Bay Path University

www.baypath.edu 5 The Evolution of Genetic Counseling The year was 1971. It was a historic moment—the first class of master's degree genetic counselors had graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY. In the beginning, genetic counselors explained and interpreted tests for prospective parents and newborns for inherited diseases such as Tay-Sachs, sickle cell and cystic fibrosis. In time, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, and others have been added to the list. Genetic counselors are translators and caregivers. With their understanding of both genomics and psychosocial counseling, they help people maneuver through the emotional rollercoaster of interpreting genetic test results and prenatal screening tools, to plotting a course of action. "Genetic counselors are uniquely qualified to look at how genetics may play a role in medical conditions, as well as the probability of a patient being predisposed to other genetic diseases based on a number of factors such as family and health history," states Professor Janice Berliner, director of the Master of Science in Genetic Counseling program at Bay Path. "While we are most concerned with the patient in front of us, we are also able to provide information on potential risks for other family members, which requires patience and empathy. We are there to empower patients to make the decisions that are right for them." As the menu of genetic tests expands, physicians and other practitioners find it challenging to stay abreast. In a recent Forbes magazine article, a survey of 488 doctors in New York state shows that only 14% said they felt The groundbreaking discoveries relating to the double-helix structure of DNA by James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, and Rosalind Franklin opened the door to a new era of scientific revelations that have impacted fields ranging from agriculture to forensics to medicine. Unlocking the secrets of DNA also provided insight into the origins of humankind. The thread of chromosomes that winds its way within all of us is one that has been passed down from generation to generation, and, in part determines who we are and what makes us different. Genetic testing has increasingly played an important role in diagnosing diseases, and, with it, the evolution of genetic counseling. DEMAND FOR GENETIC COUNSELORS IS EXPECTED TO GROW NEARLY 30 PERCENT BETWEEN 2016 AND 2026.

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