Martine is a Genetic Counselor Board Certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 1996, taking the same general Genetics exam as MDs and PhDs in the field. Since 1999 she has increasingly shifted her focus to Canine Genetics, Health and Well-being. In that time she has been the DNA Collections Coordinator for the US for Waltham/Mars Veterinary, joined the AKC-CHF President’s Council, given multiple oral and written presentations on Canine Genetics to groups and breed clubs, and facilitated multiple DNA collections to promote Canine Genetic research and gene discovery. The first key to addressing Canine Genetic disease is recognizing genetic disease.
Since 1996, Martine has owned and bred Champion, performance, therapy and service Briards, even though she has been devoted to dogs her entire life. Her goal in becoming a Genetic Counselor was to use the vast information in the Human Genetic field to help make dogs healthier. Martine’s undergraduate degree is in Behavioral Psychology and she has a great interest in the genetics of canine behavior. Martine is married and living in the Texas Hill Country with her husband, 2 sets of human twins, her Briards, the kids’ Cavalier and a cat here or there. Martine is a long time active member of the Briard Club of America, and a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, Texas Society of Genetic Counselors, American Society of Human Genetics, Travis County Kennel Club and a Board member of the newly developing organization, Texans for Animals, whose mission it is to promote and educate about purposeful breeding. In the spare time that Martine has, she trains her Briards in agility and herding. Martine’s courses will be offered in early 2012 and will cover canine genetics.