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			Physicians PhD Scientists Genetic Counselors Nurses Ancillary Staff Physicians Olufunmilayo F. Olopade, MD Director for Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics Dr. Olopade received her bachelor’s and medical degrees with distinction from the University of Ibadan in her native Nigeria and served as a medical officer at the Nigerian Navy Hospital. She came to the United States as a resident in internal medicine at Cook County Hospital, Chicago where she was named Chief Medical Resident. She did her Hematology/Oncology Fellowship training at the University of Chicago and studied the molecular genetics of cancer under Dr. Janet Rowley, Blum-Riese Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine. A former James S. McDonnell Foundation Scholar and ASCO Young Investigator Awardee, Dr. Olopade served as Chairperson of the ASCO Task Force on Cancer Genetics education. Dr. Olopade has delivered over 100 lectures on topics including breast cancer, colon cancer and genetic testing. Her contributions to the professional literature include more than 100 articles, book chapters, and abstracts on topics including the genetics of cancer, and serving as a reviewer for several journals, including the Journal of Clinical Oncology and the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Olopade was recognized as one of Chicago Magazine’s top doctors (1997). Marion S. Verp, M.D. Clinical Geneticist Associate Professor, Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology & Clinical Human Genetics Dr. Verp is Associate Director of the Cancer Risk Clinic. She is board certified in clinical genetics and in obstetrics and gynecology. She is a Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Her interests are in clinical cancer genetics, prenatal diagnosis and reproductive genetics. She has authored over 50 articles and 20 book chapters on these subjects. Dr. Verp was recognized as one of Chicago Magazine's top doctors in both 1997 and 2001. PhD Scientists Soma Das, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Human Genetics Dr. Das is the director of the molecular genetics laboratory in the department of human genetics. She is board certified in clinical molecular genetics and is a Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics. Her interests are in the molecular diagnosis of genetic disease, in particular establishing novel assays to improve molecular diagnosis of cancers and rare genetic disease. Her research interests include the characterization of genetic changes and DNA methylation in genetic disease and cancer and the study of their role in disease development and genotype-phenotype correlations. Genetic Counselors Shelly A. Cummings, M.S. Assistant Program Director in the Cancer Risk Clinic Senior Genetic Counselor in the Cancer Risk Clinic Administrator in the Section of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Chicago. Ms. Cummings received her undergraduate degree in biology at Indiana University and her Master’s Degree in Genetic Counseling at Northwestern University. Ms. Cummings has authored several original articles on cancer genetics in journals such as the American Journal of Human Genetics, the Journal of Genetic Counseling, and Oncology. She is a writer for the National Society of Genetic Counselors’ national newsletter, Perspectives in Genetic Counseling, and editor for Society’s regional newsletter, IV Your Information. Ms. Cummings is the co-director for the Cancer Special Interest Group for the National Society of Genetic Counselors. Ms. Cummings has written five college genetics and biology textbooks for undergraduates since 1995 and was previously the scientific author of Wadsworth Publishing’s Internet homepage. Shelly is a skilled speaker at the local, regional, and national level for both professional and lay audiences on a range of topics including genetics, hereditary cancer syndromes, genetic testing for cancer predisposition genes, and the psychological aspects of cancer predisposition. She is a member of the American Society of Human Genetics, American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society for the Advancement of Science, American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Cancer Genetics Education Task, and is a Y-ME Volunteer. Melody A. White, M.S., C.G.C. Melody White, M.S., C.G.C. is a board certified genetic counselor in the Cancer Risk Program at the University of Chicago Medical Center specializing in cancer genetics and risk assessment. Ms. White completed her graduate training in genetic counseling at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 1987. Ms. White has a diverse background in prenatal, pediatric, preimplantation, and cancer genetics. Ms. White has additional expertise in the area of assisted reproductive technologies and how they may be useful for cancer patients at risk of losing reproductive potential following cancer treatment. Ms. White has been an active volunteer for the American Cancer Society (ACS) for four years. As a volunteer, she lectures to the community on breast, skin, anti-tobacco and general cancer prevention and early detection strategies. Ms. White is Public Affairs Chairperson for the NorthEast ACS board of directors. As Public Affairs Chair, Ms. White represents the ACS on a variety of public affairs issues including lobbying for tobacco settlement funds to be spent on anti-tobacco education programs. Ms. White is education co-chair for the Cancer Special Interest Group and is a member of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Special Interest Group of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. Her main area of interest in these groups has been in the development of educational materials for both patients and medical professionals working in the field of genetics. Ms. White has lectured and conducted workshops throughout her career at local, regional, and national professional and community conferences on a variety of topics including prenatal genetics, teratogens, general genetics, genetic counseling, support group organizations, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, cancer prevention and early detection, and cancer genetics. Ms. White has written and co-authored articles on a broad range of topics including cancer, preimplantation, and prenatal genetics. Laura L. Dudlicek, MS, Genetic Counselor Ms. Dudlicek received her Bachelor's degree in Genetic Biology from Purdue University and her Masters of Science degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of Pittsburgh. She has a background in prenatal and pediatric counseling during which time she worked with high-risk pregnancies and helped diagnose children with suspected genetic conditions. She is excited to expand her professional pursuits in cancer genetics. Having worked as a laboratory technician at the University of Chicago before graduate school, she has a unique perspective when counseling patients regarding genetic testing. Ms. Dudlicek has experience in public speaking including health fairs and high school presentations as well as lectures within the medical community. She is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors and Cancer Special Interest Group and is eager to become an advocate for breast cancer survivors. Nurses Ancillary Staff Dawn Elliott, B.S. Clinical Research Outreach Coordinator Dawn Elliott, formerly the STAR (Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene) Community Outreach Coordinator was recruited from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas where she educated primarily underserved and women of color regarding cancer clinical trials and breast health education which ultimately lead eligible women to participate in the STAR clinical trial. Her commitment to the community merited her the NSABP (National Surgical Breast and Bowel Project) Above and Beyond Award. This award is given on behalf of the NSABP and its more than 500 STAR centers across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. This award recognized Dawn's commitment to increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of STAR. Dawn served on numerous boards and committees while in the Houston area, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, American Cancer Society, Harris County Hospital District's African American Breast Cancer Outreach and Intercultural Cancer Council's Southwest Network Regional Leadership member to name a few. Dawn says her position, as Research Coordinator is more than a job, it's a passion. "Just being able to comfort and offer support to women and their families who are journeying through their cancer diagnosis and witnessing their last chemotherapy treatment is one of the best parts of the job". "When women in the clinic first receive a diagnosis of cancer they are understandably distraught. Seeing me - a woman like them who survived - gives them hope". Dawn is responsible for the recruitment of women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer at an early age. She is also involved in recruiting women who live on the South of Chicago who have been diagnosed with breast cancer between October 2003 and October 2006. Dawn is a member of the Society of Clinical Research Associates. She currently serves on the Cook County Breast Cancer Coalition committee as well as the University of Chicago's Community Affairs Outreach Committee.