Update Your ProfileAcademic Title:
Assistant Professor
Primary Appointment:
Medicine
Additional Title:
Program Director, My Healthy Maryland Precision Medicine Research
Location:
HSF III, Room 4053
Phone (Primary):
410-706-8943
Education and Training
B.S., Biology, Salisbury University, 2000
Master's in Genetic Counseling, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2004
Biosketch
Ms. Ashley is a board-certified genetic counselor who serves as a valued faculty member in the Department of Medicine, specifically in the Program in Personalized and Genomic Medicine. With her extensive expertise in clinical research and patient care, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. Ms. Ashley has a diverse background that spans both academia and industry, encompassing areas such as whole exome/genome sequencing, hereditary cancer, cardiovascular and neurological syndromes, reproductive genetics, and pharmacogenomics.
One of Ms. Ashley's key interests lies in enhancing access to genetic testing and genetic counseling services, with a strong focus on person-centered care and population genomics. As the Program Director for the My Healthy Maryland Precision Medicine Research initiative, she is passionate about facilitating groundbreaking discoveries and advancing healthcare outcomes for individuals throughout the state.
In addition to her role as Program Director, Ms. Ashley is actively involved in educating and mentoring future genetic counselors. She provides various lectures to students enrolled in the Master's in Genetic Counseling training program. Notably, she serves as the Coursemaster for the Psychosocial Genetic Counseling class, a crucial component of the second-year curriculum.
Ms. Ashley's dedication to the field of genetics, commitment to improving patient care, and influential role in education make her an invaluable asset to both her institution and the broader genetic counseling community.
Research/Clinical Keywords
genetic counseling, genetics, precision medicine, population genomics, patient-centered care
Highlighted Publications
Griswold, C., Ashley, S., DeLany Dixon, S., and Scott, J. 2011. Genetic Counselors’ Experiences with Adolescent Patients in Prenatal Genetic Counseling. Journal of Genetic Counseling. 20: 178-191.
Brown, E., Skinner, M., Ashley, S., Reed, K. and DeLany Dixon, S. 2016. Assessment of the Readability of Genetic Counseling Patient Letters. Journal of Genetic Counseling. 25: 454-460.
Ashley, S., Williams, N., King, R., and Atwal, P. (2020) Supplemental Newborn and Pediatric Screening: Insight into Consumers and Results. National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Conference, Virtual.
Ashley, S., Mahder, J., Glessner, H., Williams, N., Atwal, P., King, R. (2021) Expanding our Knowledge of Variants Associated with Loeys-Dietz Syndrome via Consumer-Initiated Testing. National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Conference, Virtual.
King, R., Ashley, S., Williams, N., Glessner, H., Mahder, J., Atwal, P. (2021) Consumer-Initiated Genetic Testing Supports Need for Population Screening of CDC Tier 1 Conditions. National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Conference, Virtual.
Additional Publication Citations
Kudoh T., Tsang M., Hukriede N.A., Chen X., Dedekian M., Clarke C.J., Kiang A., Schultz S., Epstein J.A., Toyama R., and Dawid I.B. 2001. A gene expression screen in zebrafish embryogenesis. Genome Res. 11: 1979-1987.
Schultz S., Leveillard T., Lavedan C. (2001) Identification of human genes specifically expressed in retina. American Society of Human Genetics Meeting, San Diego, CA.
Ashley S., Escallon C., Langenberg P., Udoff L. (2004) Investigation of the knowledge and attitudes of obstetricians regarding preimplantation genetic diagnosis. National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Education Meeting, Washington, D.C.
Levy H. P., Ashley S., Maibach H., Doucette L., Khanna N. (2006) Qualitative genetic risk assessment in a primary care practice. American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA. (platform presentation)
Doucette, L., Gordes, K., Ashley, S., DeLany Dixon, S.M., Khanna, N. (2006) Overcoming Obstacles to Incorporate Interdisciplinary Curriculum into a Graduate Laboratory Science Program. Graduate Colloquium Conference.
Kramer, M.K., Rispoli, J., Ashley, S., Khanna, N. DeLany Dixon, S.M. (2006) Primary Care Screening for Hereditary Cancer. American Society of Human Genetics Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
DeLany Dixon, S.M., Ashley, S., Doucette, L., Gordes, K. Huber, F. (2006) Online Interdisciplinary Training: A Model of Genetics Education. American Society of Human Genetics Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
Williams B., DeLany Dixon S.M., Atzinger C., Ashley S. (2006) The Perspective of Parents of Children with Down syndrome on the Special Needs Assessment and Individualized Education Plan Processes in the State of Maryland. National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Education Meeting, Nashville, TN.
Krass, L., Ashley, S., Levy, H., Khanna, N. (2007) Comparing Family History Information Obtained by a Genetic Counselor Versus That Present in a Family Medicine Chart. National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Education Meeting, Kansas City, MO.
Dinsmore, C., Udoff, L., Higgs, A., Ashley, S. (2008) The use of invasive prenatal diagnostic tests in patients with infertility. National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Education Meeting, Los Angeles, CA.
Griswold, C., Ashley, S., Scott, J., DeLany Dixon, S.M. (2009) Genetic Counselors’ Experiences with Adolescent Patients in the Prenatal Genetic Counseling Session. National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Education Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
Brown, E., Skinner, M., Ashley, S., Reed, K. and DeLany Dixon, S. (2014) Assessment of the Readability of Genetic Counseling Patient Letters. National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Education Meeting, New Orleans, LA. (platform presentation)
King, R., Ashley, S., Williams, N., and Atwal, P. (2020) Review of Patients who Actively Decline Recommended CIT Post-Test Genetic Counseling. National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Conference, Virtual.
Dean Glessner, H., Williams, N., Mahder, J., Fitzpatrick, M., Ashley, S., Atwal, P., and King, R. (2021) Post-test Outreach: A Valuable Tool in the Consumer-Initiated Genetic Testing Space. American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting, Virtual.
Glessner, H., Williams, N., Ashley, S., Mahder, J., Atwal, P., King, R. (2021) Identifying Individuals with Two Pathogentic Variants in Cancer-Predisposition Genes Through Consumer-Initiated Testing: A Case Series. National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Conference, Virtual.
King, R., Ashley, S., Williams, N., Glessner, H., Mahder, J., Atwal, P. (2021) Consumer-Initiated Genetic Testing Suggests CDC Tier 1 Conditions Are More Common Than Previously Thought. National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Conference, Virtual.
King, R., Ashley, S., Glessner, H., Mahder, J., Kim, H., Varanasi, S., Spicer, M., Atwal, P. (2022) An assessment of screening compliance and cancer history of individuals ordering an employee-sponsored cancer screening blood test. National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Conference, Nashville, TN.
Professional Activity
2004 – present National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC)
2006 – 2007 New York-Mid-Atlantic Consortium for Genetic and Newborn Screening Services (NYMAC)
2018 – present Maryland and DC Society of Genetic Counselors (MDCGC)
2019 – 2020 MDCGC Social Media/Communications Committee Member
2022 – present Pharmacogenetic Subcommittee Member, Personalized Medicine Special Interest Group, NSGC
2022 – present Leadership and Management Special Interest Group Member, NSGC
2022 – present NSGConnect, Mentor