West Orange HS Alum Finds Her Calling As Scientist, Counselor

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the West Orange Public School District. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

West Orange High School Class of 2017 alum Sophia Adelson has spent the past eight years dedicating herself to the betterment of the human condition, and has now begun her career as a Research Genetic Counselor.

Sophia was an outstanding student and involved in several activities at WOHS. In addition to several Honor Societies, she played on the girls' softball team, was a Mountaineer Mentor, participated in Poetry Out Loud, and was Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook. After graduation, she attended Wellesley College, and in 2021, graduated with a double major in French and Biology.

Adelson moved on to attend Stanford University, graduating in June 2025 with a Master’s degree in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling.

“I decided to become a genetic counselor early in college when I discovered the profession could bridge my interests in psychology, biology, education, and improving maternal, newborn, and pediatric health outcomes,” began Adelson.

“Genetic counselors receive advanced training in medical genetics and counseling to guide and support patients seeking more information about how inherited diseases and conditions might affect them or their families, and to interpret test results,” she explained.

“I also had a strong personal connection to early cancer detection, and genomic medicine is at the forefront of proactive healthcare,” she added.

“Since finishing graduate school, I've begun working as a Research Genetic Counselor at Stanford School of Medicine within their department of pediatrics. I'm working on clinical research projects studying genetic causes of infertility, pregnancy complications, and pediatric health risks,” she went on to say.

“In this role, I collaborate with other clinicians and scientists and leverage my skills in scientific communication to disclose genetic results to research participants. In the new academic year, I will also have the opportunity to guest lecture for genetic counseling courses taught at Stanford,” Adelson added.

Adelson and her boyfriend recently moved from Boston to the San Francisco Bay Area to continue her graduate training.

“We are excited to continue living out here and to enjoy all the beautiful nature and great food the West Coast has to offer,” she concluded.

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