Counselor

Genetic Counselor

The job uses best practices and knowledge to provide genetics counseling services to patients, including interpretation of family and medical histories, screening, and education. The Genetic Counselor works as a member of the Section for Pediatric Genetics and Genomics, providing genetic counseling to patients and families, and will join a team of two genetic counselors and one medical geneticist. Patient responsibilities will primarily occur within the general pediatric genetics clinics; however, opportunities to be involved with inpatient care and outpatient specialty clinics will occur as the section continues to grow. The Genetic Counselor performs comprehensive personal and family assessments, including: taking medical, developmental and family histories, explaining genetic testing procedures and results, providing emotional support to families, arranging genetic testing as appropriate, interpreting testing results, and providing families with information about a genetic diagnosis. Serves as a patient advocate and educator and engages in research activities related to the field of medical genetics when opportunities arise.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary healthcare team to optimize patient care.
• Under a moderate level of guidance, works as a member of a health care team, providing genetics counseling, screening services, community outreach programs, consultative services, and support to families who have members with birth defects or genetic disorders and to families who may be at risk for a variety of inherited conditions.
• Takes family histories, summarizes cases, explains genetic testing procedures and results, and provides general genetics counseling. Identifies families at risk, investigates the problem present in the family, interprets information about the disorder, analyzes inheritance patterns and risks of recurrence, and reviews available options with the family.
• Reviews implications with the patient and provides crisis intervention regarding unexpected genetic conditions. Serves as a patient advocate and refers individuals and families to community or state support services. Serves as an educator and resource for other health care professionals and for the general public.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master's degree in Genetic Counseling or Human Genetics from an Accreditation Counsel for Genetic Counseling accredited program.

Experience:

• Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within the field of clinical genetics.
• Experience with a variety of pediatric genetic conditions and genomic technologies.

Licenses and Certifications :

• American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABCG) board certification or board eligibility.
• State of Illinois Genetic Counseling License.

Preferred Competencies

• Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative.
• Ability to work skillfully with a diverse population.
• Ability to effectively communicate with a variety of people under stressful circumstances with diplomacy and tact, and deliver complex information with sensitivity and clarity.

Working Conditions

• Direct patient contact and clinical care setting.
• Exposure to human blood and saliva, human blood and saliva components, and/or products made from human blood or saliva.
• Exposure to infectious material.
• Ships hazardous material.
• Office environment.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover letter (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.