Grace Saunders, MS, CGC
Grace Saunders, MS, LCGC, is a licensed and certified genetic counselor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute Department of Genetic Medicine.
- Languages Spoken: English
Professional Bio
Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Saunders has also lived in Indiana and Arizona before coming to Omaha in 2023. As a cancer genetic counselor, she sees adult and pediatric patients who either have cancer themselves and/or have a strong family history of cancer. She enjoys educating her patients about genetics and the genetic testing process and empowering them so they can make an informed decision about whether genetic testing is right for them or not.
As an educator and presenter, Saunders is a regular guest lecturer and student supervisor for the UNMC genetic counseling graduate program. She also assists with the program in various other capacities such as student capstone project development and review, practice-based competencies curriculum implementation, and reviewing admissions applications to the program.
Lastly, Saunders is a fierce advocate for culturally competent inclusive healthcare. She is an active member of several subcommittees of the National Society of Genetic Counselors's Cancer Special Interest Group, including the antiracism and gender inclusive subcommittees, where she works with other genetic counselors to educate providers, patients, and others on these important topics. She has also given several presentations on these topics at UNMC.
Focus Areas
- Advocating for culturally competent inclusive healthcare.
- Genetic counselor education.
- Hereditary cancer genetics, particularly gynecological and hematological cancers.
Research
- Saunders, G.M. LGBTQIA2S+ Cancer Screening Considerations, University of Nebraska Medical Center 4th Annual Cancer Risk and Prevention Symposium, April 2025, Omaha, NE.
- Saunders, G.M. Hematological Cancer Predisposition Syndromes, Clinical Cancer Genetics course, University of Nebraska College of Allied Health Professions, April 2024, April 2025, Omaha, NE.
- Saunders, G.M. Gastrointestinal Cancer Screening & Providing Inclusive Care to the LGBTQIA2S+ Population, University of Nebraska Medical Center 19th Annual Fall Midwest Thoracic / Gastrointestinal Oncology Conference, November 2024, Omaha, NE.
- Saunders, G. M., Carmany, E., Trepanier, A. Identifying Potential LGBTQIA+ Competencies for Genetic Counseling Student Training. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 14 June 2024. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jgc4.1909
- Saunders, G. M., Carmany, E., Trepanier, A. Identifying Potential LGBTQIA+ Competencies for Genetic Counseling Student Training, Poster Presentation, National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois, October 2023.
Honors
- The Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Gastrointestinal Cancer Annual Conference Travel Grant, November 2024, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.