EducateNext: From Alternative to Essential: How "Non-Traditional" Service Delivery Models Promote Equity with Allison Wong, MS, CGC, and Setareh Zandihaghighi, MS, CGC

It is well established that alternative service delivery models are useful tools in expanding access to genetic counseling and testing. However, in a landscape of broadening indications for genetic services and a limited number of genetic clinicians, they are also essential to address persistent health inequalities. This webinar will highlight the efficacy of implementing multiple non-traditional service delivery models in community hospital-based cancer genetic clinics. Additionally, the importance of equitable identification of those at increased risk for cancer will be discussed.

Level of Instruction: Intermediate

*** Continuing Education Credit Information ***

- Only the live session qualifies for CEUs. You must join through the link; if you call-in only your name will not appear on the attendance report.

- Certified GCs: NSGC 0.1 CEU/one Category 1 contact hour per webinar is awarded at the end of the series (in December through the NSGC portal, not by email). You must create a NSCG account (www.nsgc.org).

- Laboratory Personnel: P.A.C.E. certificate is 1 PACE unit/contact hour is awarded per webinar. PACE certificate is available 1-week post-session (through the ASCLS CE Organizer)

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Ambry Genetics is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E. ® Program.

Only the live session qualifies for CEUs but when possible, we host the recordings on our website and NSGC recommends participants to use their personal email instead of work email addresses to ensure they receive their CEU certificates.

Ambry Genetics is approved as a provider for continuing education program by NSGC and ASCLS P.A.C.E ® Program.

Allison Wong, MS, CGC | Presenter

Senior Genetic Counselor, Providence

Allison Wong is a Senior Genetic Counselor at Providence in Orange County where she currently provides cancer genetic services. In addition to seeing patients, Allison is part of multiple regional initiatives aimed at advancing equitable access to comprehensive cancer genetic services for patients with and without active cancer diagnoses. These include same-day genetic testing clinics, a skin punch biopsy program, and a pathology screening program. She has served on her organization's DEIJ team since it's inception and is passionate about community outreach. Allison received her masters from the University of California, Irvine genetic counseling program and her undergraduate degree from Gonzaga University.

Setareh Zandihaghighi, MS, CGC | Presenter

Genetic Counselor, Providence

Setareh Zandihaghighi, MS, CGC, is a bilingual Iranian American cancer genetic counselor with the
Providence Southern California Genetics Program. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Biological
Sciences from the University of California, Irvine, and completed her master’s degree in Genetic
Counseling at the University of Michigan. During her graduate training, her research on improving
accessibility in genomic education for underserved communities was selected for continuation
through an NHGRI‐supported initiative. This work laid the foundation for her commitment to
advancing equitable and accessible cancer genetic services in clinical practice.

At Providence, Setareh provides hereditary cancer risk assessment and counseling within a diverse
community hospital system. Her clinical work focuses on delivering clear, actionable genetic
information and improving pathways for timely and equitable access to cancer genetic services. She
leads efforts to expand same‐day counseling availability, advance culturally responsive care practices,
and support the development of artificial‐intelligence–supported genomic service models aimed at
reducing disparities in testing and follow‐up. She also participates in research examining care gaps in
community‐based genetics programs and has presented work demonstrating the value of alternative
service delivery models in expanding equitable access to genetic care. In addition to her clinical
responsibilities, Setareh holds multiple leadership positions within Providence and in state and
national professional organizations, all focused on improving access to genetic services and
strengthening the integration of genomics into equitable care.

Across her clinical practice, research efforts, and leadership roles, Setareh is committed to advancing
scientifically rigorous, ethically grounded, and equity‐minded approaches to cancer genetics and to
enhancing the delivery of genomic services across the Providence network.

Kristina Garcia, MGCS, CGC | Moderator

Clinical Science Liaison, Ambry Genetics

Kristina Garcia is a certified genetic counselor and clinical science liaison at Ambry Genetics currently supporting clients ordering oncology, cardiology, and rare disease testing. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology from UC Santa Barbara and her Master of Genetic Counselor Studies from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Prior to joining Ambry Genetics, she began her career in pediatric genetic counseling and then transitioned into the oncology setting at UW Health in Madison, WI. She is particularly passionate about genomic education and serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor with the UW-Madison genetic counseling program.