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July 15: Genetic Counseling in Latin America: Perspectives from US-Trained Providers
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This webinar will explore genetic counseling practices across Latin America through the experiences of two US-trained genetic counselors currently practicing abroad. Speakers will highlight key differences in healthcare systems, access to genetic testing, and clinical workflows, with a focus on challenges and barriers faced by patients outside the United States. The session will also address important considerations for US-based genetic counselors working with Spanish-speaking patients who have cross-border care needs. Attendees will gain practical insights to support more effective communication, care coordination, and culturally informed practice.
Presented by:
NSGC Spanish Development SIG
Gabriela Valverde de Morales, MD
Sonia Margarit, MS, CGC
Learning Objectives:
1. Compare genetic counseling practices across the United States and Latin America, including differences in healthcare systems, testing access, and clinical approaches.
2. Identify key challenges and barriers affecting non-US patients’ access to genetic counseling and testing in Latin America, including system-level, logistical, and resource-related limitations.
3. Apply practical strategies to improve communication, care coordination, and decision-making in cross-border genetic counseling contexts.
4. Recognize opportunities for collaboration and resource-sharing to better support continuity of care for patients and families navigating genetic services across countries.
Sonia Beatriz Margarit, MS, CGC
Sonia Margarit, MS, CGC, is a Board-Certified Genetic Counselor certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling (USA) and one of the first formally trained genetic counselors practicing in Chile. She is Associate Professor and Director of the Graduate Diploma Course in Genetic Counseling at the School of Medicine, Clínica Alemana–Universidad del Desarrollo, where she leads educational initiatives to expand the profession throughout Latin America. She holds Master's degrees in Genetic Counseling and Health Psychology and currently serves as President of the Latin American Professional Society of Genetic Counselors (SPLAGen) and President of the Human Section of the Chilean Society of Genetics (SOCHIGEN).
Hannah Gabriela Valverde de Morales, MD
Dr. Valverde de Morales received her MD from Francisco Marroquín University, and her MMSc in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling from Emory University. She is the founder of IMAGO: Consejería Genética in Guatemala, and serves on the board of the Latin American Professional Society for Genetic Counseling (SPLAGEN) as the representative for Central America and the Carribean.
Sharisse Jimenez, MA, MS, CGC (Moderator)
Sharisse is a certified genetic counselor with over 6 years of experience in both clinical and laboratory settings. She got her Masters degree in Genetic Counseling and Masters in Bioethics from Case Western Reserve University in 2019. She has previous clinical experience primarily in the cancer setting; in her current role she works as a clinical genomics scientist at a large commercial lab where she does variant interpretation for prenatal carrier screening. She currently serves as the Education Coordinator for the NSGC Spanish Development SIG.
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