Sarah Jurgensmeyer, MS, CGC is the recipient of the 2023 ACMG Foundation Carolyn Mills Lovell Genetic Counselor Award. Ms. Jurgensmeyer received the Lovell award for her platform presentation at the 2023 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting, “Genetic Counselor-Led Exome Sequencing Clinic Pilot Program to Increase Access to Pediatric Genetic Services.”
ACMG Foundation President Bruce R. Korf, MD, PhD, FACMG said, “Congratulations to Sarah Jurgensmeyer, recipient of this year’s ACMG Foundation Carolyn Mills Lovell Genetic Counselor Award. We are pleased to recognize the increasingly important role genetic counselors play in clinical genetic and genomic medicine.”
Sarah Jurgensmeyer is a genetic counselor at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago where she provides genetic counseling services to pediatric patients and their families for a range of indications, with a specific focus on caring for patients with Williams syndrome, aortopathies, and undiagnosed genetic conditions. As a pediatric genetic counselor, she has seen firsthand both the benefits of genetic services for patients and their families, as well as the need to expand timely access to those services for more individuals. Sarah is proud to support and advocate for the rare disease community as a genetic counselor. In addition to her clinical role, Sarah is a Clinical Instructor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a faculty member of the Northwestern University Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Studies and Medicine, Health, & Society from Vanderbilt University, and a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling from Northwestern University. She is board certified in genetic counseling by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. Sarah is the President-Elect of the Illinois Society of Genetic Professionals after previously serving as the Chair of the organization’s Advocacy Committee.
Ms. Jurgensmeyer said, “I am honored to receive the 2023 ACMG Foundation Carolyn Mills Lovell Genetic Counselor Award. As the need for genetic services continues to grow, we hope this program will encourage the adoption of innovative clinical models to best support patients and families. This program and abstract would not have been possible without the support and contributions of my incredible co-authors: Valerie Allegretti, MS, CGC; Allison Goetsch Weisman, MS, CGC; Katherine H. Kim, MS, CGC; Roxanne Birriel, BA and Carlos Prada, MD. Thank you to the ACMG Foundation for this recognition and award.”
The Carolyn Mills Lovell Award was made possible by a generous donation from former ACMG Medical Director David Flannery, MD, FAAP, FACMG to honor Carolyn Mills Lovell, MAT, MS, CGC, a genetic counselor who continues to provide exemplary service and care to patients and their families at Augusta University, previously known as the Medical College of Georgia (MCG). Dr. Flannery worked with Carolyn Mills Lovell for more than 15 years while he was at MCG. Through this award he also wanted to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of all genetic counselors.
The award includes a cash prize of $1,000 and will be presented annually through 2024. The recipient is chosen based on the highest rated abstract submitted by a genetic counselor to the ACMG Annual Meeting.
“Ms. Jurgensmeyer’s study demonstrated the effective use of a genetic counselors’ skills and knowledge to increase patients’ access to genomic testing. She and her colleagues also demonstrate the important role of genetic counselors in research,” said David Flannery, MD, FAAP, FACMG.
About the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine
The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a community of supporters and contributors who understand the importance of medical genetics and genomics in healthcare. Established in 1992, the ACMG Foundation supports the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) mission to “translate genes into health.” Through its work, the ACMG Foundation fosters charitable giving, promotes training opportunities to attract future medical geneticists and genetic counselors to the field, shares information about medical genetics and genomics, and sponsors important research. To learn more and support the ACMG Foundation mission to create “Better Health through Genetics” visit www.acmgfoundation.org.
Note to editors: To arrange interviews with experts in medical genetics, contact ACMG Senior Director of Communications and Public Relations, Kathy Moran, MBA at [email protected]
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