"WOW! Well done to Drs Shaffer and Bejjani and the team at Signature Genomic Labs Inc. As a clinical geneticist I can only say you continue to provide as outstanding service to our patients. Thank you"

-Signature Client

Signature Team Bios

Lisa G. Shaffer, PhD, President and CEO

Ph.D. in Human Genetics from the Medical College of Virginia, Richmond
Postdoctoral fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Genetics in Clinical Cytogenetics
Published over 200 articles on clinical cytogenetics, molecular cytogenetics, chromosome structure and biology
Currently an elected member of the International Standing Committee on Human Cytogenetics Nomenclature
Sits on the Board of Directors of the American College of Medical Genetics

Bassem A. Bejjani, MD, Chief Medical Officer

M.D. from American University in Beirut, Lebanon
Involved in molecular diagnostic activities as a post-doctoral fellow at the Shriver Center for Mental Retardation in Waltham, MA and as a fellow at Boston University Medical Center
Trained in Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina Hospitals
Former Medical Director of the Kleberg Cytogenetics laboratory at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Genetics in three distinct specialties (clinical molecular genetics, clinical cytogenetics, and medical genetics)
Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics

Beth Torchia, Ph.D., Technical Director

Former Director of Cytogenetics and Molecular Pathology at Forum Health/Northside Medical Center in Youngstown, OH
Ph.D. from the Medical College of Virginia, Richmond
Completed post-doctoral training at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics
Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Genetics in Clinical Cytogenetics

Catherine D. Kashork, B.S., CLSp(CG), Director of Operations

B.S. in Biology from Lenior-Rhyne College in Hickory, NC
Certificate in Cytogenetics from the University of Texas-Houston Health Sciences Center

Blake C. Ballif, Ph.D., Director of Product Development and Research

Ph.D. in Molecular and Human Genetics from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Internship in intelletual property law at the international law firm of Fulbright and Jaworski LLP
Post-doctoral training at Washington State University
Published numerous peer-reviewed research articles in the fields of human molecular genetics, cytogenetics, and microarray-based diagnostics

Justine Coppinger, M.S., Certified Genetic Counselor

Masters Degree in Genetic Counseling in 1995 from the University of South Carolina
Board certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling
Laboratory and Clinical Genetic Counseling experience
Prenatal Counselor at the University of Utah, Department of OB/GYN
Laboratory Liaison at DNA Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Utah
Clinical Counselor and Coordinator of the Ethnicity-based screening program at Kaiser Permanente, Northern California (San Jose)
Clinical Counselor at Inland Northwest Genetics Clinic in Spokane, WA

Andrew C. Olson, MBA, VP Sales & Marketing

M.B.A. from the University of Houston and a B.S. in Molecular Biology from Brigham Young University
Joined Signature Genomic Laboratories in October 2007
Prior Regional Business Manager for Roche Diagnostics leading account managers and field applications consultants
Various sales positions at Roche for five years and was a President's Award winner
Sales and marketing positions at GeneOhm Sciences (acquired by BD Diagnostics) and Fisher Scientific
Began career with Lexicon Pharmaceuticals as a research assistant