Genetic Counselor Joins Franciscan

Danielle Hohman, a certified genetic counselor, has joined Franciscan Health in the Western Indiana region, serving Crawfordsville, Lafayette and Rensselaer.

Prior to coming to Franciscan, Hohman was a cancer center genetic counselor at a hospital in Indianapolis.

“Since my first day at Franciscan, I have learned that joining the team is more like joining a family,” said Hohman. “Franciscan providers work collaboratively on multidisciplinary teams and aim to provide the best possible care for each individual.”

Among the skills that she has acquired in her career and brings to Franciscan is the ability to interpret family and medical histories to provide cancer risk assessment. Hohman also is well-versed in educating patients regarding inheritance, testing options, management, prevention, resources, and research opportunities. She will also provide counseling to promote patient centered care, informed decision making, and adaption to risks.

“Genetic counselors are vital players in patients’ healthcare journey as we have advanced training in genetics and counseling,” said Hohman. “We strive to break down complex genetic concepts and empower patients to make informed decisions about their healthcare. This involves considering a patient’s personal and family medical histories and discussing the most appropriate genetic testing options available to them. Having a genetic counselor on staff allows for better access to genetic counseling services and can provide a more comprehensive healthcare experience.”

Hohman will provide genetic counseling services to patients in oncology, both in-person and virtual for Lafayette and virtual-only for Crawfordsville and Rensselaer. She will also provide genetic counseling services to patients in maternal fetal medicine in Lafayette.

“In oncology, meeting with a genetic counselor may help individuals, and their families, at risk for a hereditary cancer predisposition tailor their screening and management,” said Hohman. “In maternal fetal medicine, genetic counselors help patients who are pregnant or considering pregnancy understand how personal history, family history, and genetics can impact themselves, current and future pregnancies, and their relatives.”

The genetic counseling program at Franciscan Health identifies patients at risk for a hereditary cancer condition and discuss personalized surveillance and preventative options. The program also determines the most appropriate genetic tests and informative approaches to genetic testing for patients and their families as well as connecting patients to supportive, informative and research-related resources.

Hohman will be based at the state-of-the-art Franciscan Health Cancer Center Lafayette, located at 1701 South Creasy Lane, Suite 220 in Lafayette.

Patients interested in a genetic counseling appointment should speak to their primary care physician or specialist, and appointments can be made through Franciscan Health central scheduling at (877) 233-2774.