Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - Screening at Temple University

The Victor Center for Jewish Genetic Diseases at Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, hosted a screening at Temple University on Tuesday, December 2, 2008. The Victor Center has conducted similar screenings in past years at schools such as University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, and Haverford College, but this was the first time a screening was hosted at Temple University.

The Jewish genetic diseases screening, which involves genetic counseling and a blood draw, was offered at no cost to students 18 and older at the Student Activities Center on Temple University's campus. These screenings are important because one in five Ashkenazi Jews is a carrier of a mutation in a gene for one of several Jewish genetic diseases. While Tay-Sachs is the best known of these diseases, the are at least 11 diseases that occur more often in the Ashkenazi Jewish population and the Victor Center program screens for 9 disorders free of charge on college campuses.

Since a carrier is healthy, there is usually no family history of any of these diseases. There are 2 ways to find out if you are a carrier: To have a blood test or to have an affected child. Carriers do not have the disease, but can pass the gene mutation to their offspring. There is a one in four chance of having an affected child if two people who are carriers of a mutation in the same gene have a child together.

Insurance plans seldom cover this screening prior to pregnancy, and many people of Ashkenazi decent are unaware the tests are available. The Victor Center focuses on college campus education and screening to make students aware of Jewish genetic diseases and to offer convenient screening opportunities. The Victor Center partners with students on college campuses who help organize events preceding the screening which aid in the informal education process, and to recruit volunteers for the day of the event.

Lauren Averbuch, with the support of Temple's American Medical Student Association, helped coordinate the screening logistics, and recruit her fellow AMSA-ites to assist in the process. She is a senior biology student at Temple University, who was drawn to the project due to her desire to pursue a career in public health or medicine. Lauren organized a fundraiser at the Draught Horse, a popular pub on Temple University's campus. The Draught Horse gave 10% of its proceeds to the Victor Center, if students came in with a piece of paper requesting the donation.
br>Chelsea Wallack and Jenna Zimmer, with the support of Temple University's Hillel, organized a very successful fundraiser at Hillel on Monday, November 24th. The two secured merchandise from community vendors to be auctioned off at the event. This was a great opportunity for students to learn about Jewish genetic diseases and pick up some goodies.

With the support of Temple's American Medical Student Association and Hillel, the Victor Center was able to screen 59 students, and educate hundreds more about the importance of getting screened and the reasons to do it while they are students even though the information has no direct impact on their lives right now. Knowledge is power is definitely a focus of the Victor Center and its student partners.