Genetic counselor biography

What does a genetic counselor do?

Genetic counselors are health care professionals who have specialized education and training in the field of medical genetics. Using family history, a genetic counselor will assess individual or family risk of an inherited condition, such as a genetic disorder or a birth defect.

Genetic counselors educate patients and professionals about genetic diseases and genetic testing options.

They also advise patients on the social and ethical issues associated with a genetic disorder or genetic test result, and help patients cope with a diagnosis of a genetic disease.

Scope of practice

As members of the health care team, genetic counselors serve as educators to patients, physicians, other health care providers, and society.

In a typical day, genetic counselors:

• Determine risk for certain diseases or disorders
• Analyze family health history to look for inherited health risks
• Educate individuals regarding their chance for inheriting genetic diseases
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