Genetic Counseling
NEW- Profiles of Accepted Gustie Genetic Counseling students Nadia English '23
Prerequisite requirements:
University of MN: Genetics, Psychology, Biochemistry, Statistics
University of WI Madison: Statistics, Biochemistry, Advanced Genetics
The Ohio State University: Genetics, Statistics, Psychology, Biochemistry (see major information)
Resources:
National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) Podcast
NSGC website has a link to the Master Genetic Counselor series, where you can watch simulated genetic counseling sessions(cardiovascular, cancer, prenatal). You can count these virtual sessions on your application as virtual shadowing.
Register to join for FREE to learn from the Global Genetics and Genomics Community case studies.
Apply to Programs
The Genetic Counseling Admissions Match
Things to Know
You must register for the Match in order for your applications to be considered by participating programs.
You should check with each program directly about its application requirements and procedures as each program has its own processes and deadlines.
Sending Applications
Applications are submitted to programs independently of the Match. For information on application requirements and procedures, you must contact each program directly.
The Genetic Counseling Admissions Match list of participating programs
Interviews
All interviews should be completed before the Rank Order List deadline date (mid-April).
Programs and applicants may express a high level of interest in each other. A program may voluntarily inform an applicant as to whether or not it intends to rank the applicant, and an applicant may voluntarily inform a program as to whether or not the applicant intends to rank the program. However, neither party (program or applicant) may solicit such information from the other party, and neither party may solicit or disclose to the other party any information regarding the positioning of any program or applicant on a Rank Order List. For example, it is prohibited to make statements like "I will rank you first" or "You are at the top of my list".
Programs that offer more than one track are expected to ask applicants which track(s) the applicants are interested in, and may indicate the track(s) for which the applicants may be considered. However, programs may not solicit information about the position of any track on any applicant's Rank Order List.
Genetic Counselor Contacts
List of Genetic Counselors that are open to students contacting them for an informational interview below. For additional names and specialty areas search the NSGC website for contact information and genetic counselors open to student contact.
Miranda Ruben, Gustie Graduate, 2016, mruben@uhhg.org Genetic Counselor, Employer: Union Medical Group, Indiana, Types of Specialties: Cancer
Laura Birkeland, Gustie Graduate, 2000, lebirkeland@pediatrics.wisc.edu Genetic Counselor, Employer: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Types of Specialties: Prenatal
Erin Carter, Gustie Graduate, 1999, Genetic Counselor, Clinic Care Coordinator, Research Coordinator, Email at: http://www.hss.edu/skeletal-dysplasias.asp Employed: The Kathryn O. and Alan C. Greenberg Center for Skeletal Dysplasias, Types of Specialties: Metabolic, Pediatric, Research, Specialty Disease
Anna DeSalvo Gustie Graduate 2013, Genetic Counselor, Practice Implementation Principal, Aedesalvo3@gmail.com Employed: Be The Match
Elena Fisher, Prenatal Genetic Counselor, fishe912@umn.edu Employed: Henepin Healthcare Types of Specialties: Cardiac-Arrhythmia Syndromes, Cardiac-Cardiomyopathies, Cardiology, PGD/Preconception, Prenatal.
Christina Dailey, Genetic Counselor, chr58327@fairview.org Employed: M Health Fairview Types of Specialties: Pediatric, Neurogenetic
Chloe Barnett, Reproductive Genetic Counselor, chl72572@fairview.org Employed: M Health Fairview Types of Specialties: PGD/Preconception, Prenatal
Bonnie Hatten, Genetic Counselor, bonnie.a.hatten@allina.com Employed: Abbott Northwestern Hospital Virginia Piper Cancer Institute Types of Specialties: Cancer
Kara Schoeffel, Certified Genetic Counselor, schoeffel.kara@mayo.edu Employed: Mayo Clinic Rochester Types of Specialties: Adult (Including Complex Disease), Cancer,Cardiac-Aortic Aneurysm, Cardiac-Arrhythmia Syndromes, Cardiac-Cardiomyopathies,Cardiac-Coronary Artery Disease, Cardiology
Katherine Baker-Lange, Genetic Counselor, katherine.baker-lange@northmemorial.com Employer: North Memorial Types of Specialties: Cancer
Sarah Kreykes, Genetic Counselor, skreykes@umn.edu Employer: University of Minnesota Physicians Types of Specialties: Cardiology
Nora Nashawaty, Genetic Counselor, nora.nashawaty@usoncology.com Employer: Minnesota Oncology Types of Specialties: Cancer
Amy Powers, Genetic Counselor, Amy.L.Powers@healthpartners.com Employed: Regions Hospital Types of Specialties: Cancer, Pediatric, Specialty Disease
Internship Opportunities
Summer Experiential Workshop Genetic Counseling Northwestern Chicago, IL
Iowa Institute of Human Genetics Summer Internship in Genetic Counseling
The Iowa Institute of Human Genetics (IIHG) offers an internship for students interested in a career in genetic counseling. The IIHG Summer Internship Program, intended for undergraduate students and recent college graduates, is an excellent opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience working under the direction of genetic counselors at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Prior human genetics experience is not a requirement, however applicants should have successfully completed undergraduate genetics coursework prior to the internship. The IIHG Summer Internship is open to anyone interested in genetic counseling and is especially beneficial for students with limited access to human genetics opportunities at their home institution. Please note this is a competitive internship, therefore preference will be given to upper-level undergraduate students and recent college graduates.
The IIHG Summer Internship provides students with:
Full-time, hands-on projects in genetic counseling and personalized genomic medicine
Enrichment activities, including seminars and workshops on graduate school and careers
A cost-of-living stipend to help cover room and board
The IIHG will provide assistance with the following:
Stipend, Payments, and Reimbursements
Orientation
Off-campus housing suggestions
On-campus housing suggestions (University of Iowa Students)
***International students are welcome to apply, however the IIHG is not able to assist financially with moving or Visa expenses.
Clinical Experience
Interns will have the opportunity to shadow genetic counselors in multiple specialty clinics for Huntington disease, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, general neurogenetics, genetic renal disease, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, maternal fetal medicine, prenatal, perinatal care, cardiogenetics clinic, pediatrics genetics, and personalized genomic medicine clinics. The Iowa Institute of Human Genetics Clinical Diagnostics Division offers a variety of molecular testing, including next generation sequencing tests. Interns may observe all aspects of testing from DNA extraction to the multidisciplinary team interpretation of results.
Stipend
Interns will receive a cost of living stipend.
Internship requirements
Interns will present two 15-20 minute talks during their summer experience, focusing on an interesting case or diagnosis and including a literature review of the chosen topic. Interns will also develop disease-specific patient education materials. All interns are required to attend and participate in orientation, intern presentations, and selected seminars.
Dates
The internship will be 8 weeks in duration, Monday through Friday, from 8:00am-5:00pm. If absent (including for vacation), interns will be required to make up hours.
Exact dates for summer 2023 are TBD but typically start the 1st or 2nd Monday in June.
Application
A complete IIHG Summer Internship application includes:
The electronic application form
The electronic application form will automatically email two persons you have identified to provide letters of recommendation. If your letter writers are not able to upload their LOR to the application portal, they can send it to iihg@uiowa.edu.
Official college academic transcript(s) - These should be sent directly to us from your most recent college or university. Transcripts sent by applicants are not accepted.
Request transcripts be sent electronically to iihg@uiowa.edu (preferred) or by regular mail
IIHG Summer Internship Program
431 Newton Road, 117 EMRB
Iowa City, IA, 52242-1078
Tips for Summer Intern Applicants.pdf
Application Window
The application window for summer 2023 will open in January or February 2023. Interviews will be held in early/mid-April, 2022 and a decision will be made by the end of April.
This program seeks to improve diversity in the biological sciences. Disabled students, minority students, and disadvantaged students (economically or first in family to attend college) are especially encouraged to apply.
Iowa Institute of Human Genetics
The IIHG is a statewide resource to promote clinical care, research, and education that focuses on the medical and scientific advances around the human genome. Established in August 2012, the IIHG seeks to integrate activities in human genetics through multi-disciplinary research, education, and clinical care that is focused on the medical and scientific significance of variations in the human genome. Selected interns will be exposed to all aspects of the IIHG by participating in IIHG conferences and rotating in the IIHG Research and Clinical Diagnostic Service.
Iowa City in the Summer
Iowa City gets consistently high ratings from national indexes of great places to live, combining the community atmosphere with a cosmopolitan flair. It offers an abundance of cultural, historical and recreational opportunities similar to those in a large city. The downtown area has a pedestrian mall with unique shops, restaurants and live music, and hosts yearly events such as the Jazz Festival, bike and road races, and several art festivals. In addition, Iowa City is an active community with many hiking/biking trails and parks to explore. The IIHG Summer Internship program encourages students to take advantage of the many opportunities Iowa City has to offer in the summer.
What do I do if I want to shadow a genetic counselor?
Anyone interested in the field of genetic counseling is encouraged to attend at least one of our education events (they are free of charge), either Careers in Human Genetics Day or Applying to Graduate Programs in Genetic Counseling. To learn more about the field on your own, we encourage you to go to www.nsgc.org.
Genetic Counseling Clinic Undergraduate Internship (Nadia English '2023 Summer 2022) Mayo Clinic Health System Eau Claire, WI. Position description: Shadow genetic counselors and genetic counseling assistants, construct family histories, draft laboratory orders, and perform other tasks in the clinic.
Children's Hospital Minneapolis: Medical Education Office, 612-813-6000 call and ask to see what is available for shadowing.