Built by the HD Community — For the HD Community

HD Genetics was founded by B.J. Viau (View), an HD Family member, with one mission: empower every person throughout their HD journey. Our small, dedicated team brings decades of personal and professional experience to make genetic testing and clinical trial research access more compassionate, accessible, and human.

B.J. Viau (View) — Founder & President

B.J. has been actively involved in the Huntington’s disease community since his mother’s diagnosis in 1995. His commitment began with a family-run Hoop-A-Thon fundraiser that lasted nearly two decades (1995–2012) and grew into co-founding the Huntington’s Disease Youth Organization (HDYO) — an international nonprofit dedicated to supporting, educating, and motivating young people impacted by HD. He served as HDYO’s Board Chairman for ten years before stepping down in 2020 to focus on launching HD Genetics.

Professionally, B.J. has spent over 15 years in the pharmaceutical industry, including his time at Lundbeck during the launch of the first FDA-approved medicine for Huntington’s chorea. Today, he also leads PatientViau, a strategic consulting firm that helps healthcare organizations build stronger partnerships with patient advocacy groups.

After testing negative for HD himself in 2010, B.J. has remained deeply committed to the community. He has personally participated in multiple observational studies — including PREDICT-HD, PREVENT-HD, ENROLL-HD, and HD Clarity — and sits on the Board of Directors of the Huntington’ Disease Study Group (HSG).

B.J. holds an undergraduate degree from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He lives in Charlotte, NC, where he enjoys golf, fitness, traveling, and spending time with his family.

B.J. Shares His HD Family Story (Recorded in 2017)

Years before founding HD Genetics, B.J. shared his family's HD journey on stage at a Teva All Hands employee event. It's a window into the lived experience that would, five years later, become the foundation for HD Genetics.

Wes Solem, ScM, CGC — Director of Genetics

Wes is a Certified Genetic Counselor (CGC) through the American Board of Genetic Counseling. He earned his Master of Science in Genetic Counseling from Johns Hopkins University in 2021. As part of his graduate program, Wes served as an Intramural Research Trainee for the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the National Institutes of Health.

His graduate thesis research was titled “COVID-19 Impact on Genetic Counseling for Huntington’s Disease via Telehealth” — work that directly informs how HD Genetics delivers virtual care today. Prior to graduate studies, Wes worked as an undergraduate laboratory assistant for Dr. Jeff Carroll at Western Washington University, studying the neurobiology and behavior of mice modeling Huntington’s disease. In 2018, Wes was selected for HDSA’s Donald A. King Research Fellowship, and in 2019 he earned his Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience.

Wes has been part of HD Genetics since its inception and has been an integral force in shaping how the service is designed and delivered. Today, he is one of the most experienced HD genetic counselors in the world — having personally guided every single client through the testing process since day one. He also speaks regularly at HD community events, both local and national, about the work HD Genetics is doing for HD families across the country.

Our Neurology Team

Genetic testing orders are overseen by board-certified movement disorders specialists in states where a prescribing physician is required.

Dr. Hatcher-Martin is a movement disorders neurologist and researcher with a passion for telemedicine and access to care. She was drawn to neurodegenerative disease because of how these conditions affect who people truly are — and she feels honored to know patients and families impacted by HD and other conditions.

Dr. Hatcher-Martin is a licensed physician across many states and oversees HD Genetics’ genetic testing orders in states that require a prescriber.

She lives with her husband, two sons, and goofball Frenchie in the Atlanta suburbs. When she’s not seeing patients, she loves the outdoors (the closer to the ocean, the better), reading, traveling, weight training, and learning to golf.

Dr. Ferluga is a movement disorder specialist and board-certified neurologist with deep interests in telemedicine and access to care. She graduated from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in 2007, completed her residency at Vanderbilt (where she served as chief resident in 2011), and went on to complete a movement disorders fellowship in 2013.

From 2016 to 2023, Dr. Ferluga served as the director of Erlanger Hospital’s HD Center of Excellence partner site. She now works as a tele-neurologist focused on neurodegenerative diseases, and she is licensed across many states.

Dr. Ferluga lives with her husband and four cats in Chattanooga, TN. Her hobbies include pottery, coloring, knitting, and swimming — and her bucket list travel destinations include Australia, Japan, and Egypt.

Spencer Diehl, LISW — Clinical Study Navigator

Spencer is an independently licensed clinical social worker and mental health provider with Vanderbilt Medical Group, where he also serves as Co-Director of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s HDSA Center of Excellence. He earned his undergraduate degree at Boston University and his graduate degree from Simmons University, and previously worked with veteran community mental health and supported housing programming at the Veterans Administration before joining Vanderbilt.

Spencer’s areas of expertise span telehealth behavioral health, meaning and purpose interventions, stress response and coping, positive psychology, neurodegenerative conditions, chronic mental health issues, crisis management, and veterans’ care. At HD Genetics, he leads our Clinical Study Navigator service, supporting individuals who are actively participating in specific HD clinical studies.

The People Helping Us Grow

Our advisors donate their time and energy to help HD Genetics serve the community at the highest possible level. None have any financial affiliation with HD Genetics — they're here because they believe in the mission.

Arvind has over 31 years of pharmaceutical and biotechnology experience in commercial roles at Ciba-Geigy, Abbott Laboratories, Ovation Pharmaceuticals, Lundbeck, Auspex Pharmaceuticals, and AveXis. He is currently SVP of Business Operations at Neurogene.

Arvind played key roles in bringing both Austedo and Xenazine to market. He is the current board chair of the Huntington Study Group (HSG) and previously served on the HDSA board of trustees for six years.

“I’m indebted to the HD community for everything they have done for me personally and professionally. I will always support and give back to the HD community.”

Dr. Nance is a board-certified neurologist and clinical geneticist specializing in movement disorders, including HD, Parkinson’s disease, hereditary ataxias, and other neurogenetic disorders. She has served as the medical director of HDSA’s Center of Excellence at Hennepin HealthCare in Minneapolis since 1995, and the Struthers Parkinson’s Center since 2000.

She is also a clinical professor of neurology at the University of Minnesota and an active volunteer with HDSA, HSG, HDYO, and other HD advocacy organizations.

“I have been involved in genetic testing for HD since before the gene was identified in 1993! I am very pleased to support the efforts of HD Genetics to help people who are at risk for HD — anywhere in the US — to have access to skilled and timely counseling and testing.”

Michael has over 40 years of experience in the financial services industry and is currently chairman of Applied Capital Management, a private investment management firm.

He is the founder of HDSA’s Berman-Toppler Fellowship, which awards young scientists three-year grants to focus on Huntington’s disease science research. Michael also serves as a board member of Atalanta Therapeutics.

“Genetic testing is a useful, important tool in the fight against HD. We must never forget that a patient and family are involved, and that those who are encouraged to receive testing are treated in an ethical and compassionate manner.”

Empowering Each Person Throughout Their HD Journey

HD Genetics is a privately led healthcare company offering a best-in-class genetic testing and counseling experience and clinical study connection to individuals impacted by Huntington's disease.

Our work exists for one reason: the HD community deserves care that is built around them — not around insurance systems, geography, or financial gatekeeping.

“The idea for HD Genetics came through years of conversations with individuals interconnected within the HD community — individuals from HD families, healthcare professionals who care for HD patients, advocacy leaders, and pharmaceutical representatives working on groundbreaking HD treatments. I’m fortunate enough to have a small but mighty team that’s been willing to put in their personal and professional passion to bring HD Genetics to life.”

— B.J. Viau, Founder of HD Genetics

Talk to Our Team Before You Decide Anything

We host free, drop-in Office Hours every month — and a live Q&A every week. No intake forms, no signup, no obligation. Just show up and ask whatever you want about HD genetic testing, clinical trials, or our team.

Open Office Hours With Wes

Join Wes Solem, our Director of Genetics, in a free virtual room — first Wednesday of every month. Come with questions, come just to listen, or bring a family member. There’s no script and no agenda beyond your needs.

When: First Wednesday of every month
Time: 12:30 PM EST · 11:30 AM CST · 9:30 AM PST
Where: Virtual via doxy.me/HDgenetics
Hosted in partnership with: HD Reach

Live Q&A on Instagram

Every Tuesday at 11 AM EST, our team goes live on Instagram to answer real-time questions from the HD community. Follow us to get notified and ask anything from your phone.

When: Every Tuesday
Time: 11:00 AM EST
Where: @HD_Genetics on Instagram