Kaley Katz grew up in Gaithersburg, MD and discovered the career of genetic counseling after interviewing her aunt for a middle school science project. She majored in biology at Elon University with a minor in sociology. At Elon, she researched ASXL1 and ASXL2 proteins in leuckemic cell lines as a Lumen scholar. She has also volunteered for Gift of Life since high school, helping recruit donors for the public bone marrow registry. Her interest in genetics, combined with her passion for supporting individuals affected by cancer, ultimately inspired her to pursue a career in genetic counseling.
After graduating in May 2024, Kaley spent two years working as a genetic counseling assistant at Duke Cancer Center. In this position, she coordinated genetic testing workflows, facilitated communication between genetic counselors and oncologists, and worked with patients to collect family histories and prepare them for their appointments. During this time, she also began volunteering for the Durham Crisis Response Center, staffing a 24/7 hotline for survivors of sexual assault, domestic abuse and human trafficking. These experiences strengthened her commitment to providing compassionate, patient-centered care while developing the empathy and communication skills needed to support individuals through emotional situations.
In her free time, Kaley loves to read, bake, enjoy the outdoors and spend quality time with her friends and family. She is excited to be part of Emory's GCTP and looks forward to connecting with prospective students and anyone interested in learning more about the field.