Organization celebrates its genetic counselors

Genetics counselors at Michigan Medicine.

The future of health care is personalized — and genetic counselors are at the forefront of this evolution.

Genetic counselors are partners in health care and essential contributors to the Michigan Difference. Over the last decade, the number of genetic counselors employed within Michigan Medicine has more than doubled to more than 20 providers. You can find them working with patients across the organization in varied clinical settings.

In honor of Genetic Counselor Awareness Day, held on Nov. 9, the organization celebrates its genetic counselors for all they do!

Genetic counselors have specialized education in both genetics and counseling. They provide clinical genetics expertise to patients and families, colleagues and the general public. Genetic counselors facilitate the translation of complex genetic and genomic information to allow for informed patient decisions, improved health outcomes, the responsible use of technological advances and improved patient adaptation to disease.

Genetic counseling is a rapidly growing profession as it was named one of the “25 Amazing Health care Support Jobs” and one of the “100 Best Jobs” in 2017 by U.S. News and World Report. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Labor projects that employment opportunities for genetic counselors will increase by 29 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations.

As it looks to the future of the profession, U-M is home to one of the most well-established training programs in the country. The Michigan Genetic Counseling Graduate Training Program is committed to training a cadre of exceptional medical genetics experts to not only meet workforce demands, but to also shape the future of genetic counseling and genomic medicine.

Learn more about the profession that helps individualize patient care by clicking here.