Email

jiaqi.ding@bcm.edu

Positions

Genetic Counseling Student

School of Health Professions
Baylor College of Medicine

Education

BS from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

05/2025 - Urbana-Champaign, Illinois United States

Molecular and Cellular Biology and Psychology

Professional Statement

I graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Psychology. My early experience as a dietary aide in an assisted living community, where I supported residents with dementia, gave me an appreciation for compassionate care and sparked my interest in working closely with patients and families.

During my undergraduate years, I built on this foundation through roles that combined science, advocacy, and mentorship. I served as vice president of the Pre-genetic Counseling Club and founded its mentorship program to connect underclassmen with guidance and resources. I also worked as a teaching assistant for both organic chemistry and the genetic counseling and disorders courses. In addition, I served as a children’s specialist at Crisis Nursery, where I provided care and stability for children during family emergencies, ensuring a safe and supportive environment. I further explored the field through a genetic counseling internship with Johns Hopkins in the summer after my junior year. In this internship, I contributed to a research project on spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 and developed patient education brochures to support Parkinson patients with preparing for genetic counseling appointments.

At Baylor College of Medicine, I am eager to build on these experiences by continuing to mentor others, contribute to research that addresses barriers in healthcare, and develop the skills to serve patients from diverse backgrounds. Coming from an immigrant background, I understand the challenges families face in accessing equitable care, and I hope to use my training at Baylor to reduce cultural and linguistic barriers while ensuring that all families feel supported and empowered through genetic counseling.