Education

Brigham Young University (BYU), 2024
Bachelor of Science in Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology
Double major: Bioinformatics
Minors: Computer Science, Molecular Biology, and Business.

Research Interests

Transgender healthcare, cancer, qualitative, mixed methods

Research Description

I’m currently undertaking my PhD research focused on integrating genetic risk assessment into gender-affirming care (GAC) for the growing transgender and gender diverse (TGD) population. The demand for GAC (hormone therapy and surgery) is rising, yet there are currently no established clinical guidelines for genetic testing—which can inform risk-reducing surgeries for hereditary cancers (like those related to BRCA1/2 or Lynch syndrome) before a patient starts treatment. My project will first determine relevant genetic risk factors through a scoping review and a retrospective chart review to understand the current practice of genetic risk assessment frequency and subsequent interventions in TGD patients. Crucially, I will then use a mixed-methods approach (interviews and a broad survey) to explore TGD patient attitudes, feelings, and perceptions regarding this integration. The goal of this work is to propose new clinical guidelines for genetic testing prior to GAC, ensuring patients are empowered to make informed decisions that align their physical affirmation goals with necessary long-term risk reduction.

Mentor/Lab

PhD. MPH. MSGC. John Quillin

Awards

• VCU Graduate School Travel Grant, 2025
• School of Medicine Graduate Student Travel Award, 2025
• “The Pooja Way” Scholarship – Champion Scholar, 2024-2025
• NSGC Project Award – Spanish Development SIG, 2024-2025
• Third place winner at VCU 3 Minute Thesis Competition, 2025
• Best Student Presentation 2025. IMPAHC Conference, 2025
• Third place winner at VCU 3 Minute Thesis Competition, 2024

Selected Publications

Olivia Rodriguez, Joseph Wride, Mathew Tufts, Connor Peterson, Badí Quinteros, Elisa McRae, Gayatri Khanderao, Aik Choon Tan, Matthew Firpo, Alejandro Sanchez. 74 Unraveling the Complexities of Obesity in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Carcinogenesis. (2024). 10.1093/oncolo/oyae181.060

Harris, AHS, Eddington, H, Shah, VB, Shwartz, M, Gurewich, D, Rosen, AK, Quinteros, B, Wilcher, B, Nieser, KJ, Jones, G, Wu, JT, Morris, AM. Statistical Methods to Examine Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Surgical Literature: A Review and Recommendations for Improvement. (2024). 10.1097/SLA.0000000000006440

Avery Mecham, Ashlie Stephenson, Badí I. Quinteros. Grace Salmons, Stephen R. Piccolo. TidyGEO – Web-based, open-source tool for downloading, tidying, and restructuring data series from GeneExpression Omnibus (GEO). (2023). 10.1515/jib-2023-0021

Alyssa C. Parker, Badí I. Quinteros, Stephen R. Piccolo. The DNA methylation landscape of five pediatric-tumor types. (2022). https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13516