Brief Biography

Laura Zahavich has been a genetic counsellor in the Divisions of  Hematology/Oncology and Clinical and Metabolic Geneticsat the Hospital for Sick Children since 2009.  She also works as a research genetic counselor in Neurology as part of the Canadian Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Study.  She received her Master of Science degree from the University of Toronto in 2009, and was certified in genetic counselling by the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 2010.  Laura has a special interest in  pediatric oncology, cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial conditions,as well as the genetics of complex disorders, particularly pediatric multiple sclerosis.  Laura is also involved as a clinical supervisor in the University of Toronto M.Sc Program in Genetic Counselling

As a genetic counsellor, Laura Zahavich provides comprehensive cancer genetic consultations to individuals and families with a history of cancer. She develops extensive pedigrees and obtains documentation for cancer diagnoses. Genetic counselling regarding personal risk for developing cancer and the availability of screening is offered to each member of a family at risk. Where predictive testing is appropriate, education is offered about the genetics of cancer, prenatal diagnosis, the testing process, and the implications of test results. Families are provided with ongoing support throughout this process.

Research Interests

• Cancer screening for asymptomatic patients
• Psychosocial responses to results of genetic testing
• Copy number variation of oncogenes/tumour supressors following microarray analysis

Publications

Randall-Armel S., Hitchman, K., Millar, K., Zahavich, L., Demsky, R., Murphy, J., and Rosen, B. 2011. The Use of
Family History Questionnaires: An Examination of Genetic Risk Estimates and Genetic Testing Eligibility in the
Non-Responder Population J Genet Couns. doi: 10.1007/s10897-011-9359-8

Zahavich, L., Guimond, C., McGowan, M., Magalhaes, S., Sadovnick, A.D., Arnold, D.L., Bar-Or, A., Marrie, R.A.,
Banwell, B. on behalf of the Canadian Pediatric Demyelinating Study Group. Genetic Epidemiology of Acute
Demyelination in Canadian Children. European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis
Conference, Gothenburg, Sweden, 2010 (Accepted poster).

Zahavich, L., Shuman, C., Chitayat, D., Myles Reid, D. An Evidence Based Approach to First Trimester Prenatal
Screening Education at Mount Sinai Hospital. Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors, Banff, Alberta, 2009
(Accepted poster).