Our History

Started as the Indiana Genetic Counselor Network, the Indiana Network of Genetic Counselors (INGC) traces its origins back to 1995, when a small group of genetic counselors began meeting informally in members’ homes. At the time, there were only eight genetic counselors practicing in Indiana. These early gatherings provided a space for networking, journal discussions, and collaborative brainstorming about the evolving practice of genetic counseling. Founding members included Lola Cook, Susan Romie, Peg Davee, Beth Conrad, Stephanie Cohen, Ann Boldt, and Meg Perry.

As the number of genetic counselors in Indiana grew, so did the organization. By May 2005, membership had expanded to 30 counselors, and the group began focusing on a major professional milestone: establishing state licensure for genetic counselors in Indiana. Working in partnership with the March of Dimes, the organization formed several committees—Proposal Development, Advocacy Attainment, Legislative Action, and Grant Funding (later renamed Finance)—to plan and advocate for licensure.

The year 2006 marked a pivotal moment for the organization. The group formally adopted its current name, the Indiana Network of Genetic Counselors (INGC), established its mission statement and bylaws, and elected its first board officers, including a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Over the next several years, INGC members worked tirelessly to secure grant funding, build support among legislators and healthcare stakeholders, and draft legislative language for licensure.

The path to licensure required persistence. After three attempts to introduce legislation, the bill—sponsored by Senator Patricia Miller and known as SB86—successfully passed the Indiana Senate. However, after reaching the House, an amendment unrelated to genetic counseling threatened to generate opposition from the Indiana State Medical Association, leading to the bill being withdrawn. The licensure language was subsequently incorporated into another bill, HB1573, which had already passed the House. That bill ultimately passed the Senate and was signed into law in 2009, with the Indiana genetic counselor licensure law taking effect in July 2010.

With licensure secured, INGC expanded its focus to supporting members professionally and advancing the visibility of genetic counseling across the state. The organization worked to help members obtain institutional credentialing and payer recognition, hosted an annual conference to provide continuing education units (CEUs) required for licensure maintenance, and increased community outreach. Public education initiatives included participation in DNA Day at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis beginning in 2010 and Celebrate Science Indiana starting in 2014.

Continuing its tradition of advocacy, INGC pursued additional efforts to strengthen the role of genetic counselors within Indiana’s healthcare system. A key priority was achieving recognition from insurers and healthcare institutions so that genetic counseling services could be reimbursed. In March 2015, INGC began discussions with Indiana Medicaid about enrolling genetic counselors as recognized providers. Later that year, IU Health, one of the state’s largest employers of genetic counselors, began granting provider privileges to genetic counselors. In 2017, Indiana Medicaid officially recognized genetic counselors as providers.

Another important milestone involved clarifying genetic counselors’ authority to order genetic testing under Indiana law. Although the topic had been discussed since 2011, it required nearly a decade of advocacy and collaboration with a lobbyist to update the statute. In 2020, the licensure law was successfully amended to explicitly state that licensed genetic counselors in Indiana may order genetic testing, further solidifying the profession’s scope of practice in the state.

From its beginnings as a small gathering of eight counselors to a statewide professional organization, INGC has remained dedicated to advancing the genetic counseling profession, supporting its members, and improving access to genetic services for patients across Indiana.