After 41 years of service to UNMC, Renee Fordyce-Boyer, Human Genetics Laboratory manager, is retiring. A celebration event is scheduled Wednesday, Jan. 4, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., in Hattie B. Munroe, Room 3046 (in the Munroe-Meyer Institute). A brief program is planned at 3:10 p.m.
Fordyce-Boyer first joined UNMC in 1975 as a research technologist at Eppley Institute. Two years later, she joined the Human Genetics Laboratory as a cytogenetic technologist, later transitioning to clinical technical supervisor and then laboratory manager.
During her tenure, the field of genetics evolved from a largely research-oriented science to a service-oriented specialty. In the year she started (1977), scientists first sequenced DNA and technologists used scissors to cut out individual photos of chromosomes to arrange them by hand into a karyotype (a picture of chromosomes sorted by bands and size). Due to the maturation of the technology, the analysis methods, and the low cost of conducting the studies, genomic studies are commonplace today and the karyotype process is now computerized.
In addition to earning her MS in Medical Sciences Interdepartmental Area (MSIA) from UNMC, she is certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology. She is a member of two prominent organizations for cytogenetic, molecular and laboratory professionals: the Association of Genetic Technologists – where she previously served as president-elect, and the Clinical Laboratory Management Association. Throughout her career she served as an educator in graduate courses, senior elective classes, resident rotations, and multiple training programs and workshops. She has authored 50 publications, abstracts and poster presentations.
Her hobbies include hand-crafting wine with her husband, traveling and horseback riding (she is a member of the Nebraska Dressage Association and the United States Dressage Federation). She also is a certified S.C.U.B.A. diver and volunteers at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo cleaning aquarium tanks.
Congratulations Renee. I am truly blessed to have met and worked with you and learning the Genetics processes and procedures from you and your staff.
Renee (Walker) Cook
Rene it has been a pleasure working with you over the years on safety projects. Enjoy retirement and be safe. John Hauser – Environmental Health and Safety
Congratulations Renee, enjoy some well deserved time for yourself and family. It's been a joy working under your instruction. You know this department from the bottom up…inside and out and always made sure we knew exactly what you knew … how to do it…and why !! Thanks so much for all the knowledge you shared with me over the years.
Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement. I cannot tell you how much I have appreciated your knowledge and help regarding COG cytogenetic reporting over the years. You always went above and beyond in your professionalism and patience. Enjoy your next phase.