Basic Training

Mary E. Norton, MD
UC San Francisco

Dr. Mary Norton is a perinatologist and geneticist, and is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at UCSF. She is Director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and co-Director of the UCSF Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine. Her clinical and research interests include genetic testing and its application to prenatal screening and diagnosis. She focuses on the unique aspects of translating new genetic and genomic technologies into improved care for pregnant women and their fetuses. Much of her research has involved cell free DNA screening and implementation into practice, as well as patient and provider education regarding prenatal genetics’ generally, and cfDNA specifically.

Ronald Wapner, MD
Columbia University

Dr. Wapner is the Director of Reproductive Genetics and the Vice Chair of Research in Obstetrics and Gynecology for Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Wapner is an internationally known physician and researcher specializing in reproductive genetics. He pioneered the development of chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and multi-fetal reduction. He has authored or co-authored over 400 publications and has been an active investigator in the area of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. He recently led a multicenter study evaluating the accuracy, efficacy, and clinical advantages of prenatal diagnosis using microarray analysis. He has had a significant role in the development of multidisciplinary research studies and clinical research centers throughout his career.

Janice G. Edwards, MS, CGC
University of South Carolina

Janice G. Edwards, MS, CGC, Clinical Professor and former Director of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Genetic Counseling Program, has over 40 years in clinical practice focused on prenatal genetics and Huntington disease. An experienced genetic counselor educator, she was the Founding President of the Transnational Alliance for Genetic Counseling, an international network of genetic counselor educators. She has directed genetic education conferences and symposia at regional, national, and international levels. A skilled facilitator, Ms. Edwards has also worked with several national organizations to build consensus around emerging issues in reproductive genetics. She is committed to supporting clinicians and healthcare systems in the integration of genetics and genomics in medicine.

Melissa Stosic, MS, CGC​
Stosic Consulting

Melissa Stosic, MS, CGC, ACRP-CP, is a women’s health and genomics executive with more than 20 years of experience spanning clinical care, academic research, diagnostics, and biotechnology leadership. She has helped to build and scale organizations from early-stage innovation through clinical validation, commercialization, and operational growth, with expertise in translating complex genomic technologies into clinical practice.

Melissa began her career as a prenatal genetic counselor at Columbia University before leading landmark multicenter research studies that helped establish chromosomal microarray as the standard of care for prenatal diagnosis. She later returned to Columbia as Associate Director of Reproductive Genetics, where she helped to launch a comprehensive reproductive genetics service and managed an NIH-funded sequencing program.

She spent five years at Natera during the rapid expansion of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), ultimately serving as Director of Medical Education. There, she supported product development and commercialization, built and led the company’s Scientific Advisory Board, Speaker Bureau, and Medical Science Liaison team, and delivered hundreds of educational presentations worldwide. Since 2020, Melissa has advised diagnostics and life sciences companies on medical strategy, commercialization, and operational execution. She also served as Chief Operating Officer of Dot Laboratories and has been working with the Foundation for Reproductive Genetics Education (FoRGE) since its inception. Melissa earned her BS in Biology from Rowan University and her MS in Genetic Counseling from Arcadia University.