Apoorva Viswanathan

Hello there! I'm Apoorva Viswanathan and I moved to Milwaukee all the way from Chennai, India to make my dreams of becoming a genetic counselor come true. My academic journey led me to complete a Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology at SRM Institute of Science and Technology. During my undergraduate years, I undertook a fascinating project focusing on immunomodulatory peptides derived from pearl and foxtail millets.

Following the completion of my undergraduate degree, I embarked on a journey of practical experience in the field of genetic counseling. I served as a genetic counseling intern at two clinics: Mediscan, specializing in fetal medicine, and the Madras Cancer Care Foundation's hereditary cancer clinic. These roles allowed me to gain firsthand insights into case preparation, pedigree drawing, and the significance of patient care.

Subsequently, I joined the Center for Cellular and Molecular Platforms as a research intern. Here, I collaborated with a dedicated team on a translational science project aimed at upscaling antimicrobials extracted from bacteria. Simultaneously, I juggled responsibilities as a remote genetic counseling intern at Bluegene Healthtech, where I crafted personalized case summaries, participated in enriching journal club meetings, and engaged in discussions with genetic counselors about patient cases. This experience further ignited my passion for genetic counseling.

Amidst the challenges of the pandemic, I decided to provide support to families who had lost loved ones to COVID-19 at the Banyan. Later, I built on these skills at 1Life, as a suicide helpline volunteer. Additionally, I spent time interacting with parents of children with disabilities at Ramana Sunritya Alaya (RASA), discussing their family and medical histories and addressing their concerns and joys. I also dedicated my time to volunteering at U&I, an organization that offers education to underprivileged children. Within U&I, I took on a leadership role at Project Uplift, where I led and trained a group of mentors who taught underprivileged children valuable life skills such as sex education and self-actualization. These experiences deepened my connections with diverse communities and reinforced my desire to contribute as a genetic counselor.

Outside of my academic and volunteer work, I enjoy dancing, traveling, meeting new people, and cherishing moments with my loved ones. I am immensely thrilled about my upcoming journey towards becoming a genetic counselor at the Medical College of Wisconsin!