Dr. Jodi Hoffman, geneticist at Tufts Medical Center, will be the guest speaker at the next Temple Shalom of Milton Brunch Speaker Series on Sunday, Jan 6th, at the Pierce Middle School at 10:15 AM. Dr. Hoffman’s topic will be “What’s Hiding in Your Genes?” a discussion of the genetic disorders that can be carried by healthy Ashkenazi (Eastern and Central European) Jews.

According to Dr. Hoffman, one out of four Jews of Ashkenazi descent are healthy carriers for at least one of 19 devastating diseases. She will present an educational session about each of these serious genetic disorders, how to obtain preconception screening for these diseases, and reproductive options for carrier couples.

Dr. Hoffman is the Interim Chief of the Division of Genetics at Tufts Medical Center and is the Director of the Victor Outreach and Screening Program for Ashkenazi Jewish Genetic Diseases.

The public is invited to the brunch, which begins at 10:15 AM, with the speaker starting at approximately 11 AM. A $5 donation for the brunch is requested to defray food costs, and a call or email to the temple office would help in planning. Temple Shalom’s brunches are held at the Pierce Middle School, 451 Central Avenue (entrance on Brook Road), Milton. For more information, please call 617-698-3394 or email: office@TempleShalomOnline.org.