I grew up in the Santa Clarita area of Southern California.
Our Genetic Counselors
Cheryl Cina, MS, LCGC
My Background
Education & Experience
I received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia with a dual major in biology and Spanish. I then earned a Master of Science degree in genetic counseling from California State University, Northridge. While in training, I participated in clinical rotations at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA, Genzyme Genetics and City of Hope.
I have been a genetic counselor for 13 years and previously worked in prenatal, pediatric, adult and cancer genetics at The Queen’s Hospital and Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. I also provided cancer genetic counseling at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange County where I helped establish a support and education group for people at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
I am a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors and the Cancer Genetics Special Interest Group. I am a board-certified genetic counselor licensed by the State of California.
About My Practice
In my role as a genetic counselor, I use my training to educate individuals and their families regarding inherited forms of cancer. I provide assessments for people with cancer to determine if they need genetic testing that could help guide their screening and treatment. I also provide consultations for people who do not have cancer but have a significant family history of cancer, in order to develop a personalized management plan and discuss if genetic testing is an option. Since the field of genetics can be complex, I work to simplify genetics information for patients and their families. I enjoy working as a team with other genetic counselors and healthcare providers to give excellent patient care.
