Posted by: Anna Miller, PhD student, Case Western Reserve University
We sat down with ASHG member Marsha Michie, PhD, Assistant Professor of Bioethics at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, to learn more about her research on the ethics of biomedical research and practice.
ASHG: Tell us about your position and how it fits into your institution and its goals.
Dr. Michie: I am a social scientist and empirical bioethicist, meaning that I conduct research on topics related to the ethics of biomedical research and practice. My main areas of interest are the translation of genetic/genomic and related technologies from research into clinical care, and the impact of genetic information on patients and families, particularly in the perinatal period. I also teach and mentor students and trainees in topics related to bioethics.
ASHG: How do you keep up with the latest in genetics science and use this in your work?
Dr. Michie: I subscribe to quite a few news sources and blogs in genetics, including GenomeWeb and news from ASHG and ACMG. Because so much of my research is about how new genetic technologies are developed and used, I keep in touch and collaborate with genetic scientists, clinicians, and genetic counselors to make sure I am up to date and have a clear understanding of the newest developments in the field.
ASHG: What are your favorite genetics websites and Twitter feeds?
Dr. Michie: GenomeWeb, TheDNAExchange.com, StatNews, @hail_CSER, @GA4GH, @eshgsociety, @GeneticCouns, @GenethicsForum, @GeneticsSociety, @TheACMG
ASHG: What are you currently reading/thinking about?
Dr. Michie: I was just funded by NHGRI to study how parents prepare for a child with a genetic condition after they receive prenatal test results. I’m also working a lot on ethical issues around CRISPR, especially ways to incorporate the views of patient communities into ethical guidelines, and am spending a fair amount of time looking into infant and maternal mortality.
ASHG: What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else? What’s your superpower?
Dr. Michie: I’m pretty good at calming other people (students, colleagues) down when they are nervous or anxious, and helping them see the big picture. If only I could apply that superpower to myself!
Marsha Michie, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Bioethics at the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine, and has been an ASHG member since 2013. Find her on Twitter at @marshamichie!
Anna Miller is a PhD student in Genetics and Genome Sciences at CWRU, and has been an ASHG member since 2019.