Our Genetic Counselors
Anastacia Zoumberakis, MS, LCGC
My Background
A born and raised Kaiser Permanente baby, I never strayed from what is the best healthcare system in the nation. I was born at the Bellflower Medical Center and grew up as a Kaiser Permanente patient. After completing my studies, I was hired by Kaiser Permanente and couldn’t imagine myself at any other center besides the home that I already knew and loved.
Education & Experience
My journey into genetic counseling started in high school when I read a small blurb entitled “Careers in…” during the genetics chapter of my high school biology class. Majoring in biological sciences at the University of California, Irvine, I decided to finish with a minor in psychology because both fields fascinated me. I found the genetics portion of my studies so thought-provoking, I realized that both my interests fit perfectly with the field of genetic counseling.
After graduating UCI, I decided to explore the East Coast and attended Arcadia University to complete my master’s degree in genetic counseling. Though I loved Philadelphia (especially exploring the historical sites), I decided to move back to Southern California to be close to family – I missed the beautiful sunny California weather as well!
About My Practice
My career took on a new role in 2008 when I became a supervisor to our genetics department covering Downey, South Bay, and Baldwin Park. I was able to continue with my clinics while investing in improving our local systems and workflows. It brings me so much pride to know that I have a role in developing ways to continue improving patient care and help Kaiser Permanente along in this new technological world.
I love working at Kaiser Permanente because our providers are patient advocates. The patient is the first priority and the multitude of discussions we have about patient care really shows how much thought we give to our patients and their families.
I love seeing my patients throughout consecutive pregnancies and watching their children grow up. Our integrated system allows us to see various family members who are also Kaiser Permanente patients and test those that may be at risk of having a genetic condition previously diagnosed in another family member. It is so fulfilling knowing that our recommendations can benefit entire families and help prevent certain diseases.
