5 Leading Jobs In Genetic Counseling
- General Genetic Counseling
- Prenatal Genetic Counseling
- Pediatric Genetic Counseling
- Neurogenetics
- Postmortem Genetic Testing
Genetic counselors are medically trained professionals who help patients explore their genetics and risk factors for a variety of medical conditions and help them to make important decisions regarding their genetic health. They interpret the results of genetic testing regarding inherited diseases and conditions, as well as the likelihood of passage through genetics to their patients as well as future generations. Genetic Counselors work beside Oncologists, Pediatricians, Obstetricians, and other medical specialists.
1. General Genetic Counseling
A Genetic Counselor works with patients who have or are, because of genetic factors, at risk for a genetic disorder. General Genetic Counselors work broadly within the field, implement testing, and audit the results to provide an informed list of risk-factors and help patients make important decisions regarding their health. They have extensive experience in both genetics and counseling.
2. Prenatal Genetic Counseling
A Prenatal Genetic Counselor works almost exclusively with couples who are considering conception or who have conceived and seek information regarding genetic predisposition to conditions, including birth defects.
Prenatal Genetic Counselors discuss different prenatal screening and testing options, help with the decision-making process, and offer short term support when families are faced with chromosomal abnormalities, birth defects, and other complicated and emotional genetics related findings.
Read more about Prenatal Genetic Counseling from the National Society of Genetic Counselors.
3. Pediatric Genetic Counseling
Pediatric Genetics Counselors work with the families of children to evaluate inherited conditions and syndromes, metabolic conditions, and dysmorphic features. and Clinical Genetics is a medical specialty for children and adults. It involves the evaluation of patients for dysmorphic features, metabolic conditions, and heritable syndromes.
These Geneticists assist families in understanding these conditions as well as help them learn to cope with and manage the challenges they may face moving forward. They also help to assess the risk of having another child with the same or other genetic conditions.
4. Neurogenetics
Neurogenetics is an incredible mixture of evaluation, diagnosis, and genetic counseling in the area of rare neurological disorders and conditions. Neurogeneticists work with other specialists to identify and develop treatments for neurological conditions, as well as work to identify genetic markers to highlight predisposition.
Read more about the fascinating world of Neurogenetics and how it is transforming the “Next Generation” of brain research from the National Institutes of Health.
5. Postmortem Genetic Testing
Postmortem genetic testing is used to identify the cause of death of an individual as well as determine if blood relatives are at risk for sudden death or a genetic condition that had previously gone unnoticed. Genetic Counselors in this field help patients to identify and come to terms with such findings.
In a fascinating turn, Genetic Counselors began testing and studying postmortem samples to determine previously undetermined causes of death. Geneticists working in the area of Postmortem Genetic Testing are taking on identifying the markers for such things as unexplained drowning, sudden infant death syndrome, and other mysterious reasons for unexplained deaths in children through adults.
Learn more about the field of Postmortem Genetic Testing and Genetic Counseling from the National Society of Genetic Counselors.
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