Top

Published in:

01-08-2016 | Genetic Counselor Development

From Campers to Counselors: a Resource for Prospective Genetic Counseling Students

Authors: Chana Wiesman, Esther Rose, Susan Klugman, Nicole Schreiber-Agus

Published in: Journal of Genetic Counseling | Issue 4/2016

Abstract

When thinking about the future of the genetic counseling field, one place to start is with prospective genetic counseling graduate school applicants. Although resources and mentorship opportunities exist for genetic counselors entering the field, the process of deciding on a career, applying to graduate programs, and being admitted can be daunting. As members of the profession, we should take responsibility for ensuring that individuals have the information and resources necessary to make an educated decision about whether genetic counseling is the correct path for them and to take the initial steps along this path. In this article, we present our Genetic Counseling Boot Camp as a model for other genetic counselors to use in developing their own local programs. This type of program can benefit prospective genetic counselors as they begin their professional journeys and can also provide value for the organizers and presenters who are already seasoned in the field.

Accreditation Counsel for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) (2015). Accredited programs. Retrieved from: http://www.gceducation.org/Pages/Accredited-Programs.aspx. Accessed on July 21 2015.

American Board of Genetic Counselor (ABGC) (2010). Practice based competencies. Retrieved from: http://www.abgc.net/docs/Practice%20Based%20Competencies_Aug%202006%2010-29-09.pdf. Accessed on Sept 1 2015.

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) (2013). Guidelines for clinical shadowing experiences for pre-medical students. Retrieved from: https://www.aamc.org/download/356316/data/shadowingguidelines2013.pdf. Accessed on August 21 2015.

Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors (AGCPD) (2011). Who are genetic counselors. Available from: http://nsgc.org/p/cm/ld/fid=43. Accessed on: April 22 2015.

Bennett, R. (2004). NSGC REPORT genetic counselor training programs: capacities and needs. Available from: http://osp.od.nih.gov/sites/default/files/Bennett.pdf. Accessed on August 21 2015.

Birch, P. H. (2015). Interactive e-counselling for genetics pre-test decisions: where are we now? Clinical Genetics, 87(3), 209–217.CrossRefPubMed

Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor. (n.d.). Genetic counselors. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/genetic-counselors.htm. Accessed on March 26 2015.

Cooksey, J. A. (2000). The genetic counselor workforce: training programs, professional practice, and issues affecting supply and demand. Chicago: Illinois Center for Health Workforce Studies.

Institute of Medicine (IOM). (2007). Cancer-related genetic testing and counseling: Workshop proceedings. Washington, DC: The National Acadamies Press.

Kinney, A.Y., Butler, K.M., Schwartz, M.D., Mandelblatt, J.S., Boucher, K.M., Pappas, L.M., et al. (2014). Expanding access to BRCA1/2 genetic counseling with telephone delivery: a cluster randomized trial. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 106(12).

Kumaravel, S., Tabangin, M., Sebera, K., & Steinberg Warren, N. (2011). Enriching the genetic counseling recruitment pipeline: a national cross-sectional study of public high school counselors. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 20, 559–571.CrossRefPubMed

Larsen Haidle, J. (2015). 2015 NSGC presidential address: gifts of genetic counselors: life’s leadership lessons. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 24(1), 1–5.CrossRefPubMed

Learning my ATGCs: Genetic Counseling at Sarah Lawrence College (2014). Coming soon! Retrieved from: https://learningmyatgcs.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/coming-soon/. Accessed on July 17 2015.

Maps & Genes (2011). About. Retrieved from: https://mapsandgenes.wordpress.com/about-2/. Accessed on July 17 2015.

MicroEMORaY, Official Blog of Emory University School of Medicine, Genetic Counseling Training Program (2014). Welcome. Retrieved from: http://emorygeneticcounseling.blogspot.com/2014/10/welcome.html. Accessed on July 17 2015.

National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) (n.d.). Career profiles: genetic counselor. Retrieved from: https://www.genome.gov/GenomicCareers/career.cfm?id=19. Accessed on July 14 2015.

National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) (2013). Genetic counseling training page. Retrieved from: http://nsgc.org/p/cm/ld/fid=44. Accessed on April 21 2015.

National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) (2014a). 2014 Professional status survey. Available from http://nsgc.org/p/cm/ld/fid=68.

National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) (2014b). Student/New member SIG. Retrieved from: http://nsgc.org/p/cm/ld/fid=133. Accessed on July 17 2015.

National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) (2015). 2015–2017 Strategic plan. Retrieved from: http://nsgc.org/p/cm/ld/fid=6. Accessed on August 27 2015.

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Center for Genetic Medicine (2013) Summer internship. Retrieved from http://cgm.northwestern.edu/education/graduate-genetic-medicine/summer-internship.html. Accessed on April 22 2015.

Owens, T., Tabangin, M., Huether, C., Vice Bowling, B., & Steinberg Warren, N. (2009). High school biology/life science teachers’ presentation of genetic counseling and health care career options in their classrooms. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 18, 275–286.CrossRefPubMed

Pan, V., Yashar, B. M., Pothast, R., Wicklund, C. (n.d.). Expanding the genetic counseling workforce: Program directors’ views on increasing the size of genetic counseling graduate programs. Manuscript in preparation.

Sarah Lawrence College (n.d. a). Program history: 1968–1971. Retrieved from https://www.sarahlawrence.edu/genetic-counseling/character/history/1968-1971.html. Accessed on April 21 2015.

Sarah Lawrence College. (n.d. b). Seventh annual genetic counseling career day. Retrieved from https://www.sarahlawrence.edu/genetic-counseling/camp/. Accessed on April 22 2015.

Seibert, D. (2008). Secrets to creating effective and interesting educational experiences: tips and suggestions for clinical educators. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 17, 152–160.CrossRefPubMed

The Gene Scene (2014). The PJGH goes camping. Retrieved from: https://jewishgenetichealth.wordpress.com/2014/06/23/the-pjgh-goes-camping/. Accessed on Sept 3 2015.

U.S. News and World Report (2015). Best healthcare jobs: genetic counselor. Retrieved from: http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/genetic-counselor. Accessed on October 28 2015.

Title: From Campers to Counselors: a Resource for Prospective Genetic Counseling Students
Authors: Chana Wiesman
Esther Rose
Susan Klugman
Nicole Schreiber-Agus
Publication date: 01-08-2016
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Genetic Counseling / Issue 4/2016
Print ISSN: 1059-7700
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3599
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-015-9915-8

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

From Campers to Counselors: a Resource for Prospective Genetic Counseling Students

Abstract

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 4/2016

Lessons from Freelancing, Lighting Design to Genetic Counseling

Further Defining the Role of the Laboratory Genetic Counselor

Genetic Counselors in Startup Companies: Redefining the Genetic Counselor Role

Measuring the Effectiveness of a Genetic Counseling Supervision Training Conference

Developing a Model of Advanced Training to Promote Career Advancement for Certified Genetic Counselors: An Investigation of Expanded Skills, Advanced Training Paths, and Professional Opportunities

Portrait of the Master Genetic Counselor Clinician: A Qualitative Investigation of Expertise in Genetic Counseling