Janette Z. Lawrence, MS, LCGC is a native bilingual (Spanish-English) cancer genetic counselor at the MGH Center for Cancer Risk Assessment (CCRA) since 2010. Ms. Lawrence attended Rutgers University for her undergraduate studies where she received her Bachelor of Arts in biology. She went on to receive her Master of Science in Genetic Counseling at Brandeis University in 2005 and has remained in the Northeast ever since. Before joining the Mass General Cancer Center, Ms. Lawrence worked at Upstate Medical University Hospital in Syracuse, NY, and at Children’s Hospital Boston. She has worked in pediatrics, metabolism, neuro-genetics, newborn screening, and cancer genetics clinics. She is an active member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC), volunteering her time in DEI efforts and mentoring. She is a founding member of the Boston Minority Genetic Counselor (BMGC) group and has planned, executed, and participated in various efforts to help recruit minority students to the genetic counseling profession.
Ms. Lawrence has given numerous lectures and presentations at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.
- MS, Brandeis University, Genetic Counseling Program – Waltham, MA
- Master of Science in Genetic Counseling, May 2005
- BA, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey – New Brunswick, NJ, Bachelor of Arts in Biology, with High Honors, Jan 2003
- Minor: Jewish Studies
- Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Golden Key, Cap & Skull, Collegiate Scholar, Dean’s List (2000-2003)
Presentations
MGH Institute of Health Professions, Genetic counseling Graduate program- Boston, MA, Oct 2019, Oct 2020, “The Use of Interpreters for more Effective Genetic Counseling”
Speaker, Blums Family Education Center, MGH, “Ovarian cancer-causing genes”, April 2019
“The Jewish-Cancer Connection”, Temple Beth Abraham in Nashua, NH- March 5, 2019
Boston Oncology Nurses of Boston (BONS) Conference, “Genetic counseling: What is the right test for your patient”- Boston MA- October 2018
Lunch and Learn: Medical Series, One in Forty Foundation,- MGH, Waltham- Sept 2018
Genetics Conference Grand Round, “Pancreatic Cancer Genes”- MGH, Boston, MA- June 2017
Berro, T, Amir, F, Chan‐Smutko, G, Lawrence, J, Channaoui, N. Creation and utility of ‘Boston Minority Genetic Counselors’. J Genet Couns. 2020; 29: 206– 211.
Underhill M, Blonquist T, Lawrence J, Hong F, Yurgelun M, Syngal S. Health Behaviors and Beliefs in Individuals with Familial Pancreatic Cancer. Familial Cancer. 2019; 457-464.
Underhill M, Hong F, Lawrence J, Blonquist T, Syngal S. Relationship between individual and family characteristics and psychosocial factors in persons with familial pancreatic cancer. Psycho‐Oncology. 2018;1–8.