From Alternative to Essential: How "Non-Traditional" Service Delivery Models Promote Equity

Description

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 - Refresher course; some basic knowledge of subject recommended
 

Learning Objectives

1. Identify barriers to care in conventional service delivery models.
2. Define equity within the context of genetic services in community hospitals.
3. Outline tools to support diverse, growing patient populations

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 0.10 NSGC CEU
Course opens: 
05/21/2026
Course expires: 
05/21/2028
Cost:
$0.00

Presenter: Allison Wong, MS, CGC

Senior Genetic Counselor at Providence in Orange County

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.

 

 

Presenter: Setareh Zandi, MS, LCGC

Genetic Counselor at Providence Southern California Genetics Program

Setareh Zandi, MS, LCGC, 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 her master’s degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of Michigan. In addition to providing direct clinical care, her work at Providence focuses on optimizing genetic service delivery across a large community health system, including advancing same‑day counseling models and supporting the integration of AI‑enabled tools to improve the efficiency and scalability of genomic care. She also holds leadership roles within SCGC, Providence, and other professional organizations, where she advances diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice initiatives aimed at improving both patient access and the practice of cancer genetics. Through her clinical, operational, and leadership efforts, Setareh advocates for patient‑centered, ethical, and accessible cancer genetics services within community‑based healthcare settings. 

 

Moderator: Kristina Garcia, MGCS, CGC

Clinical Science Liaison at 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.

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EducateNext is committed to providing independent, objective, and evidence-based educational content. None of the individuals in control of this content—including our planners, reviewers, and approval faculty—have any financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. For all educational sessions, speaker-specific disclosures regarding any potential conflicts of interest are required and will always be shared directly with learners at the beginning of their respective presentations.

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

Credit eligibility varies by activity; please see below for the specific credit types offered for this course.

Available Credit

  • 0.10 NSGC CEU

Price

Cost:
$0.00
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Please note: Attendees must track continuing education (CE) credits towards recertification. Credit cannot be claimed for both live and recorded versions of the same webinar; attendance is cross-checked annually. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working toward a single-platform solution to automatically manage dual registration and integrated transcript tracking.