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GENETIC COUNSELOR
Genetic counselors help people understand
and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications
of genetic contributions to disease. This process integrates interpretation
of family and medical histories to assess the chance of disease occurrence
or recurrence; education about inheritance, testing, management,
prevention, resources and research; and counseling to promote informed
choices and adaptation to the risk or condition.
Career Opportunities
Genetic counselors act as liaisons between doctors and patients.
They are health professionals with specialized graduate degrees
and experience in the areas of medical genetics and counseling.
Most enter the field from a variety of disciplines, including biology,
genetics, nursing, psychology, public health and social work. Because
expert and private handling of genetic recurrence information is
essential, practitioners generally are expected to seek certification
by the American Board of Genetic Counseling.
Genetic counseling can
occur in a number of different situations: (1) before conception,
when one or both parents are carriers of a certain trait; (2) during
pregnancy, if an abnormality is noted on an ultrasound or if the
woman will be 35 years old or older at delivery; (3) after birth,
if a birth defect is detected; (4) during childhood, if the child
has developmental delay; and (5) during adulthood, for adult-onset
genetic conditions such as Huntington’s disease
or hereditary cancer syndromes.
Genetic counselors also provide supportive
counseling to families, serve as patient advocates and refer individuals
and families to community or state support services. They serve as
educators and resource people for other health care professionals
and for the general public. Most GCs work as a member of a health
care team in traditional environments, such as university medical
centers, laboratory settings and private practice. However, GCs can
be found in such diverse environments as pharmaceutical companies,
state and federal departments of health and health consulting. Some
counselors also work in administrative capacities. Many engage in
research activities related to the field of medical genetics and
genetic counseling. Areas of specialization include prenatal, pediatric
genetics, cancer genetics, adult genetics, neurogenetics, public
health and molecular/cytogenetic testing.
The future of the genetic
counseling profession is strengthened by advances in genomics, including
the completion of the Human Genome Project. The expansion of genomic
medicine demands experts who can assess and communicate health risks
and assist health care professionals and patients with decision-making
regarding testing and treatment options. Genetic counselors are ideally
equipped to respond to these demands and will be a primary resource
as society adapts to the changes brought about by this new scientific
era.
Education/Training
Currently, numerous training programs offer master’s degrees
in genetic counseling in the United States. Programs also are offered
in Canada, Australia, England and South Africa. Coursework typically
includes clinical genetics, population genetics, cytogenetics, and
molecular genetics coupled with psychosocial theory, ethics and counseling
techniques. Clinical placement in American Board of Genetic Counseling-approved
medical genetics centers is an integral part of the degree requirements.
Additional programs accept nurses seeking postgraduate degrees with
specialty training in genetics.
Certification
Certification currently is not required in order for one to be a
practicing genetic counselor, though the majority of counselors
practicing today are board-certified. Licensure is becoming available
in a growing number of states and often is dependent on board certification.
Certification is available by the American Board of Genetic Counseling.
Requirements include documentation of the following: a graduate
degree in genetic counseling, clinical experience in an ABGC-approved
training site or sites, a log book of 50 supervised cases and successful
completion of both the general and specialty certification examination.
Currently, all graduates are expected to achieve certification
within three or four years after graduation or further training
will be required.
Salary
Median Base in the United States: $54,755 per year
Median Base in 10 Selected North Carolina
Cities: $53,355 per year
Base Range in 10 Selected North Carolina Cities: $49,702
to $60,181 per year
Source: Salary.com, July 2006
Related Links
http://www.abgc.net
The American Board of Genetic Counseling prepares and administers
examinations to certify individuals who provide services in the medical
genetics specialty of genetic counseling and accredits training programs
in the field of genetic counseling.
http://genetics.faseb.org/genetics/gsa/careers/bro-09.htm
http://www.medhunters.com/articles/geneticCounselingSoYouWantToBe.html
http://www.mycoolcareer.com/bio/bio_wongs.html
http://www.nsgc.org
http://www.nsgc.org/spotlight/Bonnie_LeRoy.cfm
http://www.salary.com/careers/layouthtmls/crel_display_Cat10_Ser138_Par238.html
http://science-education.nih.gov/lifeworks.nsf/Interviews/Barbara+Biesecker
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_counseling
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