This series is for genetics health professionals led by the Canadian College of Medical Genetics and co-sponsored by Can-GARD. Speakers will be translation-focused researchers, clinicians and innovators. The series will help attendees anticipate, access, and apply new approaches and technologies for patient care.
The Can-GARD/CCMG Leading Strand Series is a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
To register, click the button below or go to: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_e2yO6xnsSK2v70BLslqwjA
2025-2026 Leading Strand from 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET on:
Friday October 24, 2025
Rewriting the Code: Genetics, Bioessentialism, and the Future of Intersex Care
This seminar invites genetic health professionals to critically examine how concepts of sex, gender, and variations in sex characteristics (VSCs) have evolved within medicine and society. We will trace the historical development of intersex and VSC healthcare, define bioessentialism, and discuss how it continues to shape policy and clinical language. The session will consider how these narratives influence current practice, including the use of genomic tools such as cfDNA, and explore the constructive role genetics can play in supporting individuals and their families. Participants will reflect on strategies for delivering genetic information with clarity and intention – considering pacing, family dynamics, trauma-informed approaches, and communication about tumor risk – to ultimately advance empowered, family-centered care.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the distinctions and intersections between sex, gender, and intersex variations/variations in sex characteristics (VSC), with attention to their clinical and sociocultural relevance in genetics.
- Examine the legacy of bioessentialism in shaping historical and contemporary practices within genetic medicine.
- Explore strategies for ethically grounded, family-centered genetic care, including nuanced communication of risk, pacing of information, and language that supports empowerment and informed decision-making.
Speaker: Kayla Horowitz
Bio: Kayla Horowitz, MSc, CGC (she/her/elle) is a certified genetic counsellor at the Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc in Brussels, Belgium, where she holds specialized clinics in cancer genetics, reproductive genetics, neurogenetics, and variations of sex characteristics (VSC). A 2022 graduate of the McGill University Masters of Genetic Counselling program, she has published works amplifying the voices of individuals with VSC and their families, aiming to drive meaningful change in clinical practice. Her work bridges intersex community advocacy and medical collaboration, focusing on deconstructing binary views of sex and gender and promoting safe, inclusive healthcare environments.
