A bit about me

I am an experienced clinical genetic counsellor with strong education and academic skills. My experienced includes >20 years in clinical practice, two years lecturing in the UTS master of Genetic Counselling program and eight years in molecular genetics research. I am committed to high standards in clinical performance and delivery of cutting-edge education in genetic counselling. My key interests include cancer and general genetics, polygenic risk scores, development of new models of patient care, expanding genetic counsellor scope of practice, and optimising education of students and health professionals. I am currently completing a PhD entitled Integrating established and emerging genomic testing into clinical cancer care, under the supervision of Dr Tatiane Yanes, A/Prof Aideen McInerney-Leo and Mary-Anne Young. I am also working in the Familial Melanoma Clinic at the Princess Alexandra Hospital as a clinical genetic counsellor.

Awards and recognition

• Best oral presentation, ASGC conference, Melbourne (2023)

• HGSA Service Excellence award (2022)

• ASGC Outstanding Service award (2018)

Leadership

• Chair/member HGSA Board of Censors for Genetic Counselling (2011-2022)

• Principal Genetic Counsellor, Genetic Health Queensland (2019-2020)

• Chair/member Graduate School of Health Learning Futures committee, University of Technology Sydney (2021-2022)

• Chair HGSA Accreditation committee for Australian Master of GC Programs (2020)

Grants and Funding

• QGHA Workforce Development Grant: Investigator (2017)

• RBWH Research Grant: Principal investigator (2012)

• HGSA, ASGC, Cancer Council and Translational Research Institute travels grants (x 10)

Current Projects

• Clinician education on the use of PGS

Recent Publications

For full list of publications, see https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8079-2452

1. McGahan E, Berkman J, Milne D, Terrill B, Gear R, Gardiner S, Eckstein L, Nicol D, Taylor N, Winship I, McWhirter R, Nisselle A, Lodge J, McInerney-Leo A. Empowering human research ethics committees to review genomics applications: evaluating the utility of a custom online education resource. Eur J Hum Genet. 2025 Apr 17. doi: 10.1038/s41431-025-01846-5. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40247136.

2. Berkman J, DeBortoli E, Steinberg J, Milch V, Yanes T, McInerney-Leo A. Mainstreaming Cancer Genomic Testing: A Scoping Review of the Acceptability, Efficacy, and Impact. Clin Genet. 2025 Feb;107(2):123-135. doi: 10.1111/cge.14660.

3. Dane A* & Berkman J*, de Bortoli E, Wallingford CK, Yanes, T & McInerney-Leo A. Narrative therapy and family therapy in genetic counseling: A scoping review. J Genet Couns. 2025 Apr;34(2):e1938. doi: 10.1002/jgc4.1938 * joint first authors

4. DeBortoli E, McGahan E, Yanes T, Berkman J, Fuentes-Bolanos N, Milch V, Steinberg J, Mcinerney-Leo A. Utility of genomic testing in children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2024 Sep 23:djae233. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djae233.

5. Hoskins C, Gaff C, McEwen A, Macciocca I, Pearn A, Shalhoub C, Salvemini H, Berkman J, Riley K, Williams R, Milward M, Young M. (2021) Professional Regulation for Australasian Genetic Counselors J Genet Couns. 2021;30(2):361-369. doi:10.1002/jgc4.1344.