Genetic Counselor

NeighborHealth•Winthrop, MN

About The Position

Genetic Counselors work in the Center for Genetics & Prevention program, providing genetic counseling services to adult patients and families under the leadership of the Clinical Director, Disease Center Leader, and Associate Director of Genetic Counseling. Counselors may develop areas of expertise, but are cross-trained to address a broad range of hereditary cancer conditions, including hereditary breast and ovarian syndrome, hereditary gastrointestinal cancers, sarcoma, genitourinary cancers, hematologic malignancies, brain tumors, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, SDHX-associated syndromes, and VHL. Participation in research initiatives is also possible. The position has multiple levels—Genetic Counselor I, II, III, and Lead Genetic Counselor—with increasing independence and responsibility. Duties may include clinical counseling and testing coordination, consultation and education, training and supervision, research, and leadership of a specialty program, depending on level.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Genetic Counseling.
Board-certified or board-eligible by the American Board of Genetic Counseling; Genetic Counselor I must take the board exam during the first eligibility cycle.
Licensed or provisionally licensed as a Genetic Counselor in Massachusetts; higher-level roles require maintained licensure in required states.
Ability to provide genetic counseling, including family history collection and assessment, knowledge of genetics and testing, and psychosocial support.
Knowledge of hereditary cancer syndromes, cancer genetics, and cancer risk assessment tools; advanced roles require expert knowledge, including rare syndromes for Genetic Counselor III.
Ability to communicate complex information clearly and appropriately to diverse audiences, orally and in writing.
Knowledge of pedigree standards and specialized pedigree-drawing software.
Ability to collaborate with the Center for Cancer Genetics & Prevention team; strong interpersonal skills and emotional awareness.
Research skills, including reviewing and synthesizing medical literature.
Genetic Counselor I: 0–3+ years of work experience in clinical cancer genetic counseling.
Genetic Counselor II: At least 3 years of in-depth experience in cancer genetic counseling, medical research, and genetic technologies; advanced presentation and teaching abilities.
Genetic Counselor III: At least 6 years of in-depth experience in cancer genetic counseling, medical research, and genetic technologies; advanced presentation and teaching abilities, and leadership skills.
Lead Genetic Counselor: Ability to innovate and manage program growth and restructuring, communicate across multidisciplinary teams, prioritize large initiatives, identify collaboration opportunities, and manage specialty program development.

Nice To Haves

For Genetic Counselor II, 3+ years of clinical cancer genetic counseling experience is preferred.
For Genetic Counselor III, 6+ years of clinical cancer genetic counseling experience is preferred.
Some knowledge of whole-genome analysis and personalized genomic medicine is noted for Genetic Counselor II and III.

Responsibilities

Provide genetic counseling to patients in the Center for Cancer Genetics & Prevention and consultation services to patients in other disease centers, clinics, and satellite locations.
Review medical records and cancer diagnoses to evaluate family histories.
Select appropriate genetic testing options and laboratories, and coordinate collection of blood and tissue samples.
Complete electronic medical record documentation and assist with clinical variant interpretation.
Communicate with patients and health care professionals about family histories, genetic testing eligibility, and research protocols.
Support the professional development and clinical training of genetic counseling interns, students, fellows, staff, and other health care providers, according to role level.
Provide genetic counseling services at satellite clinics and support the development and expansion of community outreach clinics and consultation programs.
Educate oncology and community health care providers about cancer genetics, hereditary cancer syndromes, and appropriate referrals.
Facilitate patient support groups, organize educational seminars and conferences, and create patient-oriented materials.
Teach genetics classes and clinically supervise trainees, according to role level.
Communicate with media and outside organizations about cancer genetics, hereditary cancer syndromes, and genetic counseling services.
Conduct or support clinical research on hereditary cancer syndromes and cancer prevention; contribute abstracts, presentations, and manuscripts.
Manage complex cross-disease-center projects, analyze and interpret results, and participate in genomic analysis initiatives.
Mentor staff and support education in variant analysis and interpretation, patient reviews, journal clubs, and lectures.
For the Lead Genetic Counselor role, develop and manage a specialty area, provide leadership, maintain program relationships, recruit and manage specialty team members, and address changing program needs.