Clinical Team

Mustafa Tekin, M.D.

Chair and Professor, Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics
Professor, Department of Otolaryngology
Chief, Division of Clinical and Translational Genetics, Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics
Member, John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics

Dr. Mustafa Tekin is chair of the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and chief of the Clinical and Translational Genetics Division. Dr. Tekin is board certified in Clinical, Biochemical, and Molecular Genetics, CLIA Laboratory Director of the Biochemical and Molecular Genetics Diagnostic Laboratory, and Director of Laboratory Genetics and Genomics Fellowship Program. As a clinician-scientist, he provides care to children and adults with suspected or diagnosed genetic disorders and runs research programs to delineate phenotype and define etiology in rare genetic disorders with an emphasis on hereditary hearing loss.

Deborah Barbouth, M.D, FACMGG

Associate Professor
Division of Clinical and Translational Genetics
Dr John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics

Dr Deborah Barbouth is an Associate Professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine since 2005. She is Board certified in Pediatrics, Clinical Genetics and Clinical Biochemical Genetics.  Dr Barbouth earned her medical degree magna cum laude from Maimonides University in Buenos Aires, Argentina and completed postgraduate training in Pediatrics at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami and her clinical training in Medical Genetics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the University of Miami. There she received extra training in Clinical Biochemical Genetics.  She presented numerous abstracts and platforms at scientific and professional meetings and have published articles in prestigious journals. Her main interests include Lysosomal Storage Disorders, Jewish Genetic Diseases, Newborn Screening and Fragile X.

Willa Thorson, M.D.

Clinical Assistant Professor
Division of Clinical and Translational Genetics
Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics

Dr. Willa Thorson is a board-certified Clinical Geneticist. She is also board-certified in Pediatrics and Internal Medicine. Dr. Thorson was born and raised in California. She attended Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska. At Creighton, she met her future husband, and they pursued residency together at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. Dr. Thorson completed her residency in Internal Medicine/Pediatrics in 2012. She then completed residency in Medical Genetics, also at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. She was hired as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Miami since 2017. She currently serves as the Program Director for the Medical Genetics Residency Program. She also directs the University of Miami Newborn Screening Program. Dr. Thorson’s main clinical interests are Down syndrome and other chromosomal disorders, newborn screening, and metabolic disorders. When she isn’t working, she loves spending time with her husband and two sons.

Kumarie Latchman, DO, FACMG

Assistant Clinical Professor
Division of Clinical and Translational Genetics
John T. Macdonald Department of Human Genetics
Hussman Institute for Human Genomics

Kumarie Latchman, DO is a Clinical Geneticist within the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics.  Doctor Latchman is a Board-Certified Clinical Geneticist.  She evaluates patients with all types of suspected genetic illnesses and has a strong interest in mitochondrial genetic conditions.  Doctor Latchman is the director of the University of Miami Mitochondrial Genetics clinic and is the co-director of the University of Miami Epilepsy Genetics clinic.  Her main interests of research are in the field of gene discovery and treatment for primary mitochondrial genetic diseases.

Stephanie Hacker, MS, RD/N, LD/N, CNSC, CSSD

Metabolic Dietitian and Newborn Screen Program Manager
Division of Clinical and Translational Genetics
Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics

Stephanie Hacker is a Metabolic Dietitian within the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics and the Clinical Program Manager for Newborn Screening for South Florida. Mrs. Hacker is a Board-Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) and is a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC). She specializes in the nutrition management of patients with inborn errors of metabolism, working closely with them from birth into adulthood to ensure optimal nutrition and health.

Lauren Godwin, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Division of Clinical and Transitional Genetics
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Department of Human Genetics

Joanna M. Gonzalez, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC 

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Division of Clinical and Transitional Genetics
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Department of Human Genetics

Milvia Tellez, PPCNP-BC

Pediatric APRN
Division of Clinical and Transitional Genetics
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Department of Human Genetics

Dayna Morel Swols, MS CGC

Lead Certified Genetic Counselor, Supervisor
Division of Clinical and Transitional Genetics
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Department of Human Genetics

Samantha Neumann, MS, CGC

Certified Prenatal and General Genetic Counselor
Division of Clinical and Transitional Genetics
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Department of Human Genetics

Marie Jeanjean, MSc, CGC

Certified Cancer Genetic Counselor
Division of Clinical and Transitional Genetics
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Department of Human Genetics

Talia Donenberg, MSc, CGC

Certified Cancer Genetic Counselor
Division of Clinical and Transitional Genetics
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Department of Human Genetics

Rachel Silva-Smith, MSc, CGC

Certified Cancer Genetic Counselor
Division of Clinical and Transitional Genetics
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Department of Human Genetics

Stephanie Bivona, MS, CGC

Certified General Genetic Counselor and UDN Site Coordinator
Division of Clinical and Transitional Genetics
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Department of Human Genetics

Deborah Paul, CPC, CNA

Sr. Practice Manager
Division of Clinical and Transitional Genetics
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Department of Human Genetics