DNA Day 2021 Celebrating Our Shared Connectivity: Genetic Ancestry Testing, Identity and the Adoptee Perspective

DNA Day 2021 Celebrating Our Shared Connectivity: Genetic Ancestry Testing, Identity and the Adoptee Perspective

DNA Day 2021 is a global celebration of our shared connectivity and the power of democratized science. Advances in technology have expanded the usability of genetic ancestry testing. This panel brings together adoptees with unique experiences and expertise related to this technological advancement. Join us to learn more about the power of community, the limitations of the technology and the ethical complexities of genetic ancestry testing.

May 4, 2021 06:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)

REGISTER https://nih.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_gbH8PxbkSQWNKlAm0VkgCQ

Speakers

Heewon Lee

Heewon Lee is a genetic counselor at the Park Nicollet Frauenshuh Cancer Center in Minnesota. Her research interests include how adopted individuals navigate health information using direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTC-GT). A member of the Korean adoptee community, she is a contributor to the DTC-GT working group of NIH's Inter-Society Coordinating Committee for Practitioner Education in Genomics.

Tim Holtan

Tim Holtan is a Vietnamese adoptee who grew up and lives in Maryland. He is a world traveler and enjoys experiencing different cultures and cuisine. He volunteered to work in orphanages throughout Vietnam in his early 20s and volunteered for several adoptee summer camps in Vietnam and the U.S. Throughout his life, he has been part of several adoption panels. Tim is part of the adoptee community and several online adoptee groups, and he has appeared in several articles for his volunteer work and his experiences related to growing up as an adoptee.

Damon Davis

Damon Davis is an adoptee in reunion with his biological mother (2009), biological father (2017) and an adoptive parent. He is the host and producer of the "Who Am I Really?" podcast where adoptees share their own stories of adoption and their attempts to reunite with biological relatives. Damon's book Who Am I Really? An Adoptee Memoir tells his story of realizing his infant son was the first biological relative he had ever known, grappling with the decision to pursue reunion and connecting with his biological mother and father. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter: @WAIReally.