2nd Annual Genetic Counselling Awareness Week
This week (November 20-26) genetic counsellors across Canada will be participating in the 2nd annual Genetic Counselling Awareness Week. The theme for this year’s event is centered around dispelling common myths about genetics.
What is a Genetic Counsellor?
Genetic counsellors are health professionals with specialized training and experience in the areas of medical genetics and counselling. Genetic counsellors complete a four-year undergraduate degree in biology and/or psychology and a two-year Masters of Science in Human Genetics.
Genetic counsellors work as members of a healthcare team, providing individuals and families with information on the inheritance and implications of genetic disorders to help them make informed medical and personal decisions. Genetic counsellors work in a number of different clinical areas, including: prenatal, cancer, neurology, cardiology and (in the case of Medcan) primary care.
Specifically, the role of a genetic counsellor is to:
- identify individuals and/or families who may have or may be at risk for a genetic condition
- interpret information about the disorder and analyze inheritance patterns and risks of occurrence or recurrence
- communicate complex information to individuals and families so that they can make informed choices
- facilitate and arrange genetic testing when applicable
- help people understand and adapt to the medical, psychological, and familial implications of how genetics contributes to disease
To learn more about the role of genetic counsellors, check out the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors website: https://cagc-accg.ca/content/view/12/32/
To learn more about Genetic Counselling Awareness Week, visit http://gcawareness.wordpress.com/