Genomic medicine is a burgeoning field due to increasing knowledge of the role of genetics in disease and technological advances allowing for significantly faster and more affordable genetic testing.
Genetic counselors are needed to
- Help order appropriate testing
- Interpret complex test results for patients
- Assist in management for genetic disease.
As genomic medicine has extended into multiple branches of medicine as well as the consumer market, the demand for genetic counselors has increased significantly. There is an urgent need for more genetic counselors to join the workforce and help care for the next generation of patients.
The mission of the Wake Forest Genetic Counseling program is to offer rigorous and dynamic educational and clinical experiences that prepare students to become patient-centered, ethically engaged genetic counselors. We are committed to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within our program and the broader healthcare community, empowering our graduates to become innovative leaders in the field.
- Enhance Expertise in Interpreting and Communicating Genetic Test Results:
- Train students to become proficient in the interpretation and communication of genetic test results, ensuring they can provide accurate, clear, and comprehensive explanations to patients and healthcare professionals.
- Promote health equity through inclusive genetic counseling education:
- Equip future genetic counselors with the knowledge and skills to advocate for and provide equitable, culturally competent care to all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances.
- Cultivate Ethical Decision-Making Skills and Appreciating the Gray Areas:
- Educate students to critically evaluate and navigate the ethical complexities and gray areas in genetic counseling. Foster a deep appreciation for the ethical implications, patient autonomy, and the psychosocial impacts of genetic decisions, enabling future counselors to support patients in making informed, value-aligned choices.
The Wake Forest Genetic Counseling program supports the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) efforts of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC), the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors (GCEA), the Minority Genetics Professionals Network (MGPN) and the ABGC, and ACGC to create a more diverse, inclusive, and accepting genetic counseling profession. We embrace the statements set forth by the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center:
- We believe that diversity and inclusion are integral to achieving excellence and quality health outcomes for all.
- We believe that achieving the mission of the Medical Center requires the creation and maintenance of a work and educational environment that embodies diversity and inclusion.
- We believe in the unlimited value of a diverse workforce at all levels of our Medical Center.
- We embrace the definition of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) for diversity, including the recognition that diversity is not limited to race and ethnicity, but must also take account of socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, religious commitment, physical ability, and all of the experiences that enrich our lives.
- We believe that in order to eliminate the pervasive health disparities that exist in our region and country, we must recruit, retain, and train a diverse cadre of faculty, staff and trainees.
- We believe that our educational programs should enable health care professionals to provide culturally competent care and address health disparities.
- We believe our Medical Center should actively engage with our local and regional communities to advance health equity
