Leadership
Julie Gold, MS, CGC
President
Julie Gold is currently Co-Director of the Cancer Genetic Counseling Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Originally from Long Island, she obtained her Master of Science in Genetic Counseling degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She has been working as a Cancer Genetic Counselor since graduating in 2016. Julie previously served as Director at Large for the Education Committee of the New York State Genetics Task Force from 2021-2023.
Celeste Wyman, MS, CGC
President-Elect
Celeste Schepp Wyman received her master’s degree in genetic counseling from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and National Human Genome Research Institute joint training program in January 2017. After graduating, she provided genetic counseling and facilitated genetic testing for patient-participants seen in the Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch of the National Eye Institute in Bethesda, MD. In 2019, Ms. Wyman relocated to her hometown of Rochester, NY, where she began working with patients and providers to maximally utilize genetic testing in evaluating possible underlying genetic causes for a variety of different health conditions through the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) adult general genetics clinic. She currently provides genetic counseling for patients and families with ocular genetic conditions seen at Flaum Eye Institute (URMC). She has been an active member of the NYS Genetics Task force since relocating to NY, and a member of its public policy committee since 2020. She serves on the advisory board and the diversity, equity, and inclusion committee of the URMC genetic counseling master’s program. She enjoys many hobbies including knitting, video and board games, origami, trapeze, and collecting records.
PAsT President
Ms. Sebastin is a genetics professional with experience in Research, Leadership and Clinical care. She received her Bachelor of Technology degree in Genetic Engineering in 2014 from SRM University, India and her Master of Science degree in Human Genetics/Genetic Counseling in 2018 from Sarah Lawrence College (SLC), NY. Currently serving as the Senior Genetic Counselor at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM), she specializes in pediatric genetics, cardiovascular genetics, immunogenetics, and research. She contributes to the NYCRD and NYCKidSeq research study and supervises thesis and clinical rotations for genetic counseling students. Her past leadership roles include serving as co-Chair of USIGC subcommittee of International SIG at NSGC, co-chair of the Pediatric SIG at NSGC from 2021 to 2022, Chair of the education committee at the New York State Genetics Task Force from 2020 to 2021. She is currently the co-chair of the International SIG at NSGC. Ms. Sebastin is the recipient of the 2022 Heart of Genetic Counseling award. She strives to be a resource for students aspiring to pursue a career in genetic counseling.
Tina Kushary, MMSc, CGC
Secretary
Tina Kushary is a lead reproductive genetic counselor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Director of Admissions and Recruitment for the Mount Sinai genetic counseling program. She received her masters degree in genetic counseling from Emory University School of Medicine in 2019 and began her genetic counseling career in research at the Institute for Genomic Medicine at Columbia University before switching to her current clinical role. She is dedicated to providing equitable and accessible care to patients who are currently pregnant, trying to conceive, or have suffered pregnancy loss and is passionate about training the next generation of genetic counselors.
Nicole Wengrofsky, MS, CGC
Treasurer
Nicole Wengrofsky is a board certified genetic counselor specializing in cancer genetics at Mount Sinai South Nassau (MSSN). Nicole completed her Master of Science degree at Sarah Lawrence College in 2020. Prior to joining MSSN, she worked at Northwell Health Cancer Institute and GeneScreen, a telegenetics company. Nicole holds multi-state licensure and is a volunteer with the National Society of Genetic Counselors.
Board Members At-Large
Lauren Costantin, MS, CGC
Director at Large
Lauren Costantin is a genetic counselor at the High-Risk Cancer Genetics Program at NYU Langone Health. She completed her Master of Science degree in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College in 2020. Prior to joining NYU Langone Health, Ms. Costantin worked at Rhode Island Hospital providing genetic counseling services in cancer, adult, and pediatric genetics. Additionally, she oversaw the High Risk Cancer Genetics Clinic for patients with hereditary cancer syndromes providing genetic counseling follow up and up to date management guidelines. She is involved in clinical supervision for genetic counseling students.
Saskia van den berg, MS, CGC
Director at Large
Saskia van den Berg is currently Associate Director of the Reproductive Genetic Counseling Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She earned her master’s degree from the University of British Columbia in 2015. She began her career as a laboratory genetic counselor, bridging the gap between the technicalities of testing and high quality clinical care. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling and exploring New York City.
Monisha Sebastin, MS, CGC
Charlotte Close, MS, CGC
Director at Large
Charlotte Close received her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Michigan and her Master of Science in Human Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College. She is a certified genetic counselor in the Division of Clinical Genetics at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) and a member of the multidisciplinary cystic fibrosis care team at CUIMC. She is passionate about improving access to genetic counseling services and has worked with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, other cystic fibrosis genetic counselors, and cystic fibrosis care team members from across the country to achieve this goal through policy changes, service delivery innovation, and educational efforts. In addition to her clinical work, Ms. Close contributes to the Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling at Columbia University by supervising students, mentoring research projects, and serving as a course director.
Radhika Sawh, MS, CGC
Director at Large
Radhika Sawh recently joined the team at the Long Island University Genetic Counseling Graduate Program as the Clinical Supervisor for their Simulation Lab. She earned her Masters degree in Human Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College in 2001. Radhika has enjoyed a diverse career, which included clinical genetic counseling at a high-volume prenatal center at a community hospital in Queens, employment in the non-profit sector as the National Director of Patient Services for the Cooley's Anemia Foundation, nearly ten years on the faculty of the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College, and work on the federally funded NYMAC Region Genetics Network grant focused on expanding access to genetic services to underserved communities. Radhika is passionate about improving health equity through education, outreach and advocacy. She previously served on the Task Force Education Committee and as the Chair of the Outreach Committee. Whenever the opportunity arises, she spends time with her dog or globe trotting with her family.
