2017 - July 21st - "Evolution of a Cancer Genetics Program"

Rebecca Kaltman, MD is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology.  She is an Assistant Professor with The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences as well as a medical oncologist who has focused her career in caring for patients with breast cancer.  Dr. Kaltman obtained her undergraduate honors degree from the University of Michigan. She was the valedictorian of her medical school class at MCP-Hahnemann University School of Medicine.  Dr. Kaltman completed her internship, residency, and oncology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. 

As a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, an additional area of specialty and interest for Dr. Kaltman is genetic counseling and risk assessment for women with or without a diagnosis of breast cancer.  Prior to starting at GW, Dr. Kaltman was part of a breast cancer-focused private practice in Bethesda, Maryland.  Before moving to Maryland, Dr. Kaltman served on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine as a breast oncologist and clinical researcher in the Rena Rowan Breast Center, part of the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Kaltman enjoys cooking, skiing, spinning, and spending time with her husband and two children, ages 6 and 9.

Tara Biagi, MS, CGC is a board-certified genetic counselor specializing in working with individuals who have a personal or family history of cancer. She currently works at The George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates with the High Risk Breast Clinic and is passionate about providing patients with the highest degree of quality care and counseling.

Ms. Biagi received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.  She then joined the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT as a Genetic Research Coordinator for the Vertebrate Genome Sequencing and Analysis Group, where for several years she coordinated genetic research for vertebrate genome analysis and disease gene mapping. She went on to earn a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling from Brandeis University and completed internships with Massachusetts General Hospital, UMass Memorial Medical Center, and Baystate Medical Center. Prior to joining The George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates, Ms. Biagi worked at Children’s National Health System in Washington, D.C. as a pediatric genetic counselor providing genetic counseling services for families with a known genetic disorder and helped to coordinate the multidisciplinary care of children with genetic and metabolic disorders or complex birth defects.

Ms. Biagi specializes in helping individuals understand their personal risk of hereditary cancer, options for genetic testing and how testing results could impact their personal health care, as well as the health care of family members.

Ms. Elizabeth Stark, MS, CGC is a board-certified genetic counselor specializing in working with individuals who have a personal or family history of cancer. She currently works with the High Risk Breast Clinic and loves working with this interdisciplinary team to support the highest level of patient care. Ms. Stark also has a special interest in ensuring equitable access to genetics services in our community. 

Ms. Stark received her undergraduate degrees in biology and psychology from the University of Southern California. She then joined Teach for America and taught seventh grade life science and health in Los Angeles, while earning a Master’s degree in Secondary Education from Loyola Marymount University.  After a number of years teaching, Ms. Stark returned to the classroom as a student and received her Master’s degree in Genetic Counseling from California State University at Stanislaus. She completed internships with Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Kaiser Permanente, and the University of California at San Francisco, before launching her genetics career at the University of California, San Francisco Cancer Risk Program.