MHSc Medical Genomics Leadership Transition

The MHSc program in Medical Genomics is delighted to announce that Dr. Johanna Carroll has been appointed the program’s Director. Dr. Carroll, who completed her PhD at the University of California, Berkeley and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, is an Assistant Professor in the Teaching Stream within the Department of Molecular Genetics. She has been integral in the development and implementation of the MHSc program since she joined the Department in 2017, and has been serving as the program’s Faculty Capstone Practicum Coordinator since its launch date. Dr. Carroll’s enthusiasm for both the program and its students is obvious as she discusses her entry to the new role:

The Medical Genomics program is a unique program that gives students a fantastic opportunity to deepen their knowledge in Medical Genomics and apply this knowledge in professional settings. I look forward to continuing my work with the program in this new role, growing and adapting the program to the needs of our students entering a rapidly developing field.

Dr. Carroll succeeds Dr. Erin Styles, who, after almost eight years at the helm as the program’s inaugural Director, has been appointed as the Associate Chair and Undergraduate Coordinator for the Department of Molecular Genetics. Dr. Styles reflects on her time as the program’s Director with pride, noting:

I am so proud of what we’ve accomplished with the MedGen program over the past several years – we’ve come such a long way. We started with this idea that more people needed to know genomics, and now we’ve graduated five cohorts of amazing, talented students. The future is extremely bright – I know that Dr. Carroll will bring something fresh and vibrant to this work, and I’m so excited to see where she takes the program.

Dr. Styles is enthusiastic about her new role within the Department’s senior leadership, but is planning to continue to contribute actively to the MedGen program as the course coordinator of MMG3001Y - Advanced Human Genetics, a foundational course offered in the first year of the program.

Dr. Carroll will begin her term on January 1^st, 2025. To ensure the continuity of our leadership team during this transition period, we are thrilled that Dr. Martina Steiner has agreed to join Dr. Styles as the program’s interim Co-Director from July 1^st, 2024, until Dr. Carroll’s start date. Dr. Steiner is eager to contribute to the program in this new way:

The Medical Genomics program is a wonderful stepping stone for students to launch a career in the field of genomics, and it opens a wide range of opportunities for graduates. I am very proud to contribute to the program’s success and to a smooth transition for Dr. Carroll to lead the MHSc into the future.

The program – including our faculty, alumni, current and future students – is looking forward to welcoming Dr. Carroll as our incoming Director – we know she will excel in this important new leadership role, and will raise the program to new heights. Many congratulations, Dr. Carroll!