Judith L Miller, MS, LGC
April 2010
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Explosion of scientific knowledge
◦ The “Age of Biology”
◦ Sophisticated and complex medical diagnostics and
treatments
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Result: increased need for expertly trained health
care personnel
Trends today in medical care
◦ Increasing costs
◦ Treatment of patients in ambulatory facilities
◦ Need for most efficacious and least costly care
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Health professionals other than physicians
◦ 200 different careers
◦ 80 different professions
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Expertly trained in specialized area
◦ Can provide excellent care (advice, help)
◦ Cost less than care provided by an MD
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Two broad categories:
◦ Technicians and Assistants
 Typically only up to 2 years education
 Supervision required
◦ **Therapists and Technologists
 Require graduate education
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Job descriptions are quite specialized
Practitioners are highly trained and
considered experts in their field
Work in the AHP:
◦ Typically, involves direct or indirect patient care
◦ After time (after the person gains and demonstrates
expertise) non-traditional jobs are often possible.
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Exercise Science (athletic
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Speech-Language
pathology
trainer, kinesiologist)
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Cytotechnology
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Genetic Counselor
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Dietetics
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Radiologic technologist
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Nuclear Medicine
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Technology
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Surgical technologist
Physical Therapy
“Helping individuals and families understand
how genetics affects their health and
lives.”
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Health professionals with
◦ Specialized graduate degrees
◦ Knowledge of medical genetics
◦ Counseling skills
◦ Expertise in genetic testing
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Medical or Clinical Geneticist
◦ MD, Primary care residency plus fellowship or
residency in Genetics
◦ Medical Genetics – a Medical Specialty
◦ Diagnose and Treat
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PhD Geneticist
◦ Research
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Genetic Counselor
◦ MS degree
◦ Work with patients, consult, order and
interpret genetic tests
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Provide information and support to families
who have members with birth defects or
genetic disorders, and to families who may
be at risk for a variety of inherited
conditions
Investigate the disorder or condition,
interpret test results and information about
the disorder, analyze inheritance patterns
and risks of recurrence, and review available
options with the family
•Serve as patient advocates
•Serve as educators and as a
resource
• for other health care
professionals
• for the general public
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Prenatal/Preconception
◦ Work with pregnant women, couples
planning a pregnancy, couples at risk for
having a baby with a genetic condition
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Pediatric
◦ Help parents, families, children, teenagers
who have, or are at risk for, genetic
conditions such as sickle cell disease,
deafness, mental retardation, birth defects
 Adult
◦ Counsel people with medical and
genetic conditions, or a family
history of a condition such as
cancer, Huntington disease,
Alzheimer disease
 Cancer
Genetics
 Clinics,
hospitals, doctor’s
practices
 Academic
centers
 Independent
practice
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Public Health
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Education
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Research
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Raise awareness of genetics
Improve access to services
Outreach services
Determine public policy
◦ Teach in genetic counseling programs,
selected programs in colleges and
universities
◦ Serve as liaison between research lab and
patients
◦ Explore unanswered questions in genetic
counseling
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Consulting
With Permission:
http://scollege.com/aajantoa
pr2003/2003Feb16MyDesk.j
pg
◦
Private Practice
◦
Internet Companies (Direct to
Consumer counseling and testing)
 Have increased autonomy and flexibility
 Develop online products related to
genetics
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Pharmaceuticals
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Industry/Laboratory
With Permission:
http://www.csusm.edu/academic_affairs/
 Act as corporate resource for genetics
expertise
 Act as a liaison between diagnostic labs,
referring physicians, and patients
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Helping others
Privilege to work closely with individuals and
families on sensitive personal matters
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Continuing education required
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Being an expert in your field
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Reduce Health Disparities
◦ Special need to provide genetic counseling services to
African-American, Hispanic and other
under served communities
With Permission:
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/
healthdisparities/files/introh
ands.jpg
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Become a genetic counselor in two years after
finishing college
The average salary for a genetic counselor in
IL with 0.5 to 2.5 years experience was
reported as $52,225 in 2009
Job Satisfaction
 Combination of genetics and working with
people
 Intellectual challenges of the field
 Rewards associated with helping people
 Opportunities for personal growth
S
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Can be emotionally draining
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Rapid advances in field means constant
work to keep current
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In some cases little chance to advance
professionally
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Jobs vary widely
◦ Physicians run the health care world***
◦ Autonomy vs little autonomy
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Master’s Degree in Genetic Counseling
◦ Currently about 30 programs in US
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Graduate programs are intense
◦ Course work
◦ Clinical rotations
◦ Thesis
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Pass certification exam, maintain
certification and skills
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Be open to relocation
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Learn about the field:
◦ Read about
 Human genome research and ethical dilemmas
 Treatments and tests for genetic conditions
◦ Obtain / Investigate
With permission:
http://www.tcc.fl.edu/
dept/studentserv/ima
ges/counseling.jpg
 Information from the National Society of Genetic Counselors
 Genetic counseling internships
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Gain experience working with people
◦ Volunteer—rape crisis, pregnancy counseling, Special Olympics
◦ Be a teaching and/or research assistant
◦ Take on leadership roles
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Obtain recommendations
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Develop these skills:
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Course work
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Interpersonal communication skills
Computer literacy
Writing skills
Ability to express yourself clearly (to give presentations)
Interviewing skills
◦ Molecular biology, chemistry, statistics, research
◦ Consider psychology, physiology, ethics, human
development, anatomy
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Many more allied health professionals
will be needed in the future
Job prospects good!