(Courtesy of JScreen) JScreen, a national non-profit public health initiative dedicated to preventing Jewish genetic diseases, partnered with Rutgers University last week to offer free genetic screenings. JScreen representatives and Rutgers student Dena Winchester, who has lipodystrophy, spoke and answered questions about the importance of screening.

JScreen gives individuals and couples important information to help them plan ahead for the health of their future children.

Testing is performed by a certified laboratory and results are reviewed and reported to participants by genetic counselors. The screening panel includes Tay-Sachs, cystic fibrosis and over 200 other genetic diseases.