Andrea L Durst

DrPH, MS, CGC
  • Assistant Professor and Vice Chair for Practice
  • Associate Director, Genetic Counseling Program
  • Director, MPH in Public Health Genetics Program
  • Faculty in Human Genetics

Contributions to Public Health

  • I have been a faculty member in the Department of Human Genetics since 2015.  I am the Director of the MPH in Public Health Genetics Program and Associate Director of the Genetic Counseling Program, where I participate in teaching, advising, essay/thesis mentoring, and practicum/rotation coordination.  In 2018, I was honored to have been awarded the NSGC Audrey Heimler Special Project Award, which enabled me to increase awareness of public health genetics among genetic counseling students and early career professionals.
  • I have worked in several areas of public health genetics and genetic counseling focusing on cancer genetics, genetic literacy, improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field, and increasing access to genetic services. I work with the NHGRI Inter-Society Coordinating Committee for Practitioner Education in Genomics, am a member of the Genetic Counseling Program’s DEI Committee, and as Associate Editor in Genetic Literacy for the Journal of Community Genetics.
    • 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 counseling31(2), 302–315. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgc4.1537
    • Durst AL and Mills R.  (2021). Education in Genetic Counseling: Genetic Literacy and Adult Learning. In LeRoy BS, McCarthy Veach P, and Callanan NP (Eds.). Genetic Counseling Practice: Advanced Concepts and Skills (pp. 271-304). Wiley & Sons, Ltd
  • I served on the leadership team for the New York Mid-Atlantic and Caribbean (NYMAC) Regional Genetics Network from 2017-2024.  NYMAC worked to ensure that individuals with heritable conditions and their families have access to quality care and appropriate genetic expertise. I was Chair of the Advisory Committee and participated in the Pennsylvania NYMAC team that looked to address genetic services access issues in PA. I have mentored several student projects in collaboration with NYMAC.
    • NYMAC Regional Genetics Network Pennsylvania Team Page
    • Reding M, Durst A, Bovee Terry A, Raspa M, Bodurtha J, Caggana M. (September 2021). Regional Challenges and Advances in Telegenetics During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Accepted for presentation at the 2021 NSGC Annual Conference. Poster Presentation.
  • I serve as Co-Chair for the Pennsylvania Cancer Coalition’s Cancer Genetics/Genomics Workgroup from 2019-2025 and remain a current member. The workgroup aims to implement programs to help meet the goals related to cancer genetics and genomics that are outlined in the PA Cancer Control Plan in an effort to decrease cancer-related morbidity and mortality.
  • I am dedicated to advancing the field of Public Health Genetics, as demonstrated through work with the American Public Health Association (APHA) Genomics Forum. I have served as the Chair of Membership and Communication, Co-Chair and most recently Chair of the Forum. The Forum plans the Public Health Genetics track at the APHA Conference, holds a business meeting, and communicates Public Health Genetics to its members. I have also mentored student projects in collaboration with the Forum.
    • Jacko AM, Durst AL, Niemchick KL, Modell SM, Ponte AH.  (2023). Public Health Genetics: Surveying Preparedness for the Next Generation of Public Health Professionals.  Genes, 14(2): 317.  https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14020317
Education

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

Teaching

HUGEN 2036 Genetic Counseling Internship
HUGEN 2037 Genetic Counseling Professional Development and Research
HUGEN 2039 Risk Assessment to the Courses Taught
HUGEN 2056 Genetic Conditions and Public Health Programs
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

Department/Affiliation