“With the largest alumni network of genetic counselors in the nation, there’s a plethora of career opportunities graduates can pursue depending on their interests”
Kenny Wong MS ‘07 may be a certified genetic counselor, but today he spends most of his time counseling start-ups. Kenny’s expertise enables him to connect innovative genomics technologies with patients, providers, and public companies. Kenny credits the connections he made through the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics with getting him to where he is now - from the professor who helped him “become a domain expert early in my career” to the many alumni who have given him career advice over the years.
What does an advanced degree from Sarah Lawrence mean in the field of genomics?
It’s incredibly valuable. After all, SLC pioneered the genetic counseling profession when it launched the first graduate program in 1969. With the largest alumni network of genetic counselors in the nation, there’s a plethora of career opportunities graduates can pursue depending on their interests.
How did your time in the program prepare you for the work you are doing now?
The variety of clinical placements, including prenatal, metabolic, pediatric, cancer, and industry, gave me a better sense as to which specialities I wanted to pursue after graduation.
What was the dynamic of your cohort?
We were close! Most of us rented rooms near the school, so we had many gatherings outside of class. Many of us still try to meet up during conferences to this day.
How did your clinical placements engage with your coursework?
The clinical placements allowed me to apply what I’ve learned in my coursework, which prepared me for my first job as a prenatal genetic counselor in a private practice in San Francisco.
What advice would you give to a prospective student weighing where/how to rank Sarah Lawrence?
One of the best perks of choosing Sarah Lawrence is the access to the largest alumni network in the genetic counseling community. It allowed me to talk to countless individuals, with decades of experience, that gave me a better understanding of what career paths I should explore.
What advice would you give to students entering or in the program?
Network! Take advantage of the alumni network and start connecting with people early. It will definitely help you in your professional career after graduation.