Introducing Banksy, Shodair’s New Facility Dog
August 3, 2023
Employee Spotlight: Sarah Ryan
August 5, 2023
Employee Spotlight: Jaclyn Haven
Evolving every day, genetics is one of the fastest-growing fields in medicine. And for many families, it can also be one of the most life altering. For more than a century, Shodair Children’s Hospital has been creating a healthy and hopeful Montana by caring for our most vulnerable residents. And, today, not only do we stand as Montana’s only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital (and the only of its kind network wide), but we are also proud to be the home to a nationally-recognized genetics program – the sole comprehensive genetics program in the state!
As a leader in the field, our genetics team is known for both their care and innovative solutions – an effort that wouldn’t be possible without our Lead Genetics Counselor, Jaclyn Haven. Passionate about creating a space for genetics across the state of Montana, Jaclyn’s interest in the field first started during her college years, where she worked as a mental health technician right here at Shodair. What started as a routine day of shadowing Shodair’s genetics program has grown into a lifelong passion for Jaclyn – leading to exciting developments in our care program, a TedXHelena talk, and an integral role in Shodair’s upcoming Genetics Symposium. To break open the field of genetics, we sat down with Jaclyn to learn more about her current role at Shodair, the future of genetic medicine, and why others should consider attending Shodair’s 2023 Genetics Symposium. See what she had to say!
At my core, I truly love helping people. As a native Montanan, I am honored to serve people of all ages from across this beautiful state. I have a wonderful husband, two wild young boys, and a sweet Golden Retriever. When not at work, you will find me somewhere outdoors with my family – depending on the weather, probably camping, skiing, kayaking, or hiking.
I have the tremendous opportunity to lead our clinical service line, working alongside our genetics team (doctors, nurse practitioners, genetic counselors, administrative assistants, etc.) to optimize our services and, ultimately, provide the best genetics care for the people of Montana.
Genetic counseling is the perfect combination of science and working with families. The field of genetics is moving at an astounding pace and there is something new to learn literally every day!
Definitely! Genetics is such an exciting area of science and healthcare. Several thousand genetic disorders have been identified and testing has never been easier or more affordable. In addition, genetic technologies are allowing us to treat conditions that were previously untreatable. The future of genetics is so exciting – the sky is the limit!
We see patients from across the state of all ages for any genetics indication. We also have an in-house genetics laboratory that is able to process the testing for all our patients. We’re a very integrated department and we aim to provide seamless care.
The symposium is an amazing opportunity for families and providers to come together and learn about genetics. Especially in a rural state, it can be challenging to network with other families. We hope this is an opportunity for individuals to connect and learn about some amazing resources. View the lineup of events for Shodair’s 2023 Genetics Symposium.
Our goal is to make genetics accessible and understandable, ultimately helping you to decide whether genetic testing might make sense for your family. As such, we see patients via telehealth and at in-person clinics throughout the state.
Genetic testing is more accessible than ever, and we never want cost to be a burden. Please don’t hesitate to reach out – we’re here to help!
Looking to gain more genetics insight from Jaclyn? Take a moment to check out her TEDxHelena talk from a few years ago. Yeah, we know – she’s a superstar!
Join Our Team
From medical genetics and inpatient psychiatry to special education and speech pathology, Shodair is made up of some of the strongest and most passionate professionals in their field, all driving toward one goal: Building hope for Montana families. And, you can be, too. Having just completed our new state-of-the-art hospital building – intentionally designed and equipped to meet the needs of both staff and patients – we are currently looking for resilient, mission-minded individuals to join our dynamic team! If that sounds like you (we think it might), head on over to our career page to view a full list of opportunities and fill out an application today.
