The National Parents First Call Center Advisory Council guides the MDSC under the direction of the MDSC Family Support Director and Executive Director to ensure that new and expectant parents are provided with accurate, up-to-date, culturally appropriate information and support at the time of diagnosis. Acting in an advisory capacity, members ensure that the MDSC Parents First Call Program adheres to best practices.
Kim Dever, MD
Dr Dever is the Vice President of Medical Affairs and the Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, MA. She is also the past President of the Medical Staff at South Shore Hospital. Dr Dever has been on staff at South Shore Hospital since 2002 and was in private practice before transitioning to an administrative position in 2011. She attended Boston University and Boston University School of Medicine. Dr Dever was a major in the US Army and did her residency at Walter Reed Army Medical and then spent four years in Germany at Wuerzburg Army Medical Hospital. She moved back to southeastern Massachusetts and has been back in that area since 2000. She has a 20 year old son with Down Syndrome and served on the board of directors of the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress from 2013-2019.
Mary-Frances Garber, CGC
Mary-Frances is a board certified, licensed genetic counselor, with a private practice, Listening, Reflecting, Healing, where she provides supportive genetic counseling and bereavement services. Her belief is that individuals and families need a place to process their emotions associated with their genetic issues. In addition to this, Ms. Garber works as a per diem prenatal genetic counselor in the Maternal Fetal Medicine department at Newton Wellesley Hospital and as a consultant with Genome Medical. She has also consulted with MDSC for ten years providing training for First Call parents and facilitating a variety of support groups.
Gail Trinque, PA
Gail Trinque is a nationally certified Physician Assistant. Practicing medicine in a family practice for eleven years gave Gail the opportunity to provide comprehensive care to patients of all ages. Gail has two children Theo and Zoe. Theo has Down Syndrome and has inspired her to create a non-denominational inclusive worship service in her community. She is also currently developing a business plan to open a coffee shop and art studio in her town that will be staffed by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Gail has been a first call parent with the MDSC for eight years. She feels that it is an honor and privilege to provide support, resources and comfort to new and expectant parents at such a confusing and often overwhelming time in their lives. Gail was a natural fit to become the Chairperson of the MDSC Medical Outreach and First Call Advisory Counsel.
Stephanie Meredith, MA
Stephanie Meredith, MA, is the Director of the Lettercase National Center for Prenatal and Postnatal Resources at the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute. She is also the author of “Understanding a Down Syndrome Diagnosis” and similar resources about other prenatally-diagnosed genetic conditions. In addition, Meredith is the co-author of “Diagnosis to Delivery: A Pregnant Mother’s Guide to DS” and “Welcoming a Newborn with Down syndrome,” as well as other titles in that series. Further, she offers presentations and training nationwide about providing support and information to new and expectant parents learning about a diagnosis, and she is the author of “Impact of the Increased Adoption of Prenatal cfDNA Screening on Non-Profit Patient Advocacy Organizations in the United States” published in Prenatal Diagnosis and the co-author of “Beyond the Genetic Diagnosis: Providing Parents What They Want to Know” in Pediatrics in Review. Meredith is also the mother of a 21-year-old son with Down syndrome and two younger daughters.
