
The Genetics Podcast EP 229: Turning personal tragedy into a movement for preventive genetics with Matthew Goldstein of jscreen
This week on The Genetics Podcast, Patrick is joined by Dr. Matthew Goldstein, CEO of jscreen. They discuss his journey from physician-scientist and biotech founder to leading a national nonprofit focused on preventive genetic screening, how a personal tragedy reshaped his mission around carrier screening and access, and what it will take to close the gap between the promise of genomics and its real-world implementation in healthcare.
Show Notes:
0:00 Intro to The Genetics Podcast
00:58 Welcome to Matthew
01:41 Matthew’s path from an MD-PhD to founding a personalized cancer vaccine biotech
09:06 From personal tragedy to leading jscreen to expand access to reproductive carrier screening
17:11 Purpose, grief, and how Matthew has led jscreen in honor of his daughter
20:38 The implementation gap between genomic potential and real-world preventive screening
23:33 Nonprofit models, reimbursement barriers, and building sustainable access to preventive genetic screening
28:27 Lessons from the Jewish community’s experience with Tay-Sachs and gaps in understanding
33:05 Preconception carrier screening and the role of community in preventive health
38:04 Closing remarks
Find out more: jscreen
