Name: Ethan Rust
Major: Genetics
Minor: Public Health
Certificate: Genetic Counseling
Graduation Year: 2024
How did you decide on your major?
I switched into the genetics major my sophomore year after learning about the department through my faculty mentor, Dr. Linda Brzustowicz. She told me about all of the opportunities offered in the department and the usefulness of a degree in genetics and, having lost my younger cousin to a rare genetic form of epilepsy called Dravet syndrome, I decided to become a genetics major!
What is it about your chosen field (and the department) that appeals to you?
I love the complexities of human genetics on an academic and psychosocial level, and I think a lot about being able to guide people through the journey of genetic testing. The genetics department offers an in-depth view of genetics and many interesting electives like the Social, Legal, and Ethical Implications of New Genetics and Evolutionary Developmental Biology. There are also a lot of great professors and faculty members working on exciting research projects in a variety of topics in the field, and it’s perfect for someone to explore research. My favorite thing about the major, though, has been the Genetic Counseling Certificate Program (GCCP). As a certificate student, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a clinical rotation through a pediatric genetics unit and take masters-level genetic counseling courses at Rutgers. The support of the certificate program director, Dr. Gary Heiman, has been a great help in understanding the field of genetic counseling and the application process for the masters programs.
Do you have a favorite class/professor within your major?
The Clinical Rotation with Dr. Heiman through the GCCP was an amazing experience! I was in the clinic a couple of days a week throughout the summer shadowing the head genetic counselor in the pediatric genetics unit at the JSUMC. I saw a myriad of interesting cases and I learned so much about the process of counseling families, taking pedigrees, and selecting tests. I also enjoyed Honors Computational Genetics with Dr. Chris Ellison. His class drastically improved my confidence in using Python and Unix to write code that processes genetic data. It also helped me to understand the behind-the-scenes work done by lab technology to piece together results from genetic testing. 
What are your favorite academic experiences outside of your major?
I am a sexual health education student coordinator in the Health Outreach, Promotion, and Education (HOPE) program, and working as a sexual health educator and HIV test counselor has taught me so much about how to empower others with health information. Working with the team at HOPE has been a highlight of my experiences at Rutgers. I am also the president of the College Support Program (CSP) at the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services. Fostering a community for students on the autism spectrum at Rutgers has been so much fun and I cherish all the wonderful connections I’ve made there.
What are your plans following graduation?
I will be a masters student in the Johns Hopkins/NIH Genetic Counseling Training Program and will become a genetic counselor! I also would like to one day get my PhD in genetic socioepidemiology.