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Table of Contents
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Honoring
Louisa Stark
For over 25 years, Dr. Louisa Stark has led the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah, building it into one of the most trusted science education resources in the world. Under her leadership, our flagship websites Learn.Genetics and Teach.Genetics have grown to reach more than 18 million visitors a year, in nearly every country on earth.
What makes her work truly remarkable is not just its reach, but the approach she built here. She brought teachers, scientists, and communities together as true partners in every project, establishing a model at the Center that has shaped how we create science education to this day.
The center received the first Science Prize for Resources in Education award from Science Magazine and the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2010. Louisa received the 2010 Utah Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology and the 2015 Genetics Society of America’s Elizabeth W. Jones Award for Excellence in Education.
Tonight, we're gathering to celebrate her extraordinary legacy and the Center's new name in her honor. Join us for a fundraising concert to honor the person who has made science feel like it belongs to all of us.
1
GSLC Overture
Utah Medical OrchestraMaking Science & Health Easy to Understand
video shortRaymond Gesteland, PhD
speakerBasic Genetics Suite
Utah Medical Orchestra
2
Sustained Impact
video shortKristin Bass, PhD
speakermRNA Vaccines
string quartet
3
From Knowledge to Action
video shortRachel Hess, MD
speakerRubin Baskir, PhD
speakerThe Data Symphony
Utah Medical OrchestraPigeonetics
Utah Medical Orchestra
4
Evolution Medley
Utah Medical OrchestraThe Utah Medical Orchestra
video shortChamber Pieces
Mutt Mixer
flute choirThe 7 Sins of Memory
bassoon, 2 violins, pianoGenetic Survivor
oboe, bassoon, viola, cello
In the Classroom
video shortApril Thompson
speaker
5
With Thanks
video shortGabrielle Kardon, PhD
speakerManipulations
accordion, 2 violins, and contrabassfeaturing Steve Keen, Aaron Ashton, Julie Beistline, and Hillary Fuller
Janet Lindsley, PhD
speakerDream a Little Longer
Utah Medical Orchestrafeaturing
Megan Joy & Aaron Ashton
Speakers
Dr. Raymond F. Gesteland is emeritus faculty in the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Utah. He served as chairman and professor of Human Genetics and Vice President for Research. He has an MS in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin and a PhD in Biochemistry from Harvard University. Before moving to Utah, he was at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. His research has focused on messenger RNA and ribosomes. Married to Harriett for 66 years, with 4 children and 9 grandchildren. Hobbies: weaving and wood working.
Raymond Gesteland, PhD
Kristin has been passionate about science her entire life. She grew up visiting science museums, watching 3-2-1 Contact and making weekly trips to the library. In college, she taught hands-on science to elementary and middle schoolers. She now conducts research and evaluation in science education for learners of all ages.
Kristin is actively involved in evaluations for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) program and the National Science Foundation. Since 2017, she has served on the Organizing Committee for SciEd, NIH’s annual meeting for PreKindergarten – 12th grade science and health education projects. She has co-chaired this conference with Dr. Louisa Stark since 2023. Kristin’s papers have been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Cell Biology Education-Life Sciences Education and the Journal of STEM Outreach. She is also a Co-Editor for the Journal of STEM Outreach.
Kristin has a BA in Psychology from Yale University and a PhD in Education and Psychology from the University of Michigan. She has worked at Rockman et al Cooperative, an independent, employee-owned research and evaluation company for over 20 years. She lives in Berkeley, California with Orlando, her fluffy ragdoll cat known for his Zoom-bombing prowess.
Kristin Bass, PhD
Rachel Hess, MD, MS is the System Chief Research Officer and Associate Vice President for Research for the University of Utah Health Sciences, Professor of Population Health Sciences and Internal Medicine, and the Co-Director of the Utah Clinical and Translational Science Institute at the University of Utah Schools of the Health Sciences. She served as the founding Chief of the University of Utah’s Division of Health System Innovation and Research (HSIR) from 2014-2022. As a General Internist and Health Services Researcher, Dr. Hess brings a unique perspective of translating research into clinical and policy practice.
Dr. Hess’s research aims to improve patient-centered outcomes in clinical care. Her implementation work uses health information technology to engage patients in their care. She has examined the impact of providing patients with guideline-based feedback regarding their health behaviors and health-related quality of life on patient activation and behavior change. Dr. Hess has overseen the development and successful implementation of multiple technology-based programs in primary care. As the Associate Vice President for Research of Health Sciences, she oversees the development and execution of the research strategy for the five health sciences schools and colleges across the University of Utah campus.
Rachel Hess, MD
Rubin Baskir, PhD, is the Program Director for the Support for Research Excellence – First Independent Research (SuRE-First) Award and a Program Officer within the Division for Research Capacity Building at the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). Before joining NIGMS, Rubin was the Branch Director for the Researcher Engagement and Outreach Branch in the Division of Engagement and Outreach in the All of Us Research Program (All of Us) and former American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellow working with the All of Us engagement team. He is passionate about improving human health and excited to be working with a team that supports research and research workforce development in states and institutions across the U.S. that do not receive high levels of NIH funding.
Prior to the AAAS fellowship, Rubin worked on health policy issues at Concert Genetics, a health care technology company dedicated to simplifying genetic test selection. His interest in health policy began during his graduate work at Vanderbilt University, where, in addition to researching mechanisms of disease and signal transduction, he had the opportunity to take part in Vanderbilt’s Augmenting Scholar Preparation and Integration with Research-Related Endeavors internship with the biotechnology trade organization Life Science Tennessee. While researching and crafting policy documents during this internship, Rubin gained an appreciation for the effects of policy on human health.
Rubin received his PhD in clinical and cellular biology from Vanderbilt University and his BA in biology from Washington University in St. Louis.
Rubin Baskir, PhD
April Thompson is a passionate STEM educator with fifteen years of classroom experience, renowned for her dedication to student engagement and academic achievement. She has distinguished herself as a powerful force in the classroom due to her mentoring from the Genetic Science Learning Center. April designs hands-on experiences to ignite curiosity and deepen understanding in science. April is a two-time Teacher of the Year and was named Chemistry Teacher of the Year. As a National Geographic Certified Educator and TeachFX educator, she brings innovation and a global perspective to her teaching. April is a Bitesized Ambassador with the Harvard School of Cooking and an HHMI Ambassador, collaborating with leading organizations to enrich STEM learning through interdisciplinary approaches. April is celebrated for her charismatic teaching style, commitment to individual student growth, and her unwavering belief in the power of education to transform lives.
April Thompson
Gabrielle Kardon is a Professor in the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Utah. Since 2004 her lab has been researching how muscle develops, regenerates, and evolves. In addition, recently in collaboration with several current and former members of the GSLC (Arthur Veenema, Kagan Breitenbach, Ryan Perkins) she made her first short documentary film, Through Thin Ice.
Gabrielle Kardon, PhD
Janet Lindsley is a Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Utah, who started her career leading a research lab that studied enzyme mechanisms, and pivoted to medical and science education. She served for 15 years as assistant dean of curriculum (until July 2025) at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. Her recent scholarship has focused on how basic science education impacts the professional identity development of medical learners. She began working with Louisa Stark in 2011 on the medical school curriculum and medical student scholarly projects.
Janet Lindsley, PhD
Guest Musicians
Aaron Ashton (violinist) is the sort of musician who stares at his screen for twenty minutes, wondering why "bios" are written in the third person.
When not procrastinating, Aaron makes a living, recorded for companies like ESPN, CNBC, CNN and Pixar. His violin and life-partner “The Precious” can be heard on the recent film “The Boys in the Boat,” and the Killers album “Bright Lights,” as well as the upcoming Netflix series "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe."
Aaron was recently told by a beloved (and slightly bossy) bandmate that he might want to update his 2007 bio; and that it should probably include the phrase, “Aaron and his Precious, can be heard on every Late Night Alumni and Kaskade album since the beginning," as well as albums from Shakira (whoever she was), Back Street Boys, and...other stuff.
In any case, Aaron realized his annoying bandmate had a point. He updated his bio, and then spent twenty minutes pondering the “K” in “Kaskade.”
Aaron Ashton
Megan Joy Allman is a singer, songwriter, recording artist, and performer whose career has spanned nearly two decades. In 2008, she gained national recognition as a Top 9 finalist on American Idol, launching a nationwide tour and a lifelong career in music.
Performing as Megan Joy, she has released multiple full-length albums, singles, and music videos known for their emotional honesty, ethereal style, and fearless creativity. She is also the vocalist behind Vadawave, an alternative rock project blending atmospheric textures and cinematic songwriting.
Megan is co-creator of Bloody Cabaret, a genre-defying collaboration with Kagan Breitenbach exploring avant-garde classical music, theatrical dark pop, and multimedia performance art.
Alongside her husband Quinn Allman, she performs as Allman Joy, an acoustic duo known for intimate performances and soulful reinterpretations of beloved songs.
Megan Joy Allman
Steve Keen is an accomplished jazz pianist, accordionist, bassist and guitarist in Salt Lake City, originally from Baltimore, Md. After attending Georgia Institute of Technology, he received BS degrees in Music Performance and BS in Psychology from Westminster College in Salt Lake City and University Of Utah and was Jazz Piano Associate Professor for many years at the University of Utah and for Westminster College. He is a full-time musician in demand as arranger, accompanist, performer and private teacher. In addition to Jazz, he is involved in many other styles of music performing on the piano accordion and the diatonic button accordion with several ethnic music groups including the Klezbros (Eastern European Jewish and Gypsy dance music), the Salzburger Echo (Swiss and German music), Lark and Spur, Idlewild, Trio Amarillo and numerous jazz, pop and world music groups. He was the director of Jazz Vespers at the First Unitarian Church for several years and was an assistant conductor of the U of U A’Capella Choir. His blog www.puppydogmusic.blogspot.com reflects his interest in music theory, science, acoustics and invention, woodworking and photography.
Steve Keen
Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Julie Beistline is a versatile violinist, educator, and top-call studio musician known for her dynamic presence across classical, cinematic, and contemporary genres. Originally from Fairbanks, Alaska, she made her solo debut with the Fairbanks Symphony at age ten joining them as a member at 16 and later earned Performance degrees from Brigham Young University and the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Julie has served as Concertmaster on U.S. tours for Avatar: The Last Airbender In Concert, Naruto and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Live in Concert. She has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall and Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Hale Center Theater and collaborated with artists including Steven Tyler, Andrea Bocelli, Elle King, and Laufey. Julie’s studio credits also include a variety of projects for Warner Brothers, Netflix, Showtime, and internationally released video game soundtracks.
Julie Beistline
Hillary performs as principal bass of the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra, she subs regularly with the Utah Symphony and Ballet West, and freelances in the greater Salt Lake area. She has her BMus from the University of Utah, her MMus from the University of Cincinnati CCM, and a Performer's Diploma from Indiana University Jacob's School of Music.
Hilary Fuller
The Utah Medical Orchestra (UMO) is a community ensemble of 100+ members dedicated to the medical community in the Salt Lake City area. Our orchestra is composed of healthcare providers, staff, researchers, and students from University of Utah Health, Intermountain Healthcare, and other local clinics and hospitals. The UMO rehearses weekly and performs two public concerts per year.
The UMO regularly partners with Music in Medicine, a medical student-led initiative at the University of Utah that explores the connection between music and healing. Through this partnership, members have opportunities to volunteer at Primary Children's Hospital, sharing music with patients and their families.
Conductor
Lauren Tian is a conductor, pianist, violist, and vocalist with a diverse career in both orchestral and choral music. She is a doctoral candidate in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Utah, where she has worked with the university's orchestras and choirs. Currently, Lauren serves as Music Director for the Taylorsville-SLCC Symphony Orchestra, BalletNEXT, and the interim director for the Utah Medical Orchestra. She has held various conducting roles in the NYC and Philadelphia areas and is a passionate advocate for new music, having conducted numerous premieres with ensembles such as the ENA Ensemble and the Mostly Modern Festival.
Lauren Adja Tian, DMA
Orchestra Musicians
Strings
Violin I
Jessica Boyd — PhD, Associate Professor (Clinical), Pathology; Concertmaster
Maura Lake — PharmD Student
O'Connor Matthews — PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher, Biology
Violin II
Sebastian Lee — Medical Student
April Lo — PhD, Computational Biologist
Andrea Qualman — PhD Candidate, Biology
Caitlyn Stringham — Genetic Counselor
Viola
James Carrington — MD/PhD Candidate
Gareth Mitchell — Associate Director, Pediatric Neurology
Martina Tvrdik — Medical Student
Moose Murphy — Med Student
Cello
Jeanette Ducut-Sigala — PhD, Biomedical Research Education Office (BREO)
Perry G. — MD, Professor
Zoe Pettersen — Genetic counseling student
Ryan Stocks — Radiology Assistant
Corrine Voils — PhD, Professor, Division of Epidemiology
Woodwinds
Flute + Piccolo
Luis Cedeño-Rosario — PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Biochemistry
Melissa Requist — MD-PhD Student
Flute
Lauren Williams — PharmD
Alto Flute
Elizabeth Kirts — MPH, IBCLC, Manger, Women's and Children's
Bass Flute
Evan Christensen — PhD Student, Biomedical Informatics
Oboe
Drew Allred — PhD Candidate, Microbiology & Immunology
Clarinet
Bailey Landis — PhD student
Bass Clarinet
Zachary Gonzales — PharmD
Bassoon
Stephanie A. Sanders — PharmD, BCOP, BCCCP; Clinical Pharmacist
Sarah Hudson — PA-C, Transplant Surgery
Brass
Trumpet
Emily Polichette — MT-BC Music Therapist
Trombone
Max Schultz — Cell Therapy Technologist
Bass Trombone
Erik Memmott — Supervisor, Patient Services
Tuba
Mary Kathryn Curcio Stoddard — MPH, CPH, CHES, Epidemiologist
Percussion
Ethan Murdock — Medical Student
Piano
Clarissa Peterson — MPAS PA-C, Adjunct Assistant Professor
Caitlyn Stringham — Genetic Counselor
Work with us!
Our Center’s fully in-house team transforms complex concepts into clear, engaging media. From concept to completion, we deliver research-informed, audience-tested visual solutions that engage students, patients, and the public.
Whether you need an animated explainer, educational video series, interactive web experience, or all of the above, you get the rare advantage of working with people who understand both science and storytelling.