From Reading DNA to Rewriting Life: How Genetics Is Transforming Medicine

For most of modern history, medicine has focused on managing disease after it occurs. But that has begun to change. Advances in genetics and genomics are helping move healthcare toward something far more powerful: the ability to understand, predict, and in some cases directly address the biological causes of disease at their source.

To understand why this moment matters, it helps to start with the basics…

Genetics 101

Every cell in your body contains DNA, the molecule that carries the instructions for how your body grows, develops, and functions. These instructions are organized into genes—specific segments of DNA that act like individual recipes or instruction sets for making proteins, the molecules that carry out most of the body’s essential tasks. Genes influence everything from visible traits like eye color and height to less visible processes such as immune function, metabolism, and how your body responds to medications.

Even small genetic variations can increase the risk of disease—or directly cause it. For decades, scientific progress centered on identifying these variations and helping patients manage their impact. Today, we are moving beyond identifying risk toward the possibility of eliminating it at its source.

At the center of this shift is CRISPR, a gene-editing tool that allows scientists to make precise changes to DNA. Often described as a biological “find and replace” system, CRISPR can locate a specific genetic sequence, cut it at an exact point, and enable the removal, repair, or replacement of genetic material. Originally discovered as part of a bacterial defense mechanism, CRISPR has rapidly become one of the most powerful tools in modern biology.

“For the first time, we’re not just studying the genetic basis of disease—we’re beginning to intervene at that level,” says Dr. Dan Handley, Program Director of ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ’s Master’s in Genetics & Genomics program. “That fundamentally changes what’s possible in medicine.”

From Lab Innovation to Real-World Medicine

Thanks to breakthroughs like CRISPR, gene editing is beginning to reach patients. Treatments for conditions like sickle cell disease, for example, are being developed by modifying a patient’s own cells so they function properly. Similar approaches are being explored for inherited blindness, where gene therapies aim to restore vision, and for certain cancers, where a patient’s immune cells can be reprogrammed to better recognize and attack tumors. This marks a pivotal transition—from genetics as a research tool to a foundation for therapy.

Building on this momentum, medicine is becoming increasingly individualized. As our ability to read and interpret DNA improves, researchers can design treatments tailored to a single patient’s biology—particularly for rare diseases that lack standardized options. The result is a new model of care, designed around the individual rather than the statistical norm.

“As these technologies become more advanced, the human side of care becomes even more important,” says Stephanie Gandomi, Program Director of ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ’s Master’s in Genetic Counseling program. “Patients aren’t just receiving information—they are making complex, deeply personal decisions based on that information.”

This evolution is also reshaping how we think about chronic disease. Many conditions still require lifelong treatment that manages symptoms rather than addressing underlying causes. Gene-based approaches point to a different model: one-time or infrequent interventions that could permanently alter how the body regulates certain processes. Early work in areas such as cholesterol regulation offers a glimpse of what that future may look like.

From Single Genes to Complex Systems

Not all breakthroughs involve changing DNA—many are about understanding it more deeply.

New sequencing technologies can analyze longer and far more complex stretches of DNA than ever before, helping diagnose conditions that previously went unexplained for years. We now understand that conditions like cancer, heart disease, and autoimmune disorders are shaped by vast networks of genes interacting with each other and with the environment. As our ability to analyze increasingly complex genetic data grows, so does our understanding of how these diseases develop—and how they might be treated.

For patients, this means faster answers and more targeted care. For clinicians and researchers, it enables a more sophisticated view of disease.

Another promising area is epigenetics, which focuses on how genes are turned on or off. Rather than altering the DNA sequence itself, scientists can adjust gene activity—more like using a dimmer switch than flipping a switch on or off. This approach may offer a more flexible and potentially reversible path to treatment.

Beyond Medicine—and Accelerating Forward

The impact of genomics extends well beyond healthcare.

In agriculture, for example, gene-editing tools are being used to develop crops with improved nutrition, greater resilience, and fewer harmful compounds—all while maintaining productivity. Scientists are engineering drought-resistant wheat, rice varieties that can withstand flooding, and crops with enhanced vitamin content to address global nutritional gaps. At the same time, gene editing is being used to reduce allergens in foods like peanuts and to eliminate naturally occurring toxins, making the food supply safer and more accessible.

Genomics is also beginning to shape areas like environmental science and public health. Researchers are using genetic tools to track the spread of infectious diseases in real time, monitor biodiversity, and even engineer microorganisms that can help break down pollutants or capture carbon more efficiently.

Meanwhile, artificial intelligence is accelerating discoveries across the field. AI systems can analyze vast amounts of genetic data—identifying patterns that would be impossible for humans to detect and predicting how specific genetic changes may affect the body. These tools are already being used to identify new drug targets, model how diseases develop and progress, and design more precise therapies—compressing timelines that once took years into months.

Taken together, these developments reflect a larger shift: genetics is becoming a foundational technology, influencing everything from how we identify and treat disease to how we produce food, understand ecosystems, and respond to global challenges.

Preparing for What Comes Next

As genetics becomes more deeply integrated in our world, the demand for skilled professionals is growing rapidly.

Programs like ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ’s Master of Science in Genetics & Genomics prepare graduates to help identify and translate these scientific breakthroughs into real-world applications across research and clinical settings. Others, like ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ’s Master of Science in Genetic Counseling (MSGC), prepare students to help individuals and families understand their unique genetic makeup, assess potential health risks, and navigate life-changing choices with confidence.

“The pace of discovery is accelerating, but progress depends on people who know how to apply these tools responsibly,” says Dr. Handley. “Training the next generation is just as important as the technology itself.”

“Genetic information can be incredibly powerful, but it can also be overwhelming,” says Gandomi. “Genetic counselors help patients understand not just the science, but what it means for their lives and their choices.”

We are entering a moment in which DNA is no longer just something we read. It is something we can thoughtfully and precisely influence. That shift has profound implications. It changes how we think about disease, how we design treatments, and how we prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions About Genetics and Modern Medicine

What is DNA?

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the molecule that carries the genetic instructions for all living organisms, including humans, animals, and plants. It acts like a blueprint, directing how organisms grow, develop, and function.

DNA is found in nearly every cell and is organized into structures called genes. These genes influence traits such as appearance and growth, and they also affect how living organisms process nutrients, respond to their environment, and carry out essential biological processes.

What is the difference between genetics and genomics?

Genetics focuses on individual genes and how they influence specific traits or conditions. Genomics looks at all of a person’s genes together and how they interact with each other and the environment to impact overall health.

How is genetics transforming modern healthcare?

Advances in genetics are helping shift healthcare from a one-size-fits-all approach to more personalized care. By understanding a patient’s genetic profile, providers can better predict disease risk, tailor treatments, and, in some cases, address underlying causes rather than just managing symptoms.

What is precision medicine?

Precision medicine is an approach to healthcare that uses genetic, environmental, and lifestyle information to customize treatment for each patient, allowing care to be tailored to the individual rather than the average patient.

What does a genetic counselor do?

Genetic counselors help patients understand genetic testing results, assess health risks, and make informed decisions about their care. They also provide guidance and support as patients navigate complex medical and personal choices.

Are genetic treatments available today?

Some genetic-based treatments are already being used in clinical settings, particularly for rare diseases. While many therapies are still in development, the field is rapidly advancing and expanding into more areas of healthcare.

ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ President Dr. John Scaringe Delivers Commencement Message on Compassion to the Class of 2025

At Southern California University of Health Sciences’ 2025 Commencement Ceremony, University President Dr. John Scaringe delivered a heartfelt and deeply personal address centered on one essential principle: compassion.

Speaking to graduates poised to enter the healthcare professions, Dr. Scaringe reminded the Class of 2025 that while clinical knowledge and technical expertise are critical, it is compassion — expressed through presence, dignity, and action — that ultimately defines meaningful leadership and healing.

Through personal stories drawn from his own life, Dr. Scaringe illustrated that compassion is not simply an abstract value or “soft skill,” but a courageous, active choice to show up for others during their most vulnerable moments. His message resonated strongly with ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ’s mission to educate healthcare leaders who care for the whole person — body, mind, and spirit.

Dr. Scaringe’s Commencement Speech

Today is truly a remarkable day for you, your families, your faculty, and let’s be honest, it’s also a remarkable day for anyone who no longer has to hear, “I can’t, I have to study.” You and your loved ones have waited a long time for this moment. Commencement ceremonies often invite big themes such as success, purpose, and, in our case, the future of healthcare.

But before we discuss any of that, I want to begin somewhere a little simpler, somewhere human. Somewhere, far from the clinics, the classroom, or accreditation reports. I want to start in a high school locker room. When I was a senior in high school, at the end of a senior tournament, I wrestled my final match, and I lost.

Now, if you’ve ever been 17, you are absolutely certain that the entire universe is paying attention to your every move. You know exactly what that felt like. So, I walked into the locker room, and I sat by myself. I wasn’t angry. I wasn’t hurt. I was simply disappointed. The kind that feels enormous right at that age, because most disappointments do.

A few minutes later. My father walked in. He didn’t tell me to shake it off. He didn’t give me a pep talk. He didn’t offer a replay of the footage of what I should have done, what I didn’t do, and what I could have done. He didn’t even give me that classic dad line of, “Someday you’ll laugh at this,” because he knew I wasn’t going to be laughing anytime soon.

He sat down next to me. Quiet, present, and even though the disappointment didn’t go away, something else happened. I didn’t feel alone anymore. Years later, I realized what he offered that day. It wasn’t advice, it wasn’t encouragement. It wasn’t even problem-solving. It was compassion. The quiet kind that doesn’t just fix the moment.

He doesn’t try to fix that moment, but he chooses to be in that moment with you, and that simple act has stayed with me throughout my life. Compassion is often confused with empathy. They’re related, but they’re not exactly the same.

For example, empathy is seeing someone on the side of the road on a rainy day fixing their flat tire, and you say to yourself. Oh, that poor son of a gun, that must be awful. Compassion is stopping, getting out, and helping them fix that flat tire. Compassion is movement. In other words, empathy feels, compassion moves.

Empathy understands the moment, and compassion enters it. And in healthcare, that is all the difference. Your patients won’t just need your knowledge. They won’t just need your technical expertise. They will need your presence, your willingness to step in the moment with them. That shift from feeling to doing is where healing begins in your career.

You will meet people on some of their hardest days—people who feel vulnerable, afraid, confused, and overwhelmed. Two patients may walk in with the same diagnosis but carry entirely different stories. Compassion is what helps you treat the story as much as the symptoms. It shows up in small and often unnoticed ways when you take a moment longer to listen.

When you ask a question that nobody else has thought to ask, and when you acknowledge a fear, rather than rush past it. When you offer dignity in a time when someone feels exposed, not because the moment was any less painful, but when your presence says simply, you matter. Compassion doesn’t require perfection. It requires presence.

Presence is often the most healing thing you can offer. Whether or not you see yourself as a leader today, compassion will make you a leader. Leadership isn’t about authority. Leadership is the courage to act, to care, to advocate for someone who has no voice, to slow down when the world tells you to speed up, and to speak out when something isn’t right.

There will be days when you’re tired and rushed and stretched so thin that the easiest path is not the compassionate one. Those are the moments that define a career, not the easy decisions, the meaningful ones. Compassion is not a soft skill. It is a courage in everyday form.

A few months ago, I delivered my mother’s eulogy. It was one of the hardest moments in my life, but when I finished speaking, I did feel something unexpected: comfort, not because it was any less painful, because believe me, it wasn’t. But, because compassion had surrounded her during her final years from my brothers who were with her nearby in New York, from her caretakers, and from other loved ones. All from people who treated her with dignity.

Dignity when she needed it the most. In that moment, I understood clearly that compassion doesn’t erase pain, it doesn’t fix everything, but it does connect us when we need it the very most, and that connection can be transformational. So, as you step off the stage today into your professional lives, here is my hope for you.

Let your empathy become passion. Let your compassion become action. Let your presence be part of the healing you provide. Show up for people, not perfectly, but fully. Listen with patience, advocate with courage. Lead with your heart. Compassion isn’t something you add to healthcare. Compassion is healthcare, and when you lead with it, you will not only transform the lives of others. You will transform on your own as well.

I often think back to that moment in the locker room with my dad. He didn’t take away my disappointment. He didn’t change the outcome. He showed up. That’s compassion. Not fixing everything, not having the perfect words, just choosing to be there.

As you enter your profession, you will have countless opportunities to show up in moments, big and small, seen and unseen. Do it with courage, do it with humanity. Do it with passion.

Congratulations, graduates. Good luck and Godspeed.

Watch the full 2025 Commencement Ceremony, including President Scaringe’s address:

Southern California University of Health Sciences graduates 517 new healthcare professionals in 2025

Southern California University of Health Sciences (ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ) hosted its annual commencement ceremony on Monday, December 15, at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach conferring health science degrees to 517 graduates of the Class of 2025.

The commencement ceremony is available for on-demand viewing

The Class of 2025 represents the broad variety of ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ’s academic programs, with the Doctor of Occupational Therapy and Doctor of Medical Sciences programs each having their first graduating class. ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ’s class of 2025 has the following numbers of graduates in each respective program:

• 153 Doctor of Chiropractic graduates
  • 124 Master of Science in Medical Science graduates
  • 48 Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genomics graduates
  • 47 Master of Science: Physician Assistant Program graduates
  • 36 Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences graduates
  • 23 Graduate Certificate in Pre-Genetic Counseling graduates
  • 22 Doctor of Occupational Therapy graduates
  • 21 Ayurveda Health Counselor Certificate graduates
  • 16 Ayurveda Practitioner Certificate graduates
  • 14 Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine graduates
  • 10 Doctor of Medical Sciences graduates
  • 2 Graduate Certificate in Human Genetics and Genomics graduates
  • 1 Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine graduate

Dr. John Scaringe, President of Southern California University of Health Sciences, delivered an inspiring and heartfelt address at the 2025 Commencement Ceremony, challenging the graduates to lead with compassion as they step into their professional careers.

Drawing from personal experiences, Dr. Scaringe emphasized that compassion goes beyond simply understanding another person’s struggle, reminding graduates that “empathy feels, but compassion moves.” He encouraged students to view compassion as an active choice. One that requires presence, courage, and a willingness to show up for others during moments of vulnerability.

Throughout his remarks, Dr. Scaringe highlighted the critical role compassion plays in healthcare, noting that while knowledge and technical expertise are essential, they are not enough on their own.

“Compassion doesn’t require perfection. It requires presence,” he said, underscoring the importance of truly being there for patients and treating not just symptoms, but the person behind the diagnosis. He also reframed compassion as a form of leadership, describing it as “courage in everyday form,” especially during moments when taking the compassionate path may be the most challenging.

As he concluded, Dr. Scaringe left graduates with a powerful reminder that compassion is not an optional trait in healthcare, but a foundational one. “Compassion isn’t something you add to healthcare — compassion is healthcare,” he said, encouraging graduates to carry that mindset forward as they begin their careers and work to transform the lives of others through whole-person, human-centered care.

The ceremony also featured a reflective and inspiring commencement address from Dr. Russell Greenfield, a nationally recognized physician leader in Whole Health who has spent his career advancing human-centered models of care across healthcare systems nationwide. Dr. Greenfield has served in senior leadership roles with the Veterans Health Administration, the Whole Health Institute, and Novant Health’s Weisiger Cancer Institute, and continues to work directly with patients while helping communities build whole-person approaches to care.

In his remarks, Dr. Greenfield framed the healing professions as a sacred calling rooted in service, humility, and presence. He reminded graduates that true healing begins not with fixing problems, but with honoring lives, stating, “You see people not as problems to be fixed, but as lives to be honored.” Drawing from personal experience and long-standing traditions within the healing arts, he encouraged graduates to approach their work with gratitude and compassion, even in the smallest moments of care.

As he concluded, Dr. Greenfield offered the Class of 2025 a message of reassurance and purpose, emphasizing that meaningful impact does not require grand gestures. “It’s not your responsibility to heal the world… and yet, odds are very good that you will,” he said.

His words reinforced ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ’s commitment to Whole Health and left graduates with a powerful reminder that through humility, service, and presence, they are uniquely prepared to help shape the future of healthcare.

Graduating Master of Science: Physician Assistant program student Jamie Gabriel was named the ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ Class of 2025 valedictorian. She delivered a powerful and personal address that reflected perseverance, balance, and service in healthcare.

A full-time captain with the Los Angeles County Fire Department and a nontraditional student, Gabriel shared how returning to school later in life was driven by a commitment to lifelong learning and setting an example for her family.

In her remarks, Gabriel emphasized the importance of whole-person care and the responsibility healthcare professionals have to see beyond diagnoses and data points. “Our patients don’t come to us as symptoms or lab values. They come as people with stories, fears, hopes, and dreams,” she said, underscoring the integrative approach that defines ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ’s educational philosophy. She also highlighted the need for balance—not only in patient care but also in clinicians’ own lives—reminding graduates that personal well-being is essential to providing meaningful, compassionate care.

Gabriel closed by challenging the Class of 2025 to lead with accountability and service. “Leadership in healthcare is not about authority. It is about the responsibility of service to others,” she said, encouraging graduates to step confidently into the roles they are prepared to fill and help shape the future of healthcare through humility, balance, and purpose.

ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ’s  2025 Alumni of the Year Whole Health Achievement Award was presented to Dr. Valerie Johnson. Dr. Johnson embodies the spirit of this award through her pioneering leadership in integrative, whole-person healthcare. As one of the first chiropractors employed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, she has been instrumental in shaping the role of chiropractic in federal healthcare and advancing the VA Whole Health model.

Dr. Johnson’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity shines through the welcoming, collaborative environments she fosters for patients, colleagues, and learners. Through her compassion, advocacy, and clinical excellence, Dr. Johnson has redefined what integrative chiropractic can achieve.

The President’s Leadership Award was presented to Doctor of Chiropractic graduate George Zakhary for his leadership in contributing to the campus community, advocating for their chosen profession, and providing community service.

Photos and videos from the commencement ceremony can be viewed on ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ’s social media channels: , , and .

ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ’s Summer IPE Week Brings Together Over 200 Students from Eight Different Academic Programs

A record-breaking week of immersive, team-based learning prepares future healthcare professionals to lead in integrative, whole-person care.

From July 28, 2025, to August 1, 2025, the ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ Center for Interprofessional Education hosted Summer IPE Week on campus. The week brought together more than 200 students for hands-on learning that strengthened teamwork, communication, and whole-person care across health disciplines.

Students from eight programs worked side by side:

• Ayurveda
• Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine
• Chiropractic
• Occupational Therapy
• Physician Assistant Studies
• Accelerated Sciences
• Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences
• Master of Science in Medical Science

Faculty designed activities that mirrored real clinical settings, so students could practice skills they will use with patients and teams.

“IPE at ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ is where integrative, whole health comes to life,” said Karina Madrigal, EdD, MA, Dean of Interprofessional Education. “Our model is bold, inclusive, and transformative—bringing together students from both complementary and conventional medicine.” She noted that interprofessional education is an institutionalized system embedded across more than 15 academic programs. Students learn with, from, and about one another, and they graduate ready to practice in team-based care settings. ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ’s model blends Eastern and Western care traditions to match how modern health systems operate and to prepare graduates to lead in integrative care.

Students rotated through team scenarios that required clear roles, shared decision-making, and direct communication with patients and caregivers. Sessions focused on three high-impact skills:

• Identifying system failures and contributing to a culture of safety and continuous quality improvement
• Handing off patients in a structured way to support safe care transitions
• Speaking with patients, families, and the care team in plain language to align on goals

These scenarios matched the pace and pressure of real practice, so teams could learn, adjust, and improve in the moment. Among the highlights was ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ’s signature care coordination simulation, which brought multiple disciplines together to co-manage complex cases in real time.

Pre- and post-assessments showed gains across IPEC core competencies: Values and Ethics, Roles and Responsibilities, Interprofessional Communication, and Teams/Teamwork. The results also aligned with ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ’s “Learning in Action” measure, which tracks applied skills. “The data confirm that our model not only changes what students know—it changes how they think and work,” said Madrigal.

Skills from IPE Week translate directly to clinics and community sites. Students practiced structured handovers that reduce errors. They clarified the scope and responsibility so teams can respond faster. They used shared care plans that keep the patient and family at the center. As a result, students left not only with greater confidence, but with a strengthened ability to work across disciplines — ready to lead and collaborate as part of interprofessional teams united by a shared goal: advancing integrative, whole-person health and improving outcomes for the patients and communities they serve.

Collaboration starts early at ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ. Students experience interprofessional learning from their first year, so teamwork becomes second nature. By the time they enter clinical placements, they already know how to listen across disciplines and keep care plans aligned with patient goals.

This year’s Summer IPE Week set a new bar for participation and impact. It showed how ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ’s interprofessional model helps students grow as clinicians and as teammates. It also showed how a campus community can come together around a shared aim: to deliver whole-person care for every patient in every setting.

Learn more about Interprofessional Education at ĐÔ°®ĘÓƵ and how our programs prepare students for team-based practice.