Hart Tara R, Ahmed Sohnee, Byrne Robyn, Sulmonte Laura Anne Goodell, Williams Leah M, McWalter Kirsty
GeneDx, LLC, Stamford, Connecticut, USA.
J Genet Couns. 2023 Dec;32(6):1194-1199. doi: 10.1002/jgc4.1817. Epub 2023 Nov 17.
As the genetic counseling workforce experiences an increase in genetic counselors (GCs) in non-direct patient care roles, it is essential that genetic counseling students are trained in these settings. The Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) standards regarding laboratory exposure have evolved over time, but laboratory fieldwork experience continues to remain a suggestion for a diversified setting. As more trainees seek laboratory exposure and an increasing number of new graduates opt for laboratory positions, learning firsthand from GCs employed in this setting is a valuable experience that should be available to all trainees. Historically, laboratory educational offerings consisted of onsite rotations for students from local training programs focused on understanding diagnostic testing methodologies and shadowing GCs. Through the years, multiple laboratories have expanded their curriculums to expose students to variant interpretation and report writing, research, client services, marketing, and product development. Alongside the growth of laboratory rotation curriculum grew opportunities for remote rotations. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, GeneDx offered remote education options including both individualized rotations and a webinar series. These offerings expanded due to the pandemic coupled with increased demand and have positive implications for future trainees. The evolution of the rotation also included conscious efforts to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into the curriculum, as well as to improved accessibility to laboratory rotations. Notably, there are inconsistencies in laboratory rotation curricula and requirements, and a standardized evaluation and definition of competencies are lacking. ACGC guidelines defining common core concepts required from laboratory rotations would help ensure students receive an equitable minimum skill set, regardless of training site. Stakeholders in GC education should collaborate to enhance the experiences of future trainees and provide the skills needed by a workforce shifting to remote work and increasing numbers of non-direct patient-facing laboratory roles. Drawing upon our years of experience, GeneDx aims to actively contribute to discussions around these questions. Alongside other laboratories and training programs, we hope to foster further innovation surrounding the training needs of our future GC colleagues. This educational innovation illustrates an approach to helping genetic counseling students achieve competencies related to lab-based roles.
随着遗传咨询行业中从事非直接患者护理工作的遗传咨询师数量增加，对遗传咨询专业学生进行这些岗位的培训至关重要。遗传咨询认证委员会（ACGC）关于实验室实习的标准随时间推移有所演变，但实验室实地工作经验仍是多样化实习的一项建议。随着越来越多的学员寻求实验室实习机会，且越来越多的应届毕业生选择实验室岗位，向在此岗位工作的遗传咨询师直接学习是一项宝贵经验，应让所有学员都能获得。从历史上看，实验室教育课程包括为当地培训项目的学生提供现场轮转，重点是了解诊断测试方法并跟随遗传咨询师实习。多年来，多个实验室扩展了课程，让学生接触变异解读与报告撰写、研究、客户服务、市场营销和产品开发。随着实验室轮转课程的发展，远程轮转的机会也增加了。在新冠疫情之前，GeneDx就提供远程教育选项，包括个性化轮转和网络研讨会系列。由于疫情以及需求增加，这些课程有所扩展，对未来的学员有积极影响。轮转课程的演变还包括有意识地努力将多样性、公平性和包容性纳入课程，以及提高实验室轮转的可及性。值得注意的是，实验室轮转课程和要求存在不一致之处，且缺乏能力的标准化评估和定义。ACGC制定定义实验室轮转所需共同核心概念的指南，将有助于确保学生获得公平的最低技能集，无论培训地点如何。遗传咨询教育的利益相关者应合作，提升未来学员的体验，并提供转向远程工作以及从事越来越多非直接面向患者的实验室岗位的劳动力所需技能。凭借我们多年的经验，GeneDx旨在积极参与围绕这些问题的讨论。与其他实验室和培训项目一起，我们希望围绕未来遗传咨询同事的培训需求推动进一步创新。这种教育创新展示了一种帮助遗传咨询专业学生获得与实验室岗位相关能力的方法。
