ALS Learning Series

Navigating ALS care can be complicated and filled with many complex decisions, including whether genetic testing is right for you. Join us for a discussion with genetic counselor Laynie Dratch, ScM CGC, as she describes the role of a genetic counselor and addresses common questions about the genetics of ALS-FTD spectrum disorders, the genetic testing process, and more. Laynie welcomes you to come with questions for discussion. 

Laynie Dratch, ScM CGC

Laynie Dratch, ScM CGC is a board-certified genetic counselor for the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) Center and Penn Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Center in the Department of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. She is the co-founder and chair of the ALS/FTD Working Group within the National Society of Genetic Counselor’s Neurogenetics group, as well as the co-founder of the annual Penn Familial FTD/ALS Conference. Her research interests include the lived experiences of individuals at risk of developing ALS/FTD spectrum disorders, and genetic counseling access and service delivery. Laynie completed her master’s in genetic counseling at the Johns Hopkins University / National Institutes of Health genetic counseling training program and completed her undergraduate studies at Colgate University where she graduated summa cum laude with a BA in neuroscience and a minor in psychology.