosome analysis, FISH, and chromosomal and methylation microarrays. She is highly engaged in the development of new clinical diagnostic assays. She is the Principal Investigator of a translational research protocol within IGM aimed at genomic profiling in patients with rare and refractory cancer, hematologic, or somatic disease. She is a Co-Investigator of the Clinical Trial Specimen Molecular Characterization program supporting the Molecular Characterization Initiative, a project with global reach aimed at understanding the genetic components of pediatric cancers. She is the Program Director of the ACGME-accredited Laboratory Genetics and Genomics fellowship at NCH. Additionally, she lends genomic expertise as a faculty member within the Vascular Anomalies Center at NCH. Her current clinical and research emphasis includes laboratory and genomic education, the resolution of genetic variation with advanced genomic methodologies, and the development of best practices in variant interpretation.

Potential Discussion Topics:

• Academic genomic medicine
• Leadership development
• Committee engagement
• Laboratory genetics and genomics fellowship
• Variant interpretation
• Next-generation sequencing
• Mosaicism

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Catherine Cottrell, PhD, FACMG
Nationwide Children's Hospital

Tuesday, April 29, 2025
2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT

Jennifer Laffin, PhD, FACMG is currently a Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Director and Medical Director of the Division of Cytogenetics and Medical Director within the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Dr. Laffin is board certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics in Clinical Cytogenetics and in Clinical Molecular Genetics. Her most recent research interests are in genetics and genomics data visualization and the use of machine learning in genome analysis. Prior to joining the University of Minnesota, she spent 9 years as Senior Laboratory Medical Director at Exact Sciences Laboratories and 13 years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics-Genetics and Metabolism, and Director of UW Cytogenetic Services and Molecular Genetics. She was also Program Director of the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics programs for UW Madison in Clinical Biochemical Genetics, Clinical Cytogenetics and Genomics, Clinical Molecular Genetics and Genomics, and Laboratory Genetics and Genomics from 2015-2019.      

Potential Discussion Topics:

• Cytogenetics
• Molecular genetics
• Prenatal
• Postnatal
• Oncology testing
• Academia and industry

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Jennifer Laffin, PhD, FACMG
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities 

Thursday, May 8, 2025
2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT

Dr. Jerry Machado is a laboratory geneticist with expertise in clinical molecular genetics, oncology genomics, strategic planning, customer insight, strategic growth, test development, patient and healthcare provider materials, product development and launches, and laboratory operations. His experience includes validating and implementing a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test under FDA investigational device exemption (IDE), hereditary cancer and tumor genetic testing and analysis, clinical consultations, ensuring regulatory compliance, clinical test report design, quality management systems, change management, cross-functional collaboration, and providing strategic guidance for laboratory operations and product development. He has directed the development and release of numerous laboratory developed tests (LDTs), led a next generation sequencing companion diagnostic to FDA approval, and executed the implementation and launching of whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing tests. 

Dr. Machado holds a PhD from the University of Toronto, fellowships in molecular and laboratory genetics and genomics from the CCMG and ABMGG, an MBA from the University of Wisconsin with a focus on Leadership, Strategic Growth and Innovation, Finance, and Business Data Analysis, and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification.    

Potential Discussion Topics:

• Careers in laboratory genetics and genomics
  
• Laboratory operations and strategic planning
  
• Test development and validation
  
• Commercial product development
  
• Business and leadership in the US diagnostic industry

Swaroop Aradhya, PhD, is Illumina’s Global Head of Medical and Clinical Affairs. He is responsible for developing and executing strategies to drive genomics further into healthcare worldwide, to expand access to genomics, and to increase diversity of genomic data to improve health equity for people everywhere.

His group serves as a key internal linkage between R&D and Commercial teams and advises on compliance and scientific requirements. This organization guides adoption of Illumina’s products to address unmet medical needs and improve patient outcomes by collaborating with clinicians, healthcare institutions, government bodies, and key opinion leaders.

Swaroop has had a long tenure in clinical genomics and developed deep experience in building effective global Medical Affairs teams, advancing laboratory practices in genomics, innovating ways to integrate genomics into routine healthcare, and publishing impactful scientific research. He has served in leadership roles at three globally prominent providers of clinical genomics technologies and services and his teams have conducted clinical studies to promote adoption of genomics in healthcare, reimbursement by third-party payers, and advances in clinical guidelines. Over the past 20 years, he has cultivated a broad range of relationships in the global genomics community and served on various influential consortia, committees, and boards.

Before Illumina, Swaroop was Chief of Global Medical Affairs and Chief Scientific Officer for rare disease at Invitae, where he spent a decade helping build the company into a leader in clinical genetic testing. Previously, he was part of the executive team at GeneDx, where he helped develop business strategy and established a large-scale diagnostic program for neurodevelopmental and congenital rare disease. Earlier in his career, he participated in the Human Genome Project and characterized the etiologies for various Mendelian disorders. Swaroop earned his Ph.D. in 2001 in molecular and human genetics from Baylor College of Medicine and has been certified since 2007 in clinical molecular genetics and cytogenetics by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics. 

Potential Discussion Topics:

• Global medical affairs
• Clinical genomics
• Integration of genomics into healthcare
• Regulatory affairs

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Jerry Machado, PhD, MBA, DABMGG, FCCMG
Exact Sciences 

Swaroop Aradhya, PhD, FACMG 
Illumina

Monday, May 12, 2025
4:00 - 5:00 PM EDT

Xiaoming Wang, PhD is a 2nd year LGG fellow at the University of Michigan. She earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Southern California. Following graduation, she worked in the biotech industry, focusing on the development of single-molecule-based in situ hybridization technologies. In 2018, she joined the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology as a research faculty member, where she developed clinical biomarker tests for the diagnosis of genitourinary cancers. Her research interests lie in advancing technology and assay development to enhance cytogenetic and molecular diagnostics of cancer and constitutional genetic disorders.                            

Potential Discussion Topics:

• Career building during laboratory genetics and genomics (LGG) fellowship training
• Industry vs academic
• ABMGG board preparation

Ngoni Faya, PhD is a board-eligible 3rd-year LGG fellow at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. He earned his PhD in Genetics from Massey University in New Zealand and a Master's in Bioinformatics from Rhodes University, South Africa. During his postdoctoral fellowship at Genomics Aotearoa, he developed a data analysis training program for scientists in DNA and RNA NGS technologies, from raw data to result interpretation. Ngoni is actively involved in professional organizations, including AMP, the ClinGen X-linked Inherited Retinal Disease Variant Curation Expert Panel, the CGC Molecular Cancer Testing in Underserved Communities Working Group, and the Compendium of Cancer Genome Aberrations (CCGA). His research interests include bioinformatics, HemeOnc cytogenetics WGS/WES, and RNA sequencing.                         

Potential Discussion Topics:

• LGG Fellowship
• LGG Fellowship application
• Training ups and downs
• Post-fellowship job application
• Training and education
• Bioinformatics

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Xiaoming (Mindy) Wang, PhD
University of Michigan

Ngoni Faya, PhD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital

Thursday, May 15, 2025
1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT

Sarah South, Phd, FACMG graduated from Utah State University with a BS in Biology and subsequently received her PhD in Human Genetics from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. South completed an American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics Fellowship with board certification in Clinical Cytogenetics at the University of Utah and Laboratory Genetics and Genomics board certification at Quest Diagnostics.

Dr. South is currently an Executive Scientific Director at Quest Diagnostics where she leads the scientific directors and technical supervisors for germline molecular genetics. Previous positions have included Vice President of Laboratory Sciences at AncestryDNA, Vice President of Clinical Laboratory Operations at 23andMe, Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Utah, Medical Director at ARUP Laboratories, and Laboratory Director at Lineagen. Dr. South was faculty in the University of Utah Genetic Counseling Master’s Degree Program and the Director of the University of Utah Fellowship training program in Clinical Cytogenetics. Dr. South also acted for 5 years as an Associate Editor for the American Journal of Medical Genetics.

Dr. South has served on numerous committees for the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, including her current membership on the Board of Directors, and previous committee work with Advocacy and Government Affairs and 9 years with the Laboratory Quality Assurance Committee, serving the last 2 years as Chair. Dr. South has also served on the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute Standards for Molecular Methodologies Committee, the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics Content-Based Standards Setting Committee and the Clinical Genome Resource Evidence Based Review Committee. Dr. South is also a Past-President of the American Cytogenetics Conference.

Dr. South has focused her career on the accessibility and applicability of genomics. Skills and experience include deep understanding of various genetic technologies, regulatory models including CLIA and FDA, clinical genetic interpretation, public genomic health education and accessibility, product user interface, communications, laboratory operations, quality assurance, supply chain optimization, and professional committee advocacy and recommendation development. Dr. South is a primary or co-author of more than 90 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and reviews.
                        

Potential Discussion Topics:

• Considerations for working in academic and industry environments
• Building for both scale and quality in genetic testing
• Work/life balance

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Sarah South, PhD, FACMG
Quest Diagnostics

Thursday, May 22, 2025
2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT

Alex Wagner, PhD is a Principal Investigator at The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine (IGM) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and Assistant Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Biomedical Informatics at the Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Wagner serves as director of the Variant Interpretation for Cancer Consortium (VICC) Driver Project, co-lead of the GA4GH Genomic Knowledge Standards Work Stream, co-lead of the NIH Bridge2AI Standards working group, and a member of the HGVS Variation Nomenclature Committee. He is a proponent of open science, FAIR data sharing, and AI-assisted scalable variant interpretation.

Dr. Wagner has co-developed several precision medicine web tools, including the Drug-Gene Interaction Database (DGIdb), the database of Clinical Interpretations of Variants in Cancer (CIViC), and the VICC meta-knowledgebase. His research continues to explore new models and tools to address the challenges of variation and genomic knowledge representation, including his work as a product lead of the GA4GH Variation Representation Specification (VRS) and the VICC Gene Fusion specification (fusions.cancervariants.org). His research is focused on the development of tools and standards for advancing genomic medicine and our knowledge of genomic alterations in cancers, and his laboratory is actively involved in efforts to apply these standards and tools to drive clinical variant interpretation at scale.      

Potential Discussion Topics:

• Variant interpretation standards
• Bioinformatics

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Alex Wagner, PhD
Nationwide Children's Hospital

Friday, May 29,2025
1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT

Register for Coffee Break with CGC Mentors