Our Genetic Counselors
Aarin Williams, MS, LCGC
My Background
I was born at Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center and am a lifelong Kaiser Permanente patient, so I feel like I've come full circle by working here as a medical professional.
Education & Experience
I learned about the field of genetic counseling while studying biology at Howard University. After shadowing a genetic counselor during my junior year, I felt that genetic counseling was the perfect fit for me.
It was during my time in college that I first saw some of the disparities in access to health care services for underserved groups. My goal in entering into this profession has been to try to mend that health care gap, and I feel that Kaiser Permanente's integrated approach to patient care helps do that. The aspect of care that I value most about working at Kaiser Permanente is the diversity both among my colleagues and in the patient population we serve. As genetic counselors, we work to provide equal access to quality service for all of our patients.
While working toward my master’s degree in human genetics at Stanford University, I interned with the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Genetics Department. It was a unique opportunity to see firsthand how the care we receive as Kaiser Permanente patients requires collaboration between a number of health care providers. Because genetics is a field that is always evolving, getting the opportunity to understand the nuances of how culture plays a role in decision-making helped shape my idea of what genetic counseling is all about.
I am a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors.
About My Practice
I currently see women who are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant, adults who have a personal or family history of cancer and children who are evaluated for underlying genetic components for health issues or physical differences.
How I Thrive
Community involvement is important to me, so in my spare time, I volunteer at health fairs and other events here at Kaiser Permanente through our professional society for African Americans (KPAPPA) and at the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation of California (SCDFC) as the education instructor for the summer camp, Camp Crescent Moon. I’m a proponent for a healthy work-life balance, so I thrive by setting aside time to read, trying foods from different cultures and traveling.