For Stefania Alastre Arcusa, life has been a series of challenges and triumphs that led her to Â鶹ĂŰĚŇAV’s (COPH) and ultimately to her work as a genetic counselor at Moffitt Cancer Center. Her story is one of perseverance, shaped by her experiences as an immigrant, student and advocate for underserved communities.
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Alastre Arcusa's childhood was marked by frequent relocations. "Prior to coming to the U.S., I had lived in four other countries," she shared. When she was 11, her family moved to Wesley Chapel, Fla.
“We came to the U.S. legally. My stepdad had a job opportunity, so we came as dependents. But during the recession that hit in 2007, my stepdad's work visa was not renewed. After some poor legal counsel, one thing led to another, and I fell out of legal status as a minor.”
Navigating her high school years in this status presented obstacles. “I realized when it was time to apply to college that I didn’t have the same opportunities as my classmates. I couldn’t even get a driver’s license,” Alastre Arcusa said.
Alastre Arcusa’s decision to attend Â鶹ĂŰĚŇAV stemmed from a mixture of necessity and opportunity. “I realized quickly that as an undocumented person, I couldn’t take out loans or qualify for certain scholarships.”
Despite the challenges, she secured a spot at Â鶹ĂŰĚŇAV with the help of the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and the ability to live at home. “Â鶹ĂŰĚŇAV is such an amazing university. Never in my wildest dreams in Venezuela would I have ever accessed such a university,” Alastre Arcusa reflected.
Her academic journey began with a major in cellular and molecular biology, where she discovered her passion for genetics. “I really wanted to major in genetics, but Â鶹ĂŰĚŇAV did not have a genetics degree.”
A bachelor’s in cellular and molecular biology was the closest degree to genetics that I could get within the biology department so I tailored my upper-level classes to focus on that.” she said.
Alastre Arcusa graduated with her bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology in 2017.
A turning point came when Dr. Johnny El-Rady, a professor of instruction within the Â鶹ĂŰĚŇAV College of Arts and Sciences, introduced genetic counseling as a potential career and mentioned Moffitt’s genetic counseling team.
“It felt like the stars were aligning because Â鶹ĂŰĚŇAV was launching a .” With Â鶹ĂŰĚŇAV being the only institution in Florida offering a genetic counseling graduate degree housed within the COPH, Alastre Arcusa saw her path clearly laid out.
Despite the alignment of her interests and the COPH’s offerings, Alastre Arcusa’s path forward was far from easy. As an undocumented student in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provided her work and driving privileges, the organization faced ongoing threats of cancellation.
“Every day, I woke up wondering if DACA would be canceled,” Alastre Arcusa recalled. “I couldn’t help but calculate how many days I had left in my apartment or think about what would happen if I couldn’t renew my permit.”
These concerns weighed heavily on her as she juggled her academic responsibilities and the constant uncertainty surrounding her legal status.
“I couldn’t take out a loan, so paying for a master’s degree seemed impossible without assistance,” she said. Securing a position as a graduate research assistant for the COPH’s , provided relief. “That job was crucial; it covered part of my tuition and included health insurance,” she said.
The timing of her master’s program added yet another layer of difficulty. “I only had one in-person semester before COVID-19 hit,” Alastre Arcusa said. The pandemic made an already demanding curriculum and situation even more challenging.
Despite these obstacles, Alastre Arcusa’s perseverance paid off. “I needed to finish this degree because even if I was deported, my education was something that couldn’t be taken from me,” she said.
Alastre Arcusa said the day she graduated with her MSPH in genetic counseling felt monumental. “It felt like I had climbed Mount Everest,” she shared, underscoring the emotional weight of her journey and the immense pride of achieving it debt-free.
Alastre Arcusa spoke as a guest lecturer at Dr. Sandy Westerheide’s cancer biology class in the department of Molecular Biosciences in the Â鶹ĂŰĚŇAV College of Arts and Sciences (Photo courtesy of Alastre Arcusa)
Her current role at as a genetic counselor is one she pursued with determination. “I applied before my rotation at Moffitt, so during my time there, I felt like I was under a microscope,” she said.
“Once I was hired, I was the only bilingual provider, serving all of Central Florida, which opened opportunities for our clinic to better serve underserved communities” she said.
Alastre Arcusa’s unique perspective has empowered her to advocate for equitable access and outreach. “I am constantly thinking about how to ensure our processes do not create further barriers for minority populations,” she added.
Alastre Arcusa chatting with a Â鶹ĂŰĚŇAV student after participating in panel to discuss the topic “How disparities in heath research impact health care and education.” (Photo courtesy of Alastre Arcusa)
Her work extends beyond the clinic walls. She has traveled to Puerto Rico and spoken at Latina women’s cancer survivor retreats, delivering lectures in Spanish to promote awareness of genetic testing and its benefits, particularly for those without insurance. “It’s crucial to break down barriers that prevent minority populations from accessing genetic counseling and testing,” she said.
Alastre Arcusa is also a co-founder of the .
“There are now six of us, some who are students or have just graduated and are interested in genetic counseling school and/or are undocumented,” she said. “I helped start this network because when I was going to genetic counseling school, there was no roadmap from anyone else that I could find who went through the same thing. Now we share a lot of resources, have published articles and created webinars.”
Based on the community outreach she has done, the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) recently awarded Alastre Arcusa the Cultural Advocacy Award.
“The NSGC is our governing body in the genetic counseling profession,” she said. “This award is prestigious as there's only about six that are given out every year.”
Looking back, Alastre Arcusa said she is profoundly grateful for her experiences at the COPH and the support she received. “I am still in awe that I was accepted into the program,” she said. “Dr. Deborah Cragun, the director of genetic counseling, is incredible. I still write to her, thanking her for accepting me and to remind her how much it means to me” she said.
Her gratitude extends beyond her mentors to her broader community at Â鶹ĂŰĚŇAV and Moffitt. “Every time I reflect on my journey, I’m reminded how each step, each challenge, led me to where I am today,” Alastre Arcusa said.
Fast Five
What did you dream of becoming when you were young?
I wanted to be a wedding dress fashion designer.
Where would we find you on the weekend?
Probably at the beach.
What is the last book you read?
“Prisoner of Tehran” by Marina Nemat
What superpower would you like to have?
I would love to teleport anywhere I want.
What’s your all-time favorite movie?
“Pride and Prejudice”