7 minute read
Biology alum helps people plan for the future as a genetic counselor
What you need to know:
• Susan Manley, now the Senior Vice President of Medical Service at Myriad Genetics, a company that provides genetic testing for a variety of conditions.
• Manley became interested in genetics thanks to one of her UWM professors.
• Manley discusses how to have difficult conversations about your family’s health history so you can better plan for your future.
Sickle cell anemia is caused by a mutation on the hemoglobin beta gene. A child can inherit cystic fibrosis if both parents are carriers of the recessive CFTR gene. Carriers of the BRCA1 or 2 genes are at increased risk of developing breast cancer.
If your family has any history of health problems, it can he be helpful to speak with a genetic counselor.
“A genetic counselor is a health care provider,” Susan Manley explained. “Genetic counselors talk with and evaluate patients, look at their family history, and look for evidence of inherited genetic conditions in the family history. They help them understand what their risk may be for that condition, and then offer and explore genetic testing.”
Anyone can speak with a genetic counselor, but counselors most often work with patients who have genetic disorders, expectant parents who want to understand their child’s genetic risk factors, and patients who are at risk for diseases that may have a genetic component, like cancer or cardiovascular disease.
For Manley, a UWM alumna who majored in biology, being a genetic counselor has been a rewarding career because she’s been able to combine her love of science with her love of working with people. But these days, she’s much more than a genetic counselor: She’s the Senior Vice President of Medical Services at Myriad Genetics, a company that develops and sells genetic tests for a, well, myriad of genetic conditions. Myriad is also credited with discovering the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.
In her role, Manley leads Myriad’s centralized medical support for all of the products the company offers. She oversees a team of 69 genetic counselors who work with patients and healthcare providers.
Manley started her science journey in Lapham Hall, where she worked for then-Professor Ruth Phillips. Manley took the job because it was part of her financial aid package, but she found a love of science in Dr. Phillips’ lab. Her favorite job was feeding the fish that Phillips studied. They lived in huge tanks in the basement of Lapham Hall, and Manley used to deliver their food before she went out on the town with friends on Friday nights.
As she grew closer with Phillips, Manley began to learn more lab procedures and was even included on some of Phillips’ publications. But she found her true calling when she decided to take a human genetics course with Phillips.
“I took it because I loved her, and I thought, well, she’s not going to fail me out of a class,” Manley joked. “But I loved it. It combined … biology and human health and being able to observe things, think critically about them, and understand the impact they had on people.”
With her interest in genetics, several career options lay before Manley, but after doing a job-shadow with some geneticists at Children’s Hospital, she decided to become a genetic counselor. She earned her Master’s degree at the University of Cincinnati and was almost immediately hired by Myriad Genetics upon graduating. At the time, about 28 years ago, the company was a small genetic research firm and had just publicized its discovery of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
As Myriad wanted to branch out into manufacturing and selling genetic tests, they needed a genetic counselor who could advise them on how to market the tests and communicate with health care providers and patients about what the results meant. Manley signed on when the company had less than 50 employees.
Today, Myriad is an international company with over 2,000 employees. As the organization grew, so did Manley’s responsibilities. She transitioned into a job as a sales representative, where she eventually was in charge of the eastern seaboard region. She earned an MBA and was later promoted to her current position. Though she’s no longer “just” a genetic counselor, Manley doesn’t think her job has changed too much.
“I went into genetic counseling because the science was fascinating, but I really wanted to work with people. It’s about working with people to help them make good decisions, whether you do that one-on-one as a genetic counselor, or you help your managers and employees do their best,” she said.
She credits UWM with helping her start on the path to success.
“UWM holds a very special place in my heart, and I had such a good experience there. I entered without a plan and left with everything I needed to be successful for the next three decades,” Manley reflected. “It’s because of UWM and Ruth Phillips.”
After all, a good counselor, genetic or otherwise, can make all the difference.
By Sarah Vickery, College of Letters & Science
A New Year’s resolution? Talk about your health history
As the new year rolls around, many people are making resolutions to eat better, exercise, and pay more attention to their health. But it might be wise to make a resolution to learn more about your family’s health history, too.
As the Senior Vice President of Myriad Genetics, Susan Manley knows better than most that understanding your family’s health history is vital to understanding your own health. By learning about what conditions may run in your family and then sharing that information with your health care provider, you can begin to plan for any health concerns that may arise in the future.
But, she notes, starting these types of conversations can be a daunting task. Many people do not want to dredge up painful memories of a loved one’s illness, or pry into someone’s private history.
So, Manley says to approach the conversation from a position of care. There’s no need to ask for details about a family member’s sickness; instead, focus on what health issue was diagnosed and the age at which the family member received their diagnosis. That’s what Manley does when she performs duties as a genetic counselor. Just like a show dog or a race horse, genetic counselors can work up “pedigrees” for their patients, although these pedigrees focus more on family health histories than lineages.
There are a variety of conditions that people should ask about when they speak with their families. Cancer is an obvious one, since many cancers have a genetic component. A history of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease is also worth noting, alongside genetic diseases like Huntington’s disease or cystic fibrosis.
But Manley says you should also take note of other, more mundane health concerns.
“Glaucoma, or early hearing or vision loss would be something that’s interesting. From a reproductive health standpoint, multiple miscarriages or stillbirth, any kind of childhood condition, is interesting to know too,” Manley said.
Manley adds that just because your family may have a history of certain health issues does not mean that you yourself are at risk for inheriting these issues.
“You may have three generations of women … who have had breast cancer. You probably already know you’re at risk for breast cancer – but maybe you’re not,” Manley said. “If there’s a gene there causing cancer and you’re lucky and you didn’t inherit it, your risk could be lower.”
Armed with knowledge about family health history, Manley says that people can begin to take charge of their own health, weigh their risk factors, and decide if they want to make any lifestyle changes or try medications to mitigate their risks.
