Happy Medical Genetics Awareness Week! The goal of this week is to raise awareness of the invaluable contributions that medical genetics healthcare professionals make in the diagnosis, management and prevention of genetic diseases! Each day we will feature an amazing PA who works in the field of medical genetics!

Day 2/4: Meet Khareem Burkli, PA-C.  Khareem is a genetics PA at Baptist Health of South Florida.

Why genetics?

I had an amazing Radiation Oncologist Attending who was passionate about breast cancer and its association with hereditary predisposition cancer syndromes.  He introduced me to the field of cancer genetics.  When he announced his retirement, it just happened that the Division of Clinical Genetics at the Miami Cancer Institute was being restructured, and there was an opportunity for me to transfer there and become a part of the world of Genetics.  It was the best decision of my life.  I absolutely love it!

I feel like I am acting as a private investigator who is trying to find a missing piece of a puzzle.  I enjoy looking for answers to questions such as:  Why do certain people develop cancer?  How can we help them and their families to prevent cancer, or if it occurs, catch it at an early stage?  Also, I love being part of a multicultural team with different backgrounds.  In addition, I very much enjoy the Miami Cancer Institute’s multidisciplinary approach to fighting cancer.

Once I transferred to Clinical Genetics, I had the opportunity of being trained by the geneticist, genetic counselors, and the nurse educator.  In addition, I recently completed my training at City of Hope where I obtained my certification in Cancer Risk Assessment.

What does your typical day entail?

My role is constantly changing and evolving as I am becoming more proficient in cancer risk assessment.  I see patients with the geneticist and/or genetic counselors and assist with risk assessment.  The geneticist has a very full schedule.  To see a greater number of patients, the plans are for me to soon start my own clinic.

What is your favorite thing about being a genetics PA?

I get a chance to interact with a multidisciplinary team, and keep learning all the time, but, most importantly, I feel that I can help patients by recommending treatments and risk-reducing procedures based on standardized clinical guidelines.