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CURRICULUM VITAEShana L MerrillEDUCATION2016 – 2020 (expected)University of Pennsylvania, Ph.D.Major: Social WelfareAdvisor: Allison Werner-Lin, Ph.D, MA, EdM2005 - 2007University of North Carolina at Greensboro, M.S.Major: Genetic CounselingThesis: Development of a Web-Based Curriculum for MedicalStudents Addressing the Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications ofGenetics2000-2004Lafayette College, B.S.Major: NeuroscienceMinor: PhilosophyThesis: Factors Affecting the Use of Nondirectiveness by GeneticCounselorsACADEMIC APPOINTMENTSFall 2017 Spring 2018Adjunct Faculty Instructor, Jefferson College of BiomedicalSciences, CardiogeneticsFall 2017(anticipated)Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of PennsylvaniaFall 2016 –Spring 2017Curriculum and Course Developer, Jefferson College ofBiomedical Sciences, Genetic Counseling ProgramFall 2016 PresentResearch Fellow, University of Pennsylvania, School ofSocial Policy and PracticeFall 2009 PresentContracted Lecturer, Arcadia University, College of HealthSciences, Medical Genetics CourseSpring 2008 –Spring 2009Curriculum Development Committee, Virginia Tech CarilionSchool of Medicine and Research InstituteFall 2006 –Spring 2007Graduate Research Assistant, University of North Carolina atGreensboro, Guilford Genomic Medicine Initiative (DOD-funded)Fall 2005 Spring 2006Graduate Assistantship, University of North Carolina atGreensboro, Competitively-Awarded
Fall 2001 Spring 2004Writing Associate, Lafayette College, College Writing ProgramHONORS AND AWARDS2015Recipient of Janus Series Award, National Society of Genetic Counselors2005Recipient of Competitive Merit-Based Scholarship, University of NorthCarolina at Greensboro, Genetic Counseling Program2004Departmental Honors in Psychology, Lafayette College2003Sigma Xi, Scientific Honor Society Nomination and Induction2000 –2004Marquis Scholar, Lafayette College’s Most Distinguished AcademicScholarship2000Valedictorian, Egg Harbor Township High SchoolPUBLICATIONSPEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLESSargen, M, Merrill, S, Chu, E, Nathanson, K. CDKN2A mutations with p14 loss predisposing to multiplenerve sheath tumors and internal malignancies: A case series and review of the literature. Recentlyaccepted pending minor revisions by British Journal of Dermatology.Merrill, SL, Guthrie KJ. Is it time for Genomic Counseling? Retrofitting Genetic Counseling for the Eraof Genomic Medicine. Curr Genet Med Rep, doi 10.1007/s40142-015-0068-8; Epub ahead of print, 2015March 28. Invited Manuscript.Fishbein, L, Khare, S, Wubbenhorst, B, DeSloover, D, D’Andrea, K, Merrill, S, Cho NW, Greenberg, R, Else,T, Montone, K, LiVolsi, V, Fraker, D, Daber, R, Cohen, D, Nathanson KL. Whole exome sequencingidentifies somatic ATRX mutations in pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas. Nat Commun. 2015 Jan21;6:6140. doi: 10.1038/ncomms7140.Baets,J; Duan, X; Wu, Y; Smith, G; Seeley, W; Mademan, I; McGrath, N; Beadell, N; Khoury, J; Botuyan,MV; Mer, G; Worrell, G, Hojo, K; Laura, M; Liu, Y; Senderek, J; Weis, J; Van den Bergh, P; Merrill, SL,Reilly, M; Houlden, H; Scherer, S; De Jonghe, P; Dyck, P; Klein, C. Maintenance methyltransferase defectcauses a spectrum of neurological diseases. Brain. 2015 Apr;138(Pt 4):845-61. doi: 10.1093/brain/awv010.Epub 2015 Feb 11.Bradbury, Angela, Patrick-Miller L, Long J, Powers J, Stopfer J, Forman A, Rybak C, Mattie K, Brandt A,Chambers R, Chung WK, Churpek J, Daly MB, Digiovanni L, Farengo-Clark D, Fetzer D, Ganschow P, GranaG, Gulden C, Hall M, Kohler L, Maxwell K, Merrill S, Montgomery S, Mueller R, Nielsen S, Olopade O,Rainey K, Seelaus C, Nathanson KL, Domchek S. Development of a tiered and binned genetic counselingmodel for informed consent in the era of multiplex testing for cancer susceptibility. Genet Med. 2015Jun;17(6):485-92. doi: 10.1038/gim.2014.134. Epub 2014 Oct 9.
Fishbein L, Merrill S, Fraker DL, Cohen DL, Nathanson KL. Inherited mutations in pheochromocytomaand paraganglioma: why all patients should be offered genetic testing. Ann Surg Oncol. 2013May;20(5):1444-50.Merrill SL, Vaidya A, Pyeritz RE. Ethical challenges of the use of whole exome sequencing in the clinic.World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg. 2013 Jan;4(1):58-61.INVITED BOOK CHAPTERSWerner-Lin, A. & Merrill, S. (2016). A role for social workers in helping families with inheritedcancer predisposition: A Case of Li-Fraumeni Syndrome. In J. McCoyd (Ed). Social Work inHealthcare Settings, 2nd Edition.Werner-Lin, A., Doyle, M., Merrill, S. & Gehlert, S. (2018, in preparation). Social work and genetics. In S.Gehlert & T. Arthur Browne. Handbook of Health Social Work, 3rd Ed. Wiley & Sons, San Francisco, CA.MANUSCRIPTS IN PREPARATION/SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW/ONGOINGRESEARCH PROTOCOLSWerner-Lin, A. & Merrill, S. & Brandt, A. (manuscript under review at Familial Cancer).Talking with children and adolescents about a BRCA mutation in the family: A developmentalapproach for parents.Merrill, S., Manso, V., Conway, L., Kessler, L. (manuscript in preparation). A qualitativeexploration of perceived impact, uncertainty, and change in diagnoses of Marfan syndrome.Co-Investigator on Study “Genetics and Biochemical Studies of Tumors of the AutonomicNervous System,” sponsored by Dr. Katherine Nathanson, University of PennsylvaniaCONFERENCE PRESENTATIONSInvited Speaker North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society Annual SymposiumIncorporating Genetic Testing Into Clinical PracticeInvited Faculty - American College of Cardiology 66th Annual Scientific SessionIncorporating Genetic Testing Into Clinical Practice - The Role of the Genetic CounselorInvited Faculty - American Heart Association’s Annual Scientific SessionsInstructor Clinical Genomics Bootcamp for CardiologistsInvited Speaker 24th Annual State-of-the-Art Arrhythmia SymposiumInherited Arrhythmia Disorders and Genetic Testing – Questions You Need to AskOctober 2017March 2017November 2016October 2016National Society of Genetics Counselors – Selected as Janus Series SpeakerOctober 2015Merrill, SL. “Advances in the Understanding of Paragangliomas and Pheochromocytomas: Underappreciatedand Highly Genetic”Invited Speaker Annual Conference Hereditary Cancers for Community Oncology Providers Sept 2015Neuroendocrine Tumors for the Institute for Medical Education (IME) and the US Oncology NetworkInvited Speaker NSGC Cancer/Personalized Medicine SIG WebinarAugust 2015
“Genetic Counselors and Somatic Genetic Testing: Laboratory and Clinical Perspectives”World Congress of Psycho-Oncology Poster PresentationJuly 2015Werner-Lin, A and Merrill, SL. “Diagnosis of familial genetic syndrome following pediatric cancer diagnoses:The need for direct practice social workers in helping families with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome”American Association for Cancer Research Poster PresentationSpring 2015Patel V, Maxwell K, Babushok D, Merrill S, Wubbenhorst B, Cohen, R, Domchek, S, Sullivan L, Bessler M,Nathanson K. “Expanding the clinical paradigm of patients with biallelic BRCA2 mutations”National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Meeting Poster PresentationFall 2014Merrill, SL, Dolinsky, J; Witherington, S; Thompson,J; Fishbein, L; Nathanson, KL. “Cost should not be abarrier to genetic testing in patients with paragangliomas and pheochromocytomas.” An industry collaborationwith Ambry Genetics.Fanconi Anemia Research Fund Scientific Symposium AbstractFall 2014Maxwell, K, Babushok, D, Merrill, S, Wubbenhorst, B, D’Andrea K, Domchek, S, Bessler, M, Cohen, R,Nathanson, KL. “An adult cancer patient with biallelic BRCA2 mutations - expanding the clinical paradigm ofFanconi Anemia D1”American Society for Bioethics and Humanities Selected Platform Paper PresentationFall 2013Merrill, SL. “Rational Suicide as a Perceived Benefit of Pre-symptomatic Genetic Testing in Patients at Riskfor Huntington’s Disease”North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society Poster PresentationSummer 2013Fishbein L, Bennett B, Merrill S, Cohen DL, LiVolsi V, Nathanson KL, Montone K. Succinate dehydrogenasesubunit B (SDHB) immunohistochemistry should not replace clinical genetic testing for SDHx mutations inpatients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma.The Endocrine Society Annual Meeting Poster PresentationSummer 2013Fishbein, L, Merrill, S, Cohen, D, Loevner, L, Rosen, M, Nathanson KL. “Rapid Full Body MRI Screening isan Efficient and Effective Method for Identifying Occult Tumors in Unaffected Patients with Succinatedehydrogenase subunit B Gene Mutations”Invited Speaker Ethics of the Heart II: Ethical Challenges of Congenital Heart DiseaseFall 2012Provided and discussed case examples of utility of whole exome sequencing in cardiology clinic; served aspanel member for discussion of testing with cardiology staff membersInvited Speaker Focus on Neuroendocrine Tumors ConferenceWhat to Expect from a Genetics VisitInvited Speaker Neurofibromatosis SymposiumReproductive Issues and NF-1Fall 2012Fall 2011American College of Medical Genetics Platform Paper PresentationSpring 2011Merrill, SL, Fishbein, L, Nathanson KL. “Prevalence of identifiable genetic etiologies in patients withpheochromocytomas and paragangliomas in a clinic-based series”Invited Speaker American College of Cardiology Webinar SeriesPersonalized Medicine: Plavix/Clopidogrel Genetic Testing, Warfarin Genetic TestingSpring 2011Jamestown 400th anniversary forum, Roanoke VAFall 2007“How shall we live together? Determining today’s acceptable moral decisions in a multi-religious, multiethnic, diverse society”
TEACHING EXPERIENCETEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPAnticipated Fall 2017SWRK 739: Illness and Family Caregiving, University ofPennsylvaniaFall 2012 –PresentLecturer, University of Pennsylvania School of NursingFall 2011 –PresentLecturer, Perelman School of Medicine at the University ofPennsylvaniaSpring 2009 –PresentLead Clinical Supervisor, Arcadia University, GeneticCounseling ProgramFall 2009 PresentLecturer, Arcadia University, College of Health SciencesFall 2013 –Spring 2014Faculty Instructor for the National Online Board Review Coursein Medical Genetics and Genetic CounselingSpring 2009 PresentFrequent Genetics Grand Rounds LecturerSpring 2009 PresentClinical supervisor and lecturer for the Medical GeneticsCHOP/HUP physician fellowship programSpring 2006 –Fall 2007Course Content Developer and Programmer of OnlineEducational Courses for Medical Students, Clinical Tools Inc,Spring 2004 Spring 2005Substitute High School Teacher for long-term sabbatical coverageassignments in Chemistry and Spanish and Women’s BasketballCoach, Egg Harbor Township Board of EducationPROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND SERVICESAd-hoc ReviewerGenetics in MedicineClinical GeneticsProfessional Organization Membership and LicensureNational Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC)Commonwealth of Pennsylvania State Genetic Counselor LicensureCommittee MemberSP2 student government representative
Interviewer and admissions committee volunteer member for Arcadia University geneticcounseling programProfessional and Community ServiceSpeaker and support group leader for numerous patient non-profit organizations’conferences and regional meetings - including Huntington Disease Society of America,Children’s Tumor Foundation, National Hemophilia Foundation, Pheo Para Troopers, LiFraumeni Syndrome Association, and the Marfan FoundationTeam Leader for Love Hope Strength, a bone marrow donation non-profit organizationGuest speaker for numerous area allied health professionals and nursing studentorganizations and high schools, including guest lecturer for the Egg Harbor TownshipMedical Science AcademyPeer mentor through NSGC to support recent graduates and new genetic counselorsServe as master’s thesis mentor and outside reader for Arcadia UniversitySerial interview guest for WNYC New York Public Radio on pre-symptomatic genetictesting, resulting in NPR’s This American Life Episode 509, “It Says So Right Here”OTHERHospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Division of CardiologyFebruary 2016-PresentSenior Genetic Counselor, Inherited Cardiac Disease Program Provide clinical genetic counseling services for a variety of genetic indications including, but not limited to,familial cardiomyopathy, connective tissue disorders/familial aortopathies,arrhythmogenic condition, congenital heart disease, and neuromuscular diseases Oversee high-level coordinated patient care across multiple subdivisions Promote measurable growth and financial sustainability of the cardiogenetics program Establish and grow a telemedicine genetic counseling delivery model in cardiogenetics, including marketingand contract negotiations Act as the primary supervisor of genetic counseling graduate students completing clinical rotations in adultgenetics at Penn Hire, train, and supervise more junior genetic counselors and clinical staff Collaborate with physicians on clinical research endeavors, including clinical trials Instruct medical students, genetic counseling students, physicians, nurses/nursing students, and patientorganization members via lectures, presentations, and discussions. Serve as a genetics resource and provide consultative services for providers in non-genetic Pennsubspecialties and the regional genetics communityHospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Division of Medical GeneticsJanuary 2009-January 2016Adult Clinical Genetic Counselor Provide clinical genetic counseling services for a variety of genetic indications including, but not limited to,familial cardiomyopathy, connective tissue disorders/familial aortopathies, cancersusceptibility syndromes, genodermatoses, neuromuscular and neurodegenerativediseases Oversaw high-level coordinated patient care across divisions and institutions Helped establish the Penn/CHOP Familial Cardiomyopathy Program with cardiologist, Dr. Anjali Owens Negotiated funding to provide consultative genetic counseling services to department of neurology
Acted as the primary supervisor of genetic counseling graduate students completing clinical rotations inadult genetics at Penn; assist in the training of genetics fellows as requested Hired, trained, and acted as the primary clinical supervisor for newly hired genetic counselors and clinicalstaff Collaborated with physicians on clinical research endeavors, including but not limited to, Co-Investigator on“Genetics and Biochemical Studies of Tumors of the Autonomic Nervous System” Instructed medical students, genetic counseling students, physicians, nurses/nursing students, and patientorganization members via lectures, presentations, and discussions. Some examplesinclude: Serve as a genetics resource and provide consultative services for providers in non-genetic Pennsubspecialties and the regional genetics communityCarilion Clinic Prenatal Diagnostic Center; Roanoke, VAJune 2007 – January 2009Prenatal Genetic Counselor Performed prenatal and preconception genetic counseling for a variety of indications including familyhistory concerns, advanced maternal age, pregnancy exposures, abnormal ultrasoundfindings, abnormal screening results, etc. in a high volume maternal fetal medicinepractice serving patients in SW Virginia, SE West Virginia, and eastern Tennessee Facilitated genetic evaluation of fetal demises and infants in the neonatal intensive care unit Developed and delivered presentations for physicians, medical students, allied health care professionals,patient organizations, and the community Provided clinical supervision for 3rd and 4th year medical students from a variety of medical schoolsClinical Tools, Inc. of Chapel Hill, NCFeb 2006 -Sept 2007 Worked as part of a team completing a NHGRI grant to develop online educational materials formedical students Served as the primary author of a peer-reviewed online module focusing on prenatal genetic testing Scored medical student simulated patient interviews to assess effectiveness of the online genetics educationintervention, specifically accuracy of information and sensitivity to ELSI issues duringpatient counseling regarding genetics issuesGuilford Genomic Medicine InitiativeMay 2006-July 2007 Organized and recruited physician focus groups to investigate the genetics needs of local primary carephysicians Coordinated and facilitated the administration of patient surveys in area physicians’ offices Developed educational materials for a website designed to educate physicians about thrombophilia,breast cancer genetics, and colon cancer genetics Assisted in the design, implementation, and interpretation of data for a study investigating effective writtencommunication strategies in patient genetic counseling letters Administered telephone surveys evaluating attitudes towards genetics to residents in Guilford County, NC
G, Gulden C, Hall M, Kohler L, Maxwell K, Merrill S, Montgomery S, Mueller R, Nielsen S, Olopade O, Rainey K, Seelaus C, Nathanson KL, Domchek S. Development of a tiered and binned genetic counseling model for informed consent in the era of multiplex testing for cancer susceptibility. Genet Med. 2015 Jun;17(6):485-92. doi: 10.1038/gim.2014.134.
