Curtis Midkiff, Jr., director of name advertising, partnerships and social engagement at 23andMe, believes understanding your loved ones’s genetics can contribute to higher healthcare.
23andMe is a genomics and biotechnology firm that gives well being and ancestry studies utilizing home-based saliva assortment kits. To kick off homecoming season, on Oct. 27, Midkiff attended the Morehouse Alumni Final Well being and Wellness Enjoyable Day Expertise hosted in The Villages At Carver Household YMCA. Midkiff used the chance to teach attendees on how DNA can impression their well being by means of genetic insights.
The Morehouse alumnus mentioned with rolling out what the neighborhood can count on from their 23andMe kits and different subjects.
What was it like being part of the Morehouse Alumni Final Well being and Wellness Enjoyable Day Expertise?
I’m simply excited. Throughout homecoming, there are quite a lot of actions. It was nice to kick it off with a deal with well being and wellness, which is a subject that we must always discuss extra once we get collectively. It was nice and I loved it immensely.
What kind of firm is 23andMe?
We’re an organization that has been recognized previously for serving to of us discover out about their ancestry, heritage or [locate] DNA family members. In recent times, what we’ve expanded to is letting folks know that their DNA may unlock some issues about their well being. It’s a good way to be taught extra about what your genetics say about your well being, so then you’ll be able to modify your way of life and atmosphere accordingly. That’s why we’re right here giving out our kits to the neighborhood, but in addition to broaden that information and consciousness to assist folks reside more healthy lives.
What would you like folks to get out of this expertise??
The important thing to your genetics is that they’re much like a verify engine gentle. It’s not a prognosis, however it says, “Hey, there’s one thing that we see in your genetics that you could be need to verify into.” What occurs is, you go to your physician to get additional testing or discover it extra that will help you deal with prevention. It’s an awesome supply of data that you should use as part of an everyday well being plan.
Had been there interactive moments deliberate for attendees?
We hosted a homecoming huddle. We had a gaggle of brothers from completely different backgrounds resembling Morehouse [College] and Clark [Atlanta University]. Some have been former athletes, enterprise house owners and pastors. All of us had a enjoyable candid dialog about Black males’s well being, psychological well being, household relationships and resilience. Because the moderator of the panel, I realized rather a lot however I believe all of us realized rather a lot from one another.
What did this occasion imply to you personally as a Morehouse alumnus?
As a proud alum[nus], it’s nice to be with the Alumni Affiliation for this well being and wellness occasion. We hope to do that each homecoming.
