Background
WHAT IS A GENETIC COUNSELOR?
Genetic counselors are health care professionals with specialized
graduate degrees in medical genetics and counseling. Genetic counselors
work as members of a health care team, providing 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 genetically influenced
diseases. They identify families at risk, investigate the problem
present in the family, interpret information about the disorder, analyze
inheritance patterns and risks of recurrence and review available
testing options with the family. 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.
History of the Genetic Counseling
Profession
1969 - Sara Lawrence College is first graduate school
to offer genetic counseling as a degree
1971 - First 10 graduates with a degree in genetic
counseling
1973 - 5 programs were established
1979 - NSGC (National Society of Genetic Counselors)
was founded with 100 members
1981 - First annual NSGC Education Conference
1982-1990: ABMG (American Board of Medical Genetics)
responsible for certification of genetic counselors
1993 - ABGC (American Board of Genetic Counselors)
was established
1996 - First independent ABGC certification exam
for genetic counselors
2000 - 26 programs in the US and Canada (Programs
also exist in England, South Africa and Australia)
2004 - 28 ABGC accredited programs in the United
States and Canada with 150+ gradutes annually
Click HERE
for a list of these programs
Page updated on-
May 15, 2008
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