Cassandra Buck

Adjunct Associate Professor of the Practice and Advisor for Genetic Counseling Research

cbuck@brandeis.edu

Departments/Programs

Genetic Counseling

Degrees

Brandeis University, M.S.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, B.S.

Expertise

Genetic Counseling Research, Student Research Advising, Human Subjects Protections, Genetic Counseling Research Protocol Development

Profile

Cassandra Buck graduated from the Brandeis Genetic Counseling Program in 2009. As a board-certified and Massachusetts-licensed genetic counselor, she began her GC career working for a genetic testing laboratory, before leaving to work in an academic research setting. Acting as the Research Counselor & Study Coordinator, Cassie met with patients and their families with reproductive disorders to enroll them into genomic research, collect phenotypic and family history data, and expand family participation, while also collecting/reviewing data for manuscript preparation and overseeing IRB compliance.

Now, Cassie oversees student Master’s thesis projects and all aspects of their research training. She individually meets with 1st year GC students in the spring to develop their thesis ideas and teaches “Genetic Counseling Research Project” which begins in the summer after the first year and continues through both semesters of their second year. Each student designs and implements an independent research project which culminates in a presentation to the faculty and students, as well as a thesis paper submitted to the Brandeis Thesis Repository and an abstract submitted to the National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Education Conference. In addition to her teaching duties, Cassie serves as the primary advisor on two thesis projects, annually.

Courses Taught

BIOL	211b	Introduction to Genetic Counseling Research
BIOL	213b	Genetic Counseling Research II

Scholarship

Flamos T, Ellingwood S, Adams J, Buck C. Exploring the Intersection of Pediatric Genetic Counseling and the U.S. Foster Care System. Proc. of National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Conference. Salt Lake City, UT: 2019.

Bealka K, Buck CL, Carmichael N, Soughley A.. Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: An Emerging Adulthood Perspective. Proc. of National Society of Genetic Counselors. Atlanta, GA: 2018.

Neary, J., Azzariti, D., Rooney Riggs, E., Buck, C. Variant Interpretation Education in Genetic Counseling Programs: An Assessment of Current Practices. Proc. of National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Conference. Columbus, OH: 2017.

Schwarting, K., Magner, J., Farmer, M., Buck, C. "An Exploration of the Art of Prenatal Genetic Counseling in Catholic Hospitals." New England Regional Genetics Group Genetic Counseling Meeting. Danvers, MA. May 2017.

Schwarting, K., Magner, J., Farmer, M., Buck, C. An Exploration of the Art of Prenatal Genetic Counseling in Catholic Hospitals. Proc. of National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Conference. Columbus, OH: 2017.