Dr. Durst joined the Department of Human Genetics as part of the Genetic Counseling Program in May 2015 and is currently the Associate Program Director of the Genetic Counseling Program and the Director of the MPH in Public Health Genetics Program. Dr. Durst has extensive experience in clinical cancer genetic counseling, management, and public health genetics. Dr. Durst’s teaching interests are in public health genetics, genetic counseling, and clinical genetics. She is responsible for MPH Public Health Genetics Program development and provides support for Genetic Counseling Program development and is engaged in teaching, student research, and the coordination of student clinical rotations and practicums.
Dr. Durst’s research/practice/service interests include public health genetics, genetic counseling and cancer genetics. Specifically, she is interested in the state implementation of CDC Tier 1 Genomic Applications for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer syndrome, Lynch syndrome and Familial Hypercholesterolemia. She has worked with a number of stakeholders on public health genetics projects, including the NYMAC Regional Genetics Network, the Pennsylvania Cancer Coalition, and the National Coordinating Center for the Regional Genetics Networks. Dr. Durst was part of a team that developed educational materials on bidirectional cancer registry reporting for the identification of individuals at risk for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer syndrome and Lynch syndrome. Currently, Dr. Durst serves as Chair of the Advisory Committee for the NYMAC Regional Genetics Network, Co-Chair of the Genetics/Genomics Workgroup of the Pennsylvania Cancer Coalition, and Co-Chair of Communication and Membership for the APHA Genomics Forum.
2003 | Cornell University, Ithaca, NY | BS, Biology, cum laude
2005 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC | MS, Genetic Counseling
2015 | University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY | DrPH, Health Management and Policy
Current Teaching:
- HUGEN 2036: Genetic Counseling Internship
- HUGEN 2047: Clinical Genetics Case Conference
- HUGEN 2049: Introduction to Public Health Genetics
- HUGEN 2054: Applications in Public Health Genetics and Genomics
- HUGEN 2061: Cancer Genetic Counseling
Search for Students' Electronic Theses (MS and MPH)
Search for Students' Electronic MPH Essays
Previous Teaching
- HUGEN 2035: Principles of Genetic Counseling
- HUGEN 2038: Intervention Skills for Genetic Counselors
- HUGEN 2053: Applications in Public Health Genetics and Genomics
Czekalski MA, Huziak RC,Durst AL, Taylor S, Mai PL. (2022). Mainstreaming Genetic Testing for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer y Oncology Providers: A Survey of Current Practice. JCO Precision Oncology, 6,e2100409.https://doi.org/10.1200/PO.21.00409
Myers, M. F., Bergner, A., Conway, L., Duquette, D.,Durst, A. L.,Yashar, B. M., Zhang, X., & Campion, M. (2022). A report of the AGCPD task force to evaluate associations between select admissions requirements, demographics, and performance on ABGC certification examination. Journal of genetic counseling, 31(2), 302–315. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgc4.1537
Zakas AL, Leifeste C, Dudley B, Karloski E, Afonso S, Grubs RE, Shaffer JR, Durst AL, Parkinson MD, Brand R (2019). The impact of genetic counseling on patient engagement in a specialty cancer clinic. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 28(5): 974-981.
Costich J and Durst A (2016). Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Funding for Newborn Screening Services. Public Health Reports, 131(1): 160-6.
