Faces of UNC Asheville

Anthony Keys

Genetics Class Leads to a Career for Anthony Keys 

Prenatal genetics counselor Anthony Keys (class of 2005) credits a Biology class with professor Betsy Wilson with helping direct him to graduate school and his career. “I was really interested in genetics as an undergraduate and enjoyed Dr. Wilson’s class in my junior year. I decided to do undergraduate research involving genetics my senior year. Dr. Wilson mentioned genetics counseling to me as a profession, and I went from there.”   

As the only prenatal genetics counselor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York Medical College in Manhattan, Keys consults with pregnant women at risk of having children with genetic conditions or birth defects due to drug or medication exposure. “In the process, I try to help women understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease,” Keys says. “Since there hasn’t been anyone in my position for almost two years, I’ve had to work hard to make things as smooth as possible, which can be difficult when I’m getting referrals from the entire department in a fairly large hospital.”

Keys assesses patients’ risks of disease occurrence or recurrence and offers the appropriate genetic testing and/or referral to specialists, if necessary, in cardiology, pediatrics, psychology/psychiatry, endocrinology and other areas. “I like the level of autonomy I have, and I really enjoy helping people. It’s a very rewarding experience. I feel like I’ve found my niche for now.” 

A native of Washington who grew up in Wilson, N.C., Keys worked at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Md., where he conducted experiments for applications in targeted radiotherapy. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y., with a master’s degree in human genetics last May.