RENEE DOUCETTE-SANDERS
Research Assessment #1
September 12, 2019
“Become a Genetic Counselor.” Become a Genetic Counselor, www.becomeageneticcounselor.org/.
This site was a great resource for aspiring genetic counselors like myself. It is a reliable source that gives great advice and is extremely easy to find. This resource has multiple pages that give great advice on how to prepare for preparing in high school and college, talk about the qualities required to become a genetic counselor, and give an insight into genetic counseling.
While exploring this website I found a page that slightly lessened my anxiety. This page described what things do complete in high school and college in preparation for the career. I learned that for high school taking advanced science and biology related courses in addition to volunteering/shadowing a genetic counselor is recommended and getting a bachelor’s degree in a subject that is related to genetic counseling (psychology, biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, biotechnology, statistics, or genetics) is also helpful. I also took a look at what qualities are most helpful for genetic counselors; they are kind, compassionate people who are interested in science and want to use their knowledge to help others.
The most helpful page on this website was the overview of genetic counselors. When you break down the words “Genetic Counseling”, you can get a basic idea of what genetic counselors do but this page provides more information into what they do. Genetic counselors find medical and social resources for their patients and support their patients’ decisions in addition to obtaining a family history, interpreting test results, and providing emotional support and counseling. The most surprising thing that I discovered about this career is that genetic counselors must work with insurance companies. Not all genetic tests are covered by insurance so genetic counselors have to find the best solution that works for their patients health and their insurance.
This information is important because through this assessment I have learned more about genetic counseling and have confirmed that this career path is an excellent it for me. At the beginning of this assignment I was a little concerned about whether or not genetic counseling will be a good fit for me. This concern was quickly relieved after reading about the qualities that genetic counselor possess. I love science, specifically genetics, and I love helping people understand complex topics. Genetic counseling seems like the best combination of the two.
With this information I have acquired I have decided to commit to genetic counseling and I will use the advice I found to plan my future. I have already taken advanced biology courses and am currently taking another advanced science course.
Through ISM I will be able to shadow a genetic counselor and receive more advice and insight about their career. I plan to volunteer at Planned Parenthood or Ayass Bioscience Inc over the summer to learn more about counseling and genetics. For college I will attend Texas Tech University, obtain a bachelor’s degree in Biology, then attend The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston to earn a master’s degree in genetic counseling.
This assignment has been extremely helpful because I have more confidence in my ability to be a successful genetic counselor. I previously knew the base idea of this career and was anxious that I wasn’t doing enough to prepare myself for the future but through researching I have found enough information to calm my anxiety. I have planned the rest of my life using the information I acquired from this site and am extremely excited for the future.
Research Assessment #2
This week I focused on the Business Symposium because I wanted to be as prepared as possible and be less nervous than I needed to be. I was mostly worried about the Networking session with the professionals and the interviews. I was that I would not know what to say or that I would make a fool out of myself. But I found these two parts of the Business Symposium the most beneficial for me.
During the networking session with the professionals at Business Symposium I mostly talked to a college student who is studying Speech Pathology. Before I committed to Pediatric Genetic Counseling, I was very interested in speech pathology so I thought it was very cool that the first person I talked to happened to be someone who has similar interests. For this session, I thought that us students would be asking most of the questions and the professionals would be doing most of the talking. When I was networking with this college student, she asked me most of the questions and answered her own questions so that we could learn a little bit about her. At the end of my second interview I went back to her and asked her for her email address. Speech pathology deals with genetics similar to pediatric genetic counseling so I thought she could connect me with either a professional or college student who could help me. Even if she doesn’t know anyone in my field, she said that if I even need any help with college or have any questions, I can email her at any time to ask for help.
My first Interview was with Mrs. Melissa Woodworth. I felt really comfortable with her and was less nervous that I thought that I was going to be. I have been interviewed previously in class and outside of school so I was extremely nervous. When we did our last interview in class I was interviewed by Wafee. He said that I had good answers but he could tell that I was nervous and stressed. I have been told a lot that I need to calm down and relax so I tried to be more relaxed during my interview at the Business Symposium. During the interview she asked me what I hope to get out of ISM and Business Symposium. I said that I want to improve my confidence, public speaking skills, and eye contact. She told me that I made good eye contact but she could tell that I was nervous because I looked up and to the left when I started talking; I didn’t realize that I did this but now I will work on not doing that. At the end of the interview I asked her if she had any more feedback for me and she said that I had a good hand shake but I could improve it by giving a little squeeze during the handshake. Overall she gave me great feedback and I was very surprised by how smoothly it went.
During the student networking session I got the chance to meet new people. I met Laiba who is going into pediatrics and we exchanged phone numbers. I found a lot of pediatricians and she was struggling to find some so I offered to exchange numbers so that we could help each other. I also got to talk to a couple other girls who went to different schools and we talked about how the interview went and how different it was than what we thought it was going to be. We also connected with each other on LinkedIn and talked about how school is going this year. This session was a great opportunity to talk to other students and relax a little more.
I found the guest speaker extremely inspirational. She talked about how to take command of your future right now. I have already been thinking about my future but after her speech, I am more confident that I am doing things right. The biggest thing that I took from her speech was that I need to make a career roadmap. I know exactly where I am going to go and do after highschool but I don't know where to go or what to do after college so I will need to research more about this.
The alumni session was very different from what I expected. I expected that we were going to network with the ISM alumni but instead we sat down and asked questions. I found their stories very interesting but I didn’t have any questions to ask them. The only thing that I was confused about was the ISM final product. My interpretation of their explanations of their final product was that you complete a task that you would do if you were a professional. For me, I am not sure what I should do for my final product but I will worry about that once we get closer to the time when we should be starting our final product.
My second interview happened to be with my friend’s mom. She told me that my resume looks great and that I should continue with my extracurriculars. She asked me where I plan to go to college and what my plans are for the future. At the end of the interview I asked if there was anything that I could improve upon. She told me that I need to relax and ask more questions throughout the interview. She also told me that I should smile more and be more open. She stated that In the field of pediatric genetic counseling, I will be dealing with heavy subjects and I will need to make my patients feel more comfortable with me so that they can ask questions and feel support from me. I have been told a couple times that I need to smile more and that I look upset most of the time so I will try to work on that in all areas of my life.
In conclusion I found Business Symposium extremely beneficial. I am a little more confident about talking to people that I don't and made connections that I didn;t think I would. Overall I did better than I thought that I would. I learned a lot of things that I will use for the future and I am eager to fix something and continue to improve so I can be the best version of myself.
Research Assessment #3
October 11, 2019
Children's Hospital. “A Day in the Life of a Genetic Counselor.” Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 16 Oct. 2018, www.chop.edu/news/day-life-genetic-counselor.
In this article I got to read about what my future could look like. I learned specifically what a genetic counselor does and what their life looks like. I also learned that some things that I had previously thought were incorrect and learned the more realistic facts about this career. Before this I had a general idea of what their day looks like but now I know the specific details of what they do throughout the day.
The first thing that I learned is that typical work hours for a genetic counselor are 8:30am to 5:30pm. I have always wondered what hours they worked and wasn’t sure if they worked really early or worked late. Another thing I learned is that genetic counselors work with other medical professionals on a daily basis rather than on difficult cases, which I had previously thought. I thought that genetic counselors work with someone in their related field, (example: cancer genetic counselor works with a oncologist) but I learned that they work with a wide variety of other medical professionals. I also learned that they meet with an average of four to five patients a day from ages 2-17. I wasn’t quite sure how many patients genetic counselors see per day, i thought that they saw around 15 patients per day but it is more realistic to see 4 to 5 patients per day. I underestimated how long the conversation between the genetic counselor and the patient is. The last thing I learned is that genetic counselors can refer their patients to another specialist after they get a diagnosis. I thought genetic counselors take over patient care after they are diagnosed but I now see that they might need to be referred to a specialist for other needs.
I learned a lot about the typical schedule of a genetic counselor. Before this, I wasn’t really sure of the schedule genetic counselors would follow but now I have a better understanding. I am even more excited to pursue genetic counseling because I like what their day looks like. They get to sit down with a couple of patients and either talk about whether to get tested or not, diagnose patients, or follow up from their last meeting about their diagnosis. There is a lot of variety in the things that they do. I was worried that the job would be the same thing everyday but there is some variation in what they do day to day.
After reading about what my life as a pediatric genetic counselor could look like, I am extremely excited to become a genetic counselor. I now have a better understanding of what my future could look like. This article has increased my interest in my topic because I am happy to know what I could do in the future. For once I have a realistic idea of what I would be doing day to day and can imagine myself doing these tasks. I will use this excitement to get through the times where things get hard and I want to give up. I have a clear vision of where I want to get to so I will continue to work hard to get to where I want to be.
Research Assessment #4
October 18th, 2019
“For This Mom, Rare Bone Disease Is a Family Affair.” U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report, www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2019-09-13/for-this-mom-rare-bone-disease-is-a-family-affair.
This week, I found an article that shared the story of a woman living with X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH for short). I had never heard of this illness before but enjoyed learning something new. I also learned about a new medicine that helps with XLH that I thought would not be made for a long time after I am long gone. Through this article I found another thing that I would like to do in addition to helping people cope with their emotional pain.
In this article, I learned about how XLH affected Rachael Jones and what this illness entails. XLH causes rickets and low phosphorus levels (which is crucial for bone growth) which affects bone strength. People with XLH experience chronic pain on a day to day basis, limited mobility, fatigue, and muscle weakness. Jones’s daughter and son and all three of them are trying a new medication called burosumab (Crysvita) that helps people with XLH retain phosphorus. Jones reported that this medicine has lessened her muscle pain and fatigue and she hopes that the medicine will prevent some of the damages associated with the disease.
I found this article extremely interesting. Before reading this article I did not know that XLH was a genetic disease. I enjoyed learning about a new genetic disease and how it affected a Rachael Jones and her kids, rather than reading about it in a textbook. I also thought that most genetic disorders would not be able to be cured through medication and required surgery to help the patient. I find it amazing that there is medication out there that can help others live a “normal” life. I hate seeing people in physical and emotional pain so I would like to be a little more hands on with the physical pain side of the genetic illness.
This is important to me because I learned that I want to help others through medicine. I think that helping others emotionally cope with their condition is very powerful and impactful but helping with medicine also helps. There is only so much counseling that you can provide someone that can help manage their pain. I love science and I think helping make medicine that can help others and possibly cure their genetic illness is something that I would love to do. When I start practicing genetic counseling, I want to also make medicine that can help people with genetic conditions.
Before reading this article I thought that making medicine for people with genetic disorders was lightyears away, but in reality medicine is already being used to help others and I want to be part of that.
Research Assessment #5
October 24th, 2019
“Cystic Fibrosis Life Expectancy: Averages by Stage and Age.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326316.php.
This article was extremely enlightening because it opened my mind to a different way to look at things. I was immediately drawn to the title because I have always been fascinated with Cystic Fibrosis specifically. I’ve heard and seen what it does to people and it always reminds me about what happened to me sister so my heart goes out to those with Cystic Fibrosis. This article taught me things about Cystic fibrosis that are applicable to all genetic disorders.
The most shocking thing that I read about was the average survival age of people living with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). For people born in 1993-1997, their average survival age is 37 compared to the people born in 2013-2017; their average survival age is 44. Even though there is an increase in the survival age, these numbers are still shockingly low. I already knew that people living with CF had a low life expectancy but I was expecting that they would live to see 60; not die at 44. I also thought that CF only has complications with the lungs but I learned that it also includes complications with infertility, diabetes, and osteoporosis. The last thing that I learned was that CF, like many genetic disorders, can be controlled by multiple mutations. Researchers have discovered over 1,700 mutations in the CFTR gene that causes CF.
I have always had an interest in CF because for some reason it fascinated me. I used to think that they way genetic disorders occurred was more simple and that there was only one way to get a genetic disorder but now I see that it’s more complicated than what I had thought before. I realize now that genetic disorders are described by their major problem but there can be multiple other problems that go along with the disorder that you wouldn’t know about unless you researched. This is important because I now see genetic disorders differently. I used to know the basics of a few disorders but now I know that there is a lot of variety in how they come about and how they affect the body.
In the future, when I learn about new genetic disorders I will keep in mind that there’s a lot more to learn than I think. I used to have such a plain and basic understanding of genetics but now I have a better understanding. I will now always think “what else could this disorder be affecting” because I now see that genes are so much more complicated than I thought.
Research Assessment #6
“Prenatal Genetic Counseling.” HealthyChildren.org, www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/prenatal/Pages/Prenatal-Genetic-Counseling.aspx.
Through my interviews with Mrs. Heather Fisher and Mrs. Crescenda Uhles, I learned that I should learn about all types of genetic counseling before picking which specialty I go into. Before I found Pediatric Genetic Counseling, I originally was drawn to Prenatal Genetic Counseling but I thought that I would like working with kids better. After learning more about Prenatal Genetic Counselors, I have a better understanding of what they do.
For those who are either pregnant or thinking of having a child, Prenatal Genetic Counselors work with people who have an increased chance of having a child with a genetic condition. These counselors explain the genetic condition in question, help patients understand their risks, and discuss options for testing and prenatal screening. They also discuss assisted reproductive techniques such as sperm and egg donation, if needed. For those who are pregnant, if there is a genetic condition or birth defect found, they will be referred to a prenatal genetic counselor to help the expecting parent(s) understand their medical information, what to expect, and how to prepare.
I also learned that there are a lot of similarities between Prenatal and Pediatric Genetic Counseling. They have the same educational requirements, good pay, great career outlook, and a very intense work environment. The main difference between the two counseling specialties is that Pediatric genetic counselors look at kids and family history to create a hypothesis about what they think they genetic condition is and then is confirmed by a geneticist. Prenatal Genetic Counselors either calculate the probability of a child having a genetic condition, they find genetic conditions in fetuses, or assist couples with alternative methods of reproduction.
After learning more about prenatal genetic counseling, this specialty is more appealing to me. In Pediatric Genetic Counseling, it seems less eventful than Prenatal Genetic Counseling. Pediatric Genetic Counselors look for signs of genetic conditions and then wait for a geneticist to make the diagnosis and then help the family cope with the diagnosis. Prenatal Genetic Counselors do most of the work on their own and are more involved with their patients. I also think that catching a genetic condition earlier on in a child’s life is more beneficial for everyone involved. I do realize that these counselors have a more stressful job but I work well in stressful situations, especially when it comes to helping others.
Research Assessment #7
“What Is It Like Working as A Genetic Counselor for a Large Laboratory?” ARUP Laboratories, 2018, www.aruplab.com/news/10-04-2018/ARUP-Genetic-Counselor-Wiley.
Laboratory Genetic Counselors have 4 main activities that they complete on a typical work day. The first one is reviewing genetic test orders. This is to ensure that the correct and most-cost efficient test(s) have been ordered for the patient’s specific needs. The second thing that they do is review consultation letters from clients and healthcare providers to help them decide on which genetic test is right for them or their patients. The third thing they do is review and customize the genetic test reports to ensure that they are accurate and relevant; they also adjust the reports to make it understandable for the individual. The last thing that they do is keep watch of prenatal specimens/testing. They must keep a close eye on these samples because sometimes these samples are irreplaceable due to the invasive nature in which you obtain the sample.
This information that I learned showed the difference between working as a Clinical Genetic Counselor and a Laboratory Genetic Counselor. Clinical Genetic Counselors, such as Prenatal and Pediatric Genetic Counselors, spend time face-to-face with patients to discuss their medical/family history and risks associated with their condition. They also help families understand the benefits/risks or genetic testing and provide genetic testing, if wanted. In contrast Laboratory Genetic Counselors do not work directly with the patients, instead they advise clients and healthcare providers as to which genetic test to select. Since Laboratory Genetic Counselors do not speak directly with patients, they can provide their services to dozens of people a day, as opposed to Clinical Genetic Counselors who can only see around 4 people per day.
Recently I have had an interest in exploring other types of genetic counseling because two of the genetic counselors that I have interviewed had recommended exploring all types of genetic counseling. I like being hands on and I thought that I might enjoy Laboratory Genetic Counseling since they would be handling specimens and doing the testing. Throughout this assignment, I have a new perspective of what Laboratory Genetic Counselors do. Before researching I had thought that they take specimens, test it, and then deliver the results to their patients and did not have a specific section of genetic counseling. Now I have learned that they are much more distant from the patients. I prefer to be hands on and interact with the patients because I like working with people specifically children. I am still interested in Laboratory Genetic Counseling but I do not think that it is the career for me.
Research Assessment #8
Issues in Genetic Counseling
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Assessing Genetic Risks. “Issues in Genetic Counseling.” Assessing Genetic Risks: Implications for Health and Social Policy., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 1994, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK236049/.
This week I found an article talking about the issues in genetic counseling. For our Original Work, we must create a product that could help others using skills that we learned from our mentor. I began to think about what could be improved about genetic counseling and found this article that talks about some components of genetic counseling that often aren’t discussed. The most impactful portions of the article were the descriptions of the impact on a patient’s mental health after receiving their test results.
One thing that stuck out to me in this article were the feelings of those after they received their genetic testing results. I expected that those whose test results were negative for them or their family members having/carrying a genetic disease to be happy. People obviously are relieved that they or their family members do not have a genetic disorder, however some experience “survivor guilt”. This mental condition is the feeling of guilt after they have received good news about their health while others must suffer from the thing they were worried about having. Before reading this article I had no idea that some patients would feel this way after their test results. If I were to become a genetic counselor, I would need to be able to help others not feel guilty about being healthy.
On the other side of the spectrum, those who do receive results that identify them with a genetic disorder or being a carrier for one, often take a hit to their own identity. Some people feel “flawed”, “abnormal”, or “inadequate” due to their genetic disorder or carrier status. I knew that receiving this kind of news would take a toll on a person but reading the words they used to describe themselves struck a different chord with me. These genetic disorders not only affect a person’s body but also their image of themselves; this is why people need genetic counselors not just geneticists who give you your diagnosis and move on to the next patient. People need someone to help them understand their genetic disorder but also to help fix their perception of themselves and be someone in their corner throughout this difficult time.
My biggest takeaway from this section of the article was that the counseling part of genetic counseling is extremely important. I tend to only focus on the genetics of this career and forget that these professionals have to provide emotional support no matter what the outcome of their patient’s tests.