Genetic Counseling Specialist

CooperCompanies•Tucson, AZ

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Join a dynamic team at the forefront of reproductive genetics, where your expertise will help gamete donors, intended parents, fertility providers, donor-conceived individuals, and their families navigate important reproductive and healthcare decisions throughout every stage of the family-building journey. This is a clinical role responsible for determining initial and ongoing suitability for a gamete donor program by eliciting, evaluating, and documenting somewhat complex donor applicant family medical histories, reviewing and interpreting genetic testing results, performing document reviews, and collecting medical updates. Additional clinical responsibilities include eliciting and managing donor and offspring medical updates and coordinating additional routine donor testing. The Reproductive Genetics Specialist will participate in team meetings, performance/quality improvement projects, and complete other duties and/or projects that support the Reproductive Genetics team, as needed, and as assigned by the Manager. Communication is primarily internal and with donors; some communication with recipients and external providers is expected for somewhat complex and difficult cases.

Requirements

Master's degree from an accredited genetic counseling program
Board-certified with the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC).
Holds or able to obtain genetic counseling license in appropriate states, if applicable .
Proficient and practical knowledge in area of expertise, including tasks and processes.
3 years prior experience which include 2 years professional education and 1 year, or more, of relevant genetic counseling work experience.
Knowledge of and proficiency in MS Word and Excel.
Aptitude for learning and becoming proficient in Navision or other computer software, as needed.
Excellent customer service skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
High level of interpersonal skills to interact with clients, donor, peers and management.
Strong attention to detail in composing and proofing materials.
Excellent organizational skills.
Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Ability to work independently on daily tasks as well as in a group/collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

Reviews and elicits preliminary personal and family medical histories of donor applicants to determine suitability for continuation in donor screening process.
Conducts genetic interviews (family medical history evaluations) of conditionally qualified donors.
Completes all related paperwork, including pedigrees, medical profiles, and additional chart documents as needed.
Reviews and interprets somewhat complex and difficult donor medical histories to provide risk assessments and evaluate suitability for the donor program.
Provides information to donors about the genetic testing that is performed as part of the donor program.
Obtains informed consent for routine and special testing and provides education regarding somewhat complex or difficult results.
Coordinates genetic testing and informs donors of test results.
Provides education regarding positive and negative results.
Refers donor to personal healthcare providers for more detailed counseling services and follow-up based on genetic test results or family medical history, as appropriate.
Enters and verifies genetic assessments, genetic test summaries, and other genetics-related information items.
Assists with performing final reviews of donor charts to ensure accuracy and completeness of a donor’s family medical history.
Adheres to departmental SOPs.
Collaborates with other departments effectively to allow for good donor and client experience.
Communicates directly with recipients and/or healthcare providers in response to somewhat complex genetics-related inquiries.
Assists in a phone queue during business hours to ensure timely responses to provider/client inquiries.
Documents communications with clients per standard operating procedures to ensure good record keeping.
Facilitates client special test requests and coordinates additional genetic testing of donors.
Determines appropriateness of testing and provides follow-up to clients and donors regarding test results.
Collects and manages somewhat complex or difficult adverse outcome reports by receiving health updates on donor-conceived individuals, collecting relevant details, assessing risk and assisting in appropriate donor management, coordinating additional testing when indicated on donors, closing cases timely and efficiently, and documenting cases as required.
Collaborates with Senior and Lead GCs for review of complex donor histories and screening results
Participates in department meetings by presenting or contributing to discussions regarding donor histories, results, and/or cases.
Contributes to genetic counseling projects as directed by Lead GC or manager with short term objective (<1 yr) that improve function of genetic counseling team.
Completes own continued education; logging and submitted CEUs required by organization granting board accreditation(s).
Participates in all areas of restriction/notification process with oversight from Senior or Lead GC.
Creates and collects informed consent from clients prior to receiving vials from donors with significant medical history information.
Completes departmental and product improvement initiatives under direction of the Senior or Lead GC.
Ability to appropriately and reliably handle complex clinical needs independently.