Implicit bias in genetics education: The impact of photographs on student learning and perception

Description
Photographs in genetics education are commonly used to illustrate visually-evident features of certain conditions and allow for accurate diagnoses based on characteristic presentations. Little research has been done into the impact that different types of photos have on student learning and perception. This webinar will examine the use of different types of images of individuals with visible genetic conditions for student education. It will analyze the impact that traditional textbook images vs natural portraits of individuals with the same conditions have on student comprehension and perceptions. This talk will provide insight into actions providers can take to limit the introduction of biases in student education to create a foundation for patient-centered practice in healthcare.

Level of Instruction
Basic - Entry level; no prior knowledge of subject necessary

Learning Objectives

1. Examine the use of traditional textbook photographs vs natural portraits in genetics education.
2. Critique the impact of natural photographs on students’ comprehension compared to traditional textbook images
3. Analyze differences in students’ perceptions of a photographed subject with a visible genetic condition and their quality of life based on the type of image viewed.

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 0.10 NSGC CEU
Course opens: 
01/15/2026
Course expires: 
01/15/2028
Cost:
$0.00

Presenter: Christina Falugi, MS, CGC

Assistant professor and Director of Cancer Genetics at the University of Texas Medical Branch

Christina Falugi, MS, CGC is an assistant professor and the director of cancer genetics at the University of Texas Medical Branch where she sees adult and pediatric patients at risk for a variety of hereditary cancer and tumor predisposition syndromes. She is also involved in the supervision and education of genetic counseling students, medical students, residents, and fellows. Christina received her Bachelor of Science in Molecular Genetics from The Ohio State University and her Master of Science in Genetic Counseling from the University of Texas Health Science Center. She is an active member in the Texas Society of Genetic Counselors and National Society of Genetic Counselors. In addition to cancer genetics, Christina has a special interest in healthcare and genetics education and healthcare disparities.

 

Moderator: Shabnam Asgari, MS, CGC

Sr. Genomic Science Liaison at Ambry Genetics

Shabnam Asgari joined Ambry in 2019 and is the Sr. Genomic Science Liaison for Oncology in the Southern California territory. She previously worked as a clinical genetic counselor at the High-Risk Cancer Genetics Program at the Perlmutter Cancer Center in New York. In her current role, she serves as a clinical liaison for the field team to educate health care providers and key opinion leaders on genetic testing and genomic medicine. She is also a program coordinator and student supervisor for Ambry’s Genomic Science Liaison industry rotation. Shabnam received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in psychology from the University of Colorado, Denver. She earned her Master of Science degree in Genetic Counseling from the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College and is certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling.

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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.