Ocular Genetic Counselor | Full-Time

Ocular Genetic Counselor | Full-Time  

Location : Philadelphia, PA  
Schedule : Full-Time  
Status : Exempt  

Join a World Leader in Ophthalmology  

Wills Eye Hospital is hiring an Ocular Genetic Counselor in Philadelphia, PA. In this role, you'll provide comprehensive genetic counseling for patients with inherited eye diseases while working alongside internationally recognized ophthalmologists, researchers, fellows, and educators.  

This unique opportunity combines direct patient care, clinical research, education, and program development within one of the nation's leading ophthalmology institutions. Whether your background is in general genetics, pediatric genetics, cancer genetics, prenatal genetics, neuromuscular genetics, inherited disease programs, or another specialty, you'll have the opportunity to deepen your expertise in ocular genetics while helping shape the future of precision medicine and inherited eye disease care. This positioning reflects Wills Eye's successful hiring history and broadens the candidate pool beyond those with existing ocular genetics experience.  

Why Join Wills Eye Hospital? 

Since 1832, Wills Eye Hospital has been a global leader in ophthalmology, providing specialized eye care for more than 250,000 patients annually. Ranked among the nation's top ophthalmology hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, Wills Eye is recognized worldwide for advancing the diagnosis and treatment of complex eye diseases through exceptional patient care, research, and education.  

As part of our Ocular Genetics Program, you'll collaborate with nationally recognized physicians, researchers, fellows, and multidisciplinary care teams while contributing to groundbreaking work in inherited retinal disease and ophthalmic genetics.  

We Offer  

• Competitive salary  

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance  

• Retirement savings plan  

• Paid Time Off (PTO) 

• Tuition assistance and professional development opportunities  

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 

• Opportunities to participate in clinical research and scientific publications  

• Collaborative academic environment with internationally recognized experts  

• Career growth within one of the world's premier ophthalmology institutions  

Why This Opportunity Is Different  

Unlike many genetic counseling positions, this role offers the opportunity to combine:  

• Specialized patient care  

• Rare inherited eye disease genetics  

• Clinical research and innovation  

• Academic teaching and mentorship  

• Scientific publications  

• Program development  

• Collaboration with internationally recognized ophthalmologists  

Whether you're an experienced specialty genetic counselor or looking to build expertise in ocular genetics, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while continuing to grow professionally.  

What You'll Do  

As the Ocular Genetic Counselor, you'll serve as a clinical expert within the Ocular Genetics Program by providing comprehensive genetic counseling, coordinating patient care, supporting research initiatives, and educating patients, healthcare professionals, and future genetic counselors.  

Patient Care & Genetic Counseling  

• Provide comprehensive pre-test and post-test genetic counseling for patients with inherited ocular conditions through in-person and, when appropriate , virtual visits.  

• Obtain detailed personal and family medical histories to assess genetic risk and inheritance patterns.  

• Interpret complex genetic testing results and communicate findings to patients and families with empathy and clarity.  

• Coordinate genetic testing, informed consent, referrals, follow-up care, and ongoing patient support.  

• Collaborate closely with ophthalmologists to develop individualized patient care plans.  

Clinical Program Leadership  

• Support the ongoing development, implementation, and coordination of the Ocular Genetics Program.  

• Supervise the Ocular Genetics Administrative Assistant in day-to-day program operations.  

• Lead weekly multidisciplinary case conferences.  

• Partner with clinical laboratories and testing vendors while remaining current on advances in genetic testing technologies and best practices.  

• Monitor emerging developments in ocular genetics and integrate evidence-based practices into patient care.  

Research & Academic Contributions  

• Participate in IRB-approved clinical research studies.  

• Assist with patient enrollment, informed consent, data collection, quality monitoring, and research coordination.  

• Analyze clinical data and contribute to scientific manuscripts, abstracts, book chapters, and peer-reviewed publications.  

• Support faculty-led clinical and laboratory research initiatives focused on inherited eye disease.  

Education & Mentorship  

• Educate patients, physicians, residents, fellows, genetic counseling students, and other healthcare professionals on inherited eye diseases and genetic testing.  

• Present educational sessions during Grand Rounds, resident education programs, specialty conferences, and patient education events.  

• Supervise genetic counseling students during clinical rotations.  

• Mentor fellows by assisting with literature reviews, mutation analysis, and clinical interpretation.  

Collaboration  

• Work closely with physicians, researchers, laboratory professionals, and multidisciplinary care teams to deliver exceptional patient care.  

• Communicate genetic findings and recommendations with referring providers.  

• Foster collaborative relationships across departments while supporting Wills Eye's mission of advancing vision care through innovation, education, and research.  

What You Bring  

You're passionate about helping patients understand complex genetic conditions and enjoy combining compassionate patient care with research, education, and innovation.  

You thrive in collaborative academic environments, communicate complex information with empathy and clarity, and enjoy working alongside multidisciplinary teams to improve patient outcomes.  

Whether your experience comes from general genetics, pediatric genetics, cancer genetics, prenatal genetics, neuromuscular genetics, inherited disease programs, or another specialty, you'll have the opportunity to build expertise in ocular genetics while working alongside leaders in the field. This emphasis aligns with the characteristics of previous successful hires into the role.  

Minimum Qualifications  

• Master's degree in Genetic Counseling or Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling from an accredited college or university.  

• Graduate of an Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) accredited training program.  

• Board Certified or Board Eligible Genetic Counselor.  

• Pennsylvania Genetic Counselor license or ability to obtain Pennsylvania licensure.  

• Strong communication , counseling, and interpersonal skills.  

• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.  

Preferred Qualifications  

• Two or more years of clinical genetic counseling experience.  

• Experience in general genetics, pediatric genetics, cancer genetics, prenatal genetics, neuromuscular genetics, inherited disease programs, or another specialty genetics practice .  

• Exposure to ocular genetics, inherited retinal disease, rare disease, or ophthalmic genetics through clinical practice or graduate training is preferred but not required .  

• Experience coordinating complex genetic testing, interpreting molecular testing results, and providing psychosocial support.  

• Experience participating in clinical research, IRB studies, academic publications, or quality improvement initiatives.  

• Experience practicing within an academic medical center, children's hospital, tertiary specialty center, or multidisciplinary clinic.  

• Previous teaching, mentoring, presentations, or student supervision experience.  

• Experience providing genetic counseling through in-person and/or telehealth settings.  

• Experience with genetics software and databases such as OMIM, POSSUM, or similar clinical genetics platforms.  

About Wills Eye Hospital  

Wills Eye Hospital is one of the world's leading centers for ophthalmology and vision research. For nearly two centuries, we've been advancing the diagnosis and treatment of complex eye diseases through exceptional clinical care, innovative research, and the education of future leaders in ophthalmology.  

Each year, more than 250,000 patients from around the world trust Wills Eye for specialized care ranging from routine eye conditions to rare, sight-threatening diseases. Our commitment to excellence has made Wills Eye a destination for patients and healthcare professionals alike.  

Ready to Make an Impact? 

If you're passionate about improving the lives of patients through genetic counseling and are excited by the opportunity to contribute to research, education, and one of the nation's leading ocular genetics programs, we'd love to hear from you.  

We know exceptional candidates don't always meet every preferred qualification. If you're excited about this opportunity and believe you'd thrive in this role, we encourage you to apply.  

Apply today and help shape the future of inherited eye disease care at Wills Eye Hospital.