People

Dr. Valverde is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. She is the principal investigator and recipient of two grants from the Warren Alpert Foundation: the Alliance for Genetic Counseling (AID-GC) and the Career Ladder Education Program for Genetic Counselors (CLEP-GC). These two awards total nearly $20 million. The AID-GC grant provides full scholarships for 50 genetic counseling students from diverse backgrounds. The CLEP-GC grant provides continuing research education for 50 genetic counselors and salary support to allow them to develop independent research projects. In total, 100 genetic counselors will benefit from these two awards.

With a professional background spanning thirty years, Dr. Valverde has demonstrated her leadership in program management at two of the largest genetic counseling programs in the United States: Sarah Lawrence College and the University of Pennsylvania (the UPenn program was formerly at Arcadia University). Since the UPenn/Arcadia program's inception in 1995, she has held various roles, including assistant director, thesis mentor, instructor, professor, and since 2004, Program Director, graduating nearly 400 genetic counselors. Her exceptional service to Arcadia University was recognized in 2018 when she was named Professor of the Year, the highest faculty honor the University can bestow.

Dr. Valverde received a BA in Psychology from Binghamton University, an MS in Human Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College, and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Salus University in 2020.  She has over thirty years of experience in clinical training and supervision as the fieldwork facilitator at Sarah Lawrence College and then clinical coordinator at Arcadia University; she is an expert in genetic counseling education. Her research has focused on genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, with the belief that communicating risk and determining the appropriate timing for testing are essential components for a practical counseling session, thus facilitating the patient’s experience. Her first-hand experience with genetic testing as a member of a BRCA family has given her insight into how families grapple with the complex issues of being tested and communicating results among family members. Most recently, she studied coping and resiliency in adults with primary mitochondrial disease. Her professional and personal experiences with genetic counseling have informed her practice and advocacy for patients and their families.

Dr. Valverde's commitment to the field is evident in her active involvement in all the national and state organizations that support genetic counselors and the profession.  She played a key role in the creation of the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling, serving as a founding board member. Her leadership as treasurer on the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors’ (AGCPD) executive board and her co-chairing of important committees demonstrate her dedication to advancing the field. Her seven-year tenure as chair of the Pennsylvania Genetic Counseling Licensure Committee culminated in a significant milestone when Governor Tom Corbett invited her to Harrisburg to witness the signing of the licensure bill into law in 2012.

In recognition of her excellence in teaching, she was honored to receive Professor of the Year from Arcadia University, the highest honor awarded to a faculty member. In recognition of her 30 years of service to the Masters in Genetic Counseling Program at Arcadia University, the Kathleen D. Valverde Scholarship was established. This annual scholarship supports undergraduate research in the sciences.

Since 1995, Dr. Valverde has trained nearly 400 genetic counselors, many of whom have gone on to become genetic counseling program directors, executive directors of advocacy organizations, laboratory leaders, and outstanding clinical genetic counselors.