First-year genetic counseling students with Frances S. Collins, MD, PhD, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute

The mention of genetic counseling often triggers images of anxious parents in search of answers regarding the health of their infants or small children. However, what many don’t seem to realize is that genetic counselors are clinically trained professionals who can be experts not only in prenatal evaluation and pediatrics, but cancer, cardiology, neurology and a host of other sub-specialty areas. Less than 40 years old, the field of genetic counseling is growing exponentially, and the University of Maryland School of Medicine is responding accordingly.

Genetic counseling is the process of helping people understand and adapt to the medical, psychological, and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease. It involves the interpretation of family and medical histories to assess the chance of disease occurrence or recurrence. Genetic counselors educate individuals and families about inheritance, testing, management, prevention, resources and research of genetic conditions and diseases.

Since 1996, the medical school has offered a master’s degree in genetic counseling training program, one of only 32 accredited programs in the nation. Among these training programs, there are only about 200 students selected each year, and therefore competition is fierce. Maryland accepts just five or six students per class. “We have the resources and facilities on campus to educate and train more students, but we are limited by the number of slots available for the required clinical rotations,” says Shannan DeLany Dixon, MS, CGC, director of the master’s in genetic counseling program and assistant professor in the department of pediatrics. Students need to complete three 12-week clinical rotations at an accredited American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) site in order to graduate, and there are only so many sites in the Baltimore—Washington metropolitan area. “What is so exciting is that we are now seeing our alumni establishing clinics thereby providing more opportunities for our current students. They have a societal obligation—a desire to give back to the medical school—and are committed to their rapidly changing, chosen field,” says Dixon.

The school’s program provides students with a strong foundation in medical genetics and counseling, laboratory, and research techniques. They fulfill diverse roles in a wide range of clinical settings and learn to address the psychosocial and ethical aspects of genetic counseling. Students have the opportunity to explore all the offerings of the Baltimore campus by taking electives in the graduate school and schools of medicine, nursing, social work, and law. They complete rotations in the biochemical, molecular, and cytogenetic laboratories of the medical center.

“I provide genetic counseling and risk assessment for individuals and families suspected of having a hereditary risk of cancer,” says Jessica Joines, MGC, CGC, associate director of the genetic counseling program and instructor for the department of medicine. “My work for the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center at Maryland involves collaborating with the oncologists, surgeons, medical geneticists, administrators, social workers—anyone who touches the patient. Genetic counselors often play an integral part of a patient’s health care management team.” At the medical school, this critical role is communicated early on in a future physician’s training. Genetic counselors teach first year medical students in a small group setting during their genetic block.

“The field is exploding, and the opportunities are endless. We have students returning for their degree years after working for hospitals and private practices or even pursuing higher degrees in other fields,” Dixon shares. “The genetic counselor’s role and recognition is expanding in general practice. Here at Maryland where nine genetic counselors are employed, we hope to integrate into other departments and create new positions. There’s a need, and we are a tremendous resource.”