Professor of Medicine and Molecular Genetics; Faculty Investigator, IU Center for Bioethics; Director, Huntington's Disease Society of America (HDSA) Center for Excellence at IU; Director, Predictive Testing Program; Co-Director, Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program, IU School of Medicine
1955-2017
Passed by the IUPUI Faculty Council at their meeting on October 3, 2017.
After over 26 years of service to the Indiana University School of Medicine and to her patients, Kimberly A. Quaid, Ph.D. passed away on July 26, 2017. Kim was born in Linden, New Jersey to Michael Marlon Quaid on October 25, 1955. She graduated from Linden High School where she was cheerleading co-captain and active in school plays. She attended Brown University where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in psychology in 1977. She went on to further her education at the Johns Hopkins University where she received both her Master of Arts (1982) and PhD (1986) in Psychology with a concentration in Public Health. She began her academic career as a research assistant in psychology at Johns Hopkins University, where she was the coordinator of one of the first programs in the world to offer presymptomatic genetic testing for Huntington’s disease.
Dr. Quaid was Professor of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Co-Director of the Master of Science in Genetic Counseling, and the Director of the Predictive Testing Program at Indiana University School of Medicine. As Director of this testing program, she provided genetic counseling and testing for individuals with and at risk for Huntington Disease, early onset Alzheimer Disease, and Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker Disease. She was also the Co-Director of the Genetic Counseling Program and a faculty investigator at the IU Center for Bioethics. She also served as Director of the Huntington Disease Society of America (HDSA) Center of Excellence at Indiana University. Kim was a genetic counselor and bioethicist who contributed influential works in areas of genetic testing, informed consent, research integrity, and gender equity.
Kim has held academic positions at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She has served as Chair of the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications Study Section of the National Human Genome Research Institute of Health from 2005-2007. Kim was internationally regarded for her work and a highly sought after collaborator. She authored or co-authored over 35 books, book chapters and peer-reviewed publications focused primarily on ethical issues in genetic testing.
Kim enjoyed cooking and was an avid movie buff – old and new. She and her family traveled to her happy place, Matunuck, Rhode Island each summer to spend time reading and relaxing at the beach. Her greatest joys were her time spent with her family.
Kim is survived by her beloved husband of 23 years, Luis, and two daughters, Sabrina Amelia and Sophia Rachelle.