U.S. News & World Report (December 16, 2008), declares "Best Careers 2009: Genetic Counselor!"
Read the full article here.
Judith Tsipis, Director
Welcome to the website for the Genetic Counseling Program at Brandeis University. Thank you for taking the time to explore all that our program has to offer.
I have been the Director of the Brandeis Genetic Counseling Program for 15 years and I can honestly say that each year I return with a renewed sense of purpose. This year it's fueled by the results of our program's self-study that we completed over the summer in preparation for the program's reaccreditation application to the American Board of Genetic Counseling. It was so gratifying to hear about the accomplishments of our alumni and to find out that the tweaks we’ve made in our curriculum have been positively received.
On a personal note, I love hearing about the students’ first Genetic Counseling internships. For some of our students, summer affords the chance to explore geographic boundaries beyond New England; this past summer two students went to Hawaii; another to Atlanta, GA and another to Montreal, Canada. And, of course, the biggest thrill of all is welcoming the new class -- their energy and enthusiasm are contagious. They come ready to absorb all that we have to offer and we have the privilege of getting to know - and work with - this wonderful group of bright and interesting people who come from varied backgrounds and experiences.
We have added a new feature to our website this year, “Brandeis Community”, we hope you find it both helpful and interesting. It highlights campus organizations that speak to the diversity found at Brandeis. A few examples of these include: Arab Culture Club, Black Student Organization, Korean Student Organization and Triskelian. We encourage you to visit this site to see the wealth of support and community that can be found on Brandeis' campus.
If you have any questions, or would like to talk to any program faculty, please don't hesitate to call or email.
Gretchen Schneider, Co-director, Clinical Placements
I have been involved with the Brandeis Genetic Counseling Program since its inception, sixteen years ago. I’ve assumed various roles since then, from clinical supervisor of a student in the program’s first class, to guest lecturer, to co-teacher for the clinical genetics course. I have always been impressed with this program’s commitment to the field of genetic counseling, to its students and faculty and to those who utilize our services. I am thrilled to join the program as Co-Director of Clinical Training and look forward to working with the students and faculty in this new and expanded role.
The field of genetic counseling continues to grow and change before our eyes. New Master’s level training programs are developed on a regular basis to meet the increasing demand for board-eligible genetic counselors. Certification of individuals in our field has evolved, from occurring once every three years in conjunction with other genetics professionals, into an annual stand alone exam offered by the American Board of Genetic Counseling only to genetic counselors. States have begun to recognize the need for genetic counselors to be independent health professionals, and a number of have passed licensure bills. Massachusetts licensure for genetic counselors was passed in August, 2007, and as a member of the Board of Registration, I can assure you we are working hard to finalize the regulations that will allow the growing number of genetic counselors in this state to become licensed health care providers.
As a new graduate 16 years ago, my job choices were limited to a very narrow scope of clinical practice. Today, the possibilities are endless not only within the clinical arena, but also many other areas that include research, industry and education. While this makes training our students to step into this expanding variety of roles challenging, it is exciting to see the opportunities now available for new graduates that allow them to go out and contribute to the field of genetic counseling in many different ways.
Beth Rosen Sheidley,
Co-Director, Research and Professional Development
Fourteen years ago I was among the first graduates from the Brandeis Genetic Counseling Program, but after a professional journey that spanned 3 cities and 4 genetic counseling positions, I returned to Brandeis to join the faculty in the fall of 2005. Looking back on my first 3 years as a faculty member in the Genetic Counseling Program, I am amazed at how the Program has grown and changed over the past decade, at the educational opportunities afforded to its students, and at the accomplishments of its graduates.
And yet, I am also pleased to find that at its core, the Brandeis Program remains what I remembered it to be: a program that puts an emphasis on exploring all perspectives, including those of individuals and families living with disability and chronic illness. Throughout their training, Brandeis students learn directly from those dealing with disability and illness. They work with disabled children and meet with adults and families living with disabilities in both institutional and home settings, and participate in social activities as well. In many instances these experiences become the impetus for individual student research projects. For example, this year’s master’s theses include an assessment of the Brandeis Family Pals Program, an investigation of the challenges in genetic counseling for rare chromosomal disorders, and an exploration of knowledge and attitudes among women who are carriers of fragile X. If the past is any indicator, the outcomes of these research projects, and well as those of many other Genetic Counseling students graduating in the spring of 2009, will be well represented at professional meetings in the United States and abroad.
As a counselor also involved in autism research as well as teaching, it is a pleasure to mentor the students through their master’s theses. From the conceptualization of their topics through the writing of their final papers, the students not only learn about the process of research, but also gain valuable skills for their professional lives after graduation. In the Boston area alone there are well over a dozen genetic counselors whose role is primarily focused on clinical research. Indeed, the ranks of “nontraditional” genetic counselors are ever growing. Through their experiences in the Program, Brandeis graduates are poised to embrace both the clinical and newly emerging roles that will present themselves to genetic counselors in the coming years.
Use the following links to learn more about the Brandeis
Genetic Counseling program:
Applying to the Program,
Admission & Financial Aid
Brandeis Community
Contact Information
Coursework and Curriculum
Current Employers
of GC Graduates
FAQs
Faculty
Fieldwork and Clinical Training
Genetic Counseling as a
Profession
Introduction
Objectives
In Their Own Words - Reflections
on the Brandeis Genetic Counseling Program
Program of Study
Research Projects
The University & Boston Area
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