Genetic Counseling Graduate Program welcomes new assistant professor
The Genetic Counseling Graduate Program is excited to welcome Assistant Professor Taylor Sabato to the Division of Human Genetics at The Ohio State University. She provides ophthalmic genetic counseling for the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. Ophthalmic genetic counseling focuses on hereditary ophthalmic disease risk assessment, patient education, and genetic testing as necessary. Taylor is passionate about patient care and aims to empower patients through her efforts in clinic and research alike. She looks forward to supervising Ohio State’s genetic counseling students as a fieldwork supervisor in her clinic!
Taylor graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Genetics from Purdue University in 2019. During her time at Purdue, she also completed a minor in Psychology and a Certificate in Collaborative Leadership. Outside of academics, Taylor served as a crisis intervention specialist for Mental Health America Wabash Landing Region, where she grew a deep appreciation for community health. She was also part of a cancer genetics research lab where she gained experience with gene editing by treating zebrafish with CRISPR-Cas9. Her research experience in this lab fostered her love for molecular biology and genetics. Taylor also held leadership positions through her favorite organizations, of which were the Purdue University Women's Volleyball Club.
Following her undergraduate studies, Taylor decided to continue her education at Purdue by obtaining her Master of Public Health with a concentration in Health Statistics. During her time studying for her MPH, Taylor followed her interest in community health by helping a non-profit organization, Overdose Lifeline, INC., develop a state-wide Naloxone Distribution Program to support families and individuals affected by the opioid epidemic in Indiana. During Taylor's graduate studies, she noticed that there wasn't an educational or supportive community at Purdue for students interested in genetic counseling. Consequently, she co-founded the Pre-Genetic Counseling Club at Purdue University and served as president of the organization. In addition, Taylor taught undergraduate courses in Anatomy and Psychology to gain experience in education.
Taylor graduated from Emory University with her Master of Medical Sciences in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling in May 2023. During her graduate studies, her research focused on patient communication patterns during ovarian cancer genetic counseling sessions. Taylor solidified her interest in ophthalmic genetics during her second year of genetic counseling school, when she was granted the opportunity to rotate with University of Miami's ocular genetics clinic.
In her free time, Taylor loves to spend time with her family and friends, play video games, and play volleyball. She is an enthusiastic plant and dog owner and self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur. She enjoys going to local coffee shops (especially ones that allow her two Mini Australian Shepherds to come with) and exploring the world around her!
