Curriculum Vitae

Amanda Scaffe Higgs, M.G.C., C.G.C.

Instructor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences

University of Maryland School of Medicine

Date June 5, 2017

Contact Information

Business Address: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences

22 South Greene Street, N6W39

Baltimore, MD 21201

Business Phone Number: (410) 328-3338

Fax: (410) 328-0279

Email: [email protected]

Education

1996 B.S. Biology, University of Richmond (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa),

undergraduate honors research thesis – “The Control of Flagellar

Regeneration in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii”

2000 M.G.C. Masters in Genetic Counseling, University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Masters thesis – “Evaluation of Different Recruitment Strategies Used

in a Family Study”

Certificates

2002 Diplomate, American Board of Genetic Counseling (#2002292)

2012 Diplomate, American Board of Genetic Counseling (#11515)

Employment History

1996 – 1997 Research Assistant, Acute Cardiac Team, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical

College of Virginia

1998 Family Planning Associate (volunteer), Planned Parenthood of Maryland

1998 – 2000 Study Coordinator, Family Study of Early Onset Ischemic Stroke, Department of

Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine

2000 – 2002 Prenatal Genetic Counselor, High Risk Pregnancy Center, Department of Obstetrics

and Gynecology, Mercy Medical Center

2002 – present Prenatal Genetic Counselor, Center for Advanced Fetal Care, Department of

Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School

of Medicine

2011 – present Senior Genetic Counselor, Center for Advanced Fetal Care, Department of

Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School

of Medicine

Amanda Scaffe Higgs, M.G.C., C.G.C.

Page 2

Employment History (continued)

2011 – present Genetic Counselor, Fetal Heart Program, Center for Advanced Fetal Care,

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of

Maryland School of Medicine

Academic Appointments

2004 – 2011 Clinical Instructor (Volunteer), Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and

Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine

2009 – present Graduate Faculty Member (Associate), University of Maryland Graduate School,

University of Maryland

2011 – present Instructor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences,

University of Maryland School of Medicine

Professional Society Membership

2000 – present Full Member, National Society of Genetic Counselors

2002 – present Diplomate, American Board of Genetic Counseling

Honors and Awards

2010 Master Genetic Counselor (peer-nominated), Jane Engelberg Memorial

Foundation, National Society of Genetic Counselors

Clinical Activities

Prenatal genetic counseling for advanced maternal age, teratogen exposure, abnormal screening results,

fetal ultrasound abnormalities, family history concerns, termination of pregnancy for fetal indication

Teleconsultation

Clinical Expertise

Board certified genetic counselor

Scope of Clinical Practice

Site of Primary Practice: Center for Advanced Fetal Care

Total Number of Encounters: ~400 per year

Responsibilities With Practice: leadership role

Total Time Spent: 100% FTE

Amanda Scaffe Higgs, M.G.C., C.G.C.

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Administrative Service

Institutional Service

2002 – present Member, Program Admissions Committee, Masters in Genetic Counseling Training

Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine

2002 – present Member, Oral Examination Committee (~2 students per year/~10 candidates

total), Masters in Genetic Counseling Training Program, University of Maryland

School of Medicine

2002 Chair, Psychosocial Curriculum Committee, Masters in Genetic Counseling Training

Program Committee for Accreditation, University of Maryland School of Medicine,

2007 Chair, Medical Genetics Curriculum Committee, Masters in Genetic Counseling

Training Program Committee for Reaccreditation, University of Maryland School of

Medicine

2007 – present Member, Curriculum Committee, Masters in Genetic Counseling Training Program,

University of Maryland School of Medicine

2008 – present Member, Prenatal Consultation Team, Ethical Advisory Committee,

University of Maryland Medical Center

2010 – present Member, Ethical Advisory Committee, University of Maryland Medical Center

2010 – present Member, Perinatal Bereavement Committee, University of Maryland Medical

Center

2012 – present Member, Application Review Committee, Masters in Genetic Counseling Training

Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine

2012 – present Faculty Advisor, Medical Students for Choice, University of Maryland School of

Medicine

2014 Planning Committee, Supervisor’s Workshop, University of Maryland Genetic

Counseling Training Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine

2014 – present Member, Advancement Committee, Masters in Genetic Counseling Training

Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine

2016 Member, Search Committee for Associate Program Director, Masters in Genetic

Counseling Training Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine

2016 Alternate Member, School of Medicine Council, University of Maryland School of

Medicine

2016 – present Member, Steering Committee, Ethical Advisory Committee, University of Maryland

Medical Center

2017 – present Co-Director, Introduction to Genetics and Genetics Research Rotation, Maternal

Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Local and National Service

National Service

2007 – 2008 Member, Annual Education Conference Planning Committee, National Society of

Genetic Counselors

Amanda Scaffe Higgs, M.G.C., C.G.C.

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National Service (continued)

2016 Item Writer, Certified Genetic Counselor Examination, American Board

of Genetic Counseling

Local Service

2000 Rapporteur, Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing

2011 - present Member, Birth Defect Reporting Information System Advisory Committee, The

Office For Genetics and Children With Special Health Care Needs, State of

Maryland

Teaching Service

Mercy Medical Center

2000-2002 Lecturer

“Prenatal Genetic Counseling, Prenatal Screening and Diagnosis”

6-8, 3rd year medical students - 8 contact hours per year

University of Maryland School of Medicine

2002 - present Clinical Supervisor, Masters in Genetic Counseling Training Program,

2-3 students per year

2002 - present Clinical Supervisor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive

Sciences, ~6 residents per year

2002 - present Independent Study Project Advisor, Masters in Genetic Counseling Training

Program, 8 students total

2002 - present Small Group Facilitator

Cell and Molecular Biology (Year 1 Block IV)

25 first-year medical students, 6 contact hours per year

2002 - present Lecturer, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences

“Nontraditional Inheritance and Updates in Molecular Testing in Prenatal

Genetics”

“An update on prenatal screening for open neural tube defects and trisomies

18 and 21”

“Sample Prenatal Genetic Counseling Scenarios”

“Genetic Risk Assessment”

~ 24 residents, one contact hour per year

Amanda Scaffe Higgs, M.G.C., C.G.C.

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Teaching Service (continued)

University of Maryland School of Medicine (continued)

2002 - present Lecturer, Masters in Genetic Counseling Training Program

“Second Trimester Screening”

“Prenatal Diagnosis”

“Prenatal Role Playing”

“Practical Issues in Prenatal Genetic Counseling”

“Introduction to Genetic Carrier Screening”

“Genetic Termination of Pregnancy”

“First and Second Trimester Screening”

“Prenatal Genetic Counseling Boot Camp”

“Genetic Counseling Following Abnormal Prenatal Diagnosis; Crisis Counseling

and Facilitation of Decision Making”

~8 students, 12 contact hours per year

2007 Lecturer, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics

“Prenatal Diagnosis for Genetic Disorders”

~6 neonatology fellows

2008 Lecturer, Department of Family Medicine

“Introduction to Prenatal Genetic Counseling”

~ 15 family medicine residents

2008 - present Coursemaster, Masters in Genetic Counseling Training Program

HGEN 610: Genetic Counseling Seminar

~16 students, 32 contact hours per year

2011 Lecturer, Program in Epidemiology and Human Genetics, Human Genetics and

Genomic Medicine Track and Masters in Genetic Counseling Training Program

HGEN 601: Human Genetics 1

“Risk Assessment”

~14 graduate students, 2 contact hours

2011 - present Facilitator

MSPR 512: Structure and Development

~100 first-year medical students, 2 contact hours

2011 – present Clinical Supervisor, Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program,

1 fellow per year

Amanda Scaffe Higgs, M.G.C., C.G.C.

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Publications

Akkurt, MO, Higgs, A, Turan, OT, Turan, OM, Turan, S. Prenatal diagnosis of inverted duplication

deletion 8p syndrome mimicking trisomy 18. Am J Med Genet Part A 2017 173A:776-779.

Abstracts and/or Proceedings

1. Scaffe, A, Pollin, T, Xu, J, Kittner, S. An evaluation of different recruitment strategies used in a

family study. Journal of Genetic Counseling 2000; 9(6): 530. Poster presentation at the Annual

Education Conference of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, Savannah, Georgia, 2000.

2. Piurek, A, Higgs, A, Ning, Y, Thomas, G. Current resources, methods and strategies for the

identification of clinically important cytogenetic abnormalities: a survey and independent analysis.

Journal of Genetic Counseling 2007; 16(6): 676. Platform presentation at the Annual Education

Conference of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, Kansas City, Missouri, 2007.

3. Dinsmore, C, Udoff, L, Higgs, A, Ashley, S. The use of invasive prenatal diagnostic tests in

patients with infertility. Journal of Genetic Counseling 2008; 17(6): 583. Platform presentation at

the Annual Education Conference of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, Los Angeles,

California, 2008.

4. Martin, J, Higgs, A, Denne, E, Baschat, A. Determination of risk assessment protocols for

midtrimester amniocentesis in prenatal care centers. Journal of Genetic Counseling 2008; 17(6):

638. Poster presentation at the Annual Education Conference of the National Society of Genetic

Counselors, Los Angeles, California, 2008.

5. Kantor, V, Joines, J, Higgs, A, Skinner, M. Patient education and subsequent satisfaction with

genetic counseling. Poster presentation at the Annual Education Conference of the National Society

of Genetic Counselors, San Diego, California, 2011.

6. Kaplan J, Skinner M, Higgs A, Harman C, Greene C. Uncontrolled Maternal PKU as a Cause of

Holoprosencephaly. DW Smith Workshop, Lake Lanier, Buford, GA, 2012.

7. Low, A., Hippman, C., Dixon, S., Higgs, A., & Joines, J. Training to provide psychiatric genetic

counseling: How does it impact recent graduates’ and current students’ attitudes towards individuals

with psychiatric illness and their readiness to provide genetic counseling for this

population? Journal of Genetic Counseling 2015; 24(6): 1139. Poster presentation at the Annual

Education Conference of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, Pittsburgh, PA, October

2015.

Major Invited Speeches

2000, 2001, 2002 Scaffe, A. “Introduction to Clinical Genetics and Genetic Counseling” (Departmental

Seminar), Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia

2012 Higgs, A. “Genetic Considerations in Congenital Heart Disease”, Focus on the Fetal

Heart CME Symposium, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive

Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland