This learning series is accredited for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™  from April 15, 2025 until April 15, 2027.

Watch the recording and complete your evaluation here.

 

In this webinar, you will hear from genetic counselors and Dr. Brian Shirts. This module will provide a deep understanding of the types of results in genetic testing, to expand your shared decision-making skills gained in part 2. Dr. Shirts will be providing an overview of cascade screening, or the systematic process of identifying at risk relatives after an individual is diagnosed with a hereditary condition, to aid non-genetic providers in offering this service to their patients and their families. This webinar aims to expand your understanding of the nuances of genetic testing and necessary steps after a diagnosis.

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

• Differentiate between types of cancer genetic testing results.
• Recognize possible medical management changes for positive cancer genetic testing results.
• Identify published risk models and when to use these for breast cancer screening.
• Interpret VUS results and explain their implications.
• Define importance of cascade cancer genetic testing.

Target Audience

This activity is designed to educate medical practitioners on aspects of cancer genomics with respect to their practice.

Speakers

	Cobie Whitten, Ph.D. Cobie earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She currently is a Psycho-Oncology Consultant for the Providence Regional Cancer System. Her efforts include the creation of the community health education course Cancer 101: Basics and Beyond for the Providence Regional Cancer System which has provided patients and their families across the region the information, resources and support they need when facing a cancer diagnosis for more than a decade. She also provides training on a wide range of psycho-emotional topics to help providers better care for and support cancer patients, including spiritual support in cancer care, compassionate interactions with cancer patients, palliative care, and wellness, coordinated and interdisciplinary cancer survivorship care, and compassion fatigue. Cobie serves as a faculty member at Harmony Hill Retreat Center, a nonprofit retreat facility focused on wellness and offering comfort and support to thousands affected by cancer, including caregivers and health professionals, each year. Previously, Cobie worked for the Washington State Department of Health in the Washington Breast & Cervical Health Program, co-chaired the Survivorship, Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues Taskforce of Washington CARES About Cancer, and taught at Saint Martin’s University.
	Emily Maxwell, MS, CGC Emily Maxwell provides counseling for a variety of hereditary cancer syndromes. She has completed her Master of Science in Genetic Counseling in Boston, and is excited to be part of the oncology community in Seattle. She has a special interest in hereditary cancer and enjoys helping patients and their families use genetic information to navigate cancer prevention, treatment, and surveillance. She is certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling and licensed by the Washington State Department of Health.
	Kari Thorsen, MS, CGC Kari Thorsen is a cancer genetic counselor at Fred Hutch Cancer Center. She has worked with the Fred Hutch genetics team since Summer 2023 and feels very lucky to have such a supportive team and great resources. Kari enjoys direct patient care as it allows for patients to not only learn about genetic testing and its impact on their health, but also creates a space for them to reflect on their feelings and goals. Kari looks forward to continuing building her career within the cancer GC space. She also has a passion to bring better awareness and access to genetic testing to diverse communities and adopted individuals.
	Brian Shirts, MD, PhD Dr. Shirts’ work in the University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology focuses on improving resources and communication for hereditary cancer prevention. In his clinical work as a molecular pathologist, he saw that many people get cancer because they do not know about hereditary cancer risk that runs in their families. His research to address this developed into ConnectMyVariant, a non-profit that leverages genetic, genealogy, and social networking technology to help people across the world find and connect with others who have the same pathogenic variants. This allows people to share preventions stories, find common ancestors, and encourage each other to let more relatives know about inherited cancer risk.
	Brianna Nelson, MS, CGC - Moderator Brianna is a licensed and certified genetic counselor at Swedish Cancer Institute, specializing in hereditary forms of cancer risk. As supervising genetic counselor for the Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Brianna’s goal is to increase access to genetic testing, awareness of hereditary syndromes, and ultimately to reduce cancer burden in our community. Brianna has served as advisor on several

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit Designation Statement

The Federation of State Medical Boards designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Course Director
Pamela Kohlmeier MD, JD, FACEP
Washington Medical Commission

Commercial Support
This learning activity is not funded by any commercial entity.

Disclosure Declaration
As an organization accredited by the ACCME, the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) requires that the content of CME activities and related materials provide balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor. All faculty, planners, and others in a position to control continuing medical education content participating in an accredited continuing education activity are required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. Faculty (authors, presenters, speakers and planners) are encouraged to provide a balanced view of therapeutic options by utilizing either generic names or other options available when utilizing trade names to ensure impartiality.

Faculty members are asked to disclose all financial relationships they have had in the past 24 months with ineligible companies regardless of the potential relevance of each relationship to the education and of the amount. The FSMB has implemented a mechanism to identify and resolve all conflicts of interest prior to the activity. The intent of this policy is to identify potential conflicts of interest so participants can form their own judgments with full disclosure of the facts. Participants will be asked to evaluate whether the speaker’s outside interests reflect a possible bias in the planning or presentation of the activity. 

Brian Shirts, MD, PhD, is President and Board Member for ConnectMyVariant, and Consultant for Constantiam Biosciences. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.                                                               

None of the other speakers or planners for this activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose with ineligible companies.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Uses
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For additional information about approved uses, including approved indications, contraindications, and warnings, please refer to the prescribing information for each product, or consult the Physicians’ Desk Reference.

Faculty and Staff Disclosures
No speaker or persons in control of content reported intent to reference unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or products.