When I tell people I’m a genetic counselor, I’m often met with a blank stare. When someone does respond, it often includes one of the following questions:
1. “You tell people whether
they should have children?” Or
2. “So…you counsel my
genes?”
No, we neither counsel people’s genes (whatever
that even means), nor do we tell couples whether they should have children. We
are not in the family planning business. Genetic counselors work with
individuals or families who either have, or may be at risk for, a genetic
condition. We provide our patients with information about the features of a
particular genetic condition and potential treatment and screening options. We
discuss the cause of the condition, whether it can be inherited in a family and
explain available testing options and results. The information and support
provided by the genetic counselor greatly varies based on the reason for
genetic counseling and the needs of the particular patient.
We are educators and supporters and help our
patients understand complex genetic risk information so they can make decisions
that are in line with their cultural and familial beliefs. Sometimes these
decisions are extremely difficult with no apparent “good” solution. We’re not
physicians so we don’t diagnose ailments, nor do we prescribe medications.
However, we often work very closely with physicians and aid in the diagnostic
process.
Genetic counselors have traditionally worked in
prenatal, pediatric and cancer genetics clinics. However, genetic counselors
have valuable knowledge and skills that may be applied in a variety of
settings. It’s becoming more and more common for genetic counselors to work
outside of the traditional clinic. These expanded roles include adult medicine,
research, public health, education, industry and public policy. As science
and medicine learn more about the impact of genetics on common diseases like
heart disease, diabetes and macular degeneration, there will be a growing need
for genetic counselors working in adult medicine and primary care.
Sound interesting?
I was a junior in college before I heard about
genetic counseling as a possible career choice. I was on a pre-medicine
track, but in the back of my mind, worried medicine was not the right field.
For me, genetic counseling is the perfect marriage of genetics, medicine and
education.
Genetic counselors are health care professionals
with specialized master’s degrees in genetic counseling. Most genetic
counseling programs are two years in length with the first year being a
combination of coursework and clinical experience and the second
year consisting largely of supervised clinical rotations. My best advice for
those considering genetic counseling as a career would be to get a good
foundation in biology and genetics, and then get out there – volunteer with
support groups, help with community events, shadow genetic counselors – figure
out for yourself if genetic counseling is the right career choice for you.
For more information about what a genetic
counselor is, or to find a genetic counselor near you,
visit the National Society of Genetic Counselors website. You can find a list
of the accredited programs by visiting the American Board of Genetics website
or learn about other genetic fields of interest here.
Kelly East is a board-certified genetic counselor with a
bachelor’s degree in microbiology and a master’s degree in genetic counseling
from Auburn and UNC – Greensboro, respectively. Kelly is part of the
educational outreach department at HudsonAlpha. Working with patients and the
public, helping them to understand the impact of genetics on health and disease,
is one of her favorite parts of being a genetic counselor.
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