Addressing Diversity in the Genetic Counseling Profession

It is no secret that genetic counselors are predominately Caucasian females. Although aware of this fact, I had not extensively considered the need for diversity in the genetic counseling discipline until I, a Caucasian female genetic counseling student, was the minority. I became interested in issues related to diversity in genetic counseling while participating in a medical mission and research project in January, 2008 in rural Guatemala. I travelled there as part of a research team representing the University of Pittsburgh Oral-Facial Cleft study, led by Dr. Mary Marazita. While attempting to collect family histories, DNA samples and phenotypic data, my colleagues and I struggled with many barriers including language, social and educational differences. I was humbled by the Guatemalan culture that seemed so distant from my middle-class Canadian upbringing. It was not difficult to identify daily struggles of Guatemala's people — the relatively high prevalence of birth defects including cleft lip and palate, the quest for an understanding as to why this might be, the beg for efficient birth control methods and the necessity for basic medical care. I considered how valuable it could be to have more health care providers, including a genetic counselor, in that setting; to be able to not only speak the same language as this wonderful population, but also to really understand where they are coming from, to identify with the values and beliefs of the culture; and so my interest in diversity began. International travel is not required to experience cultural diversity; underrepresented populations can be found on all borders of the United States. In order to connect with underrepresented populations, the genetic counseling community should begin with outreach to inform them of who we are, what we do and where we stand in terms of our professional values. An example of a successful outreach project is the Center for Minority Health (CMH) at the University of Pittsburgh. Members of this outreach team (including genetic counseling students) venture across Pittsburgh to an African American community to collect family histories, give individualized risk estimates for common diseases and promote activity and community involvement amongst its population. Although the CMH does not prioritize promoting the genetic counseling profession, it is clear that the recipients of their services are aware of who genetic counselors are and what their role in the health care team can be. We should consider using projects like the CMH as a model for outreach into underrepresented populations, expanding their exposure to our line of work. We can strive to assist minority groups in overcoming health disparities; providing medical services as well as making the genetic counseling profession known and recognized, with hopes that we gain their trust and inspire interest in our growing field. In addition to community centers and medical missions, outreach can take place in colleges, high schools and local libraries, specifically with the emphasis of providing early awareness to minority populations. Practicing genetic counselors may take part in career days and health fairs, promoting interest in the field, discussing non-traditional roles and distributing information about prospective graduate programs. Informative presentations given to young minority students including discussions with reasons to choose genetic counseling as a profession should be pursued in the college setting. A complicating factor in attracting students from minority populations may be financial adversity. That being said, our professional organizations and training programs must be prepared to provide financial assistance to diverse students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Further, genetics centers could offer financial incentives to exceptional high school or college students of minority populations who are interested in summer internships. Genetic counselors that participate in outreach and recruiting events will need to either be willing to volunteer their time, or require the support of their employers. We may have to help employers understand the importance of diversifying our profession in hopes that they will see the clear advantages of taking time to inform and recruit from underrepresented populations. Many North American genetic counseling programs accept applications from international students; however, it is not clear as to how many of our programs make the effort to actively advertise to foreign countries. Genetic counseling training in North America may be widely promoted with websites, pamphlets, online presentations and networking with international faculty. In order to attract and retain student diversity into the field of genetic counseling, it may also be critical to encourage the advancement of diverse genetic counselors in leadership roles. Minority and international students may feel more inclined to apply to genetic counseling programs where those facilitating the training have overcome similar diversity efforts. Therefore, the recruitment of diverse students should include attracting diversity in leadership among our training programs and the NSGC. An important option we must take into account is to further diversify our current population of genetic counselors. This may be achieved by offering second language courses at reduced prices and encouraging the need for genetic counselors serving minority populations within the United States. Second language training could be initiated by the NSGC, providing the opportunity to enhance professional development. Accredited genetic counseling programs should emphasize cultural competencies in their coursework and teach new generations of genetic counselors to be culturally sensitive and appreciative of multicultural experiences. While pursuing my thesis this year, I hope to continue my work with Guatemala; learning of its culture, its people, and working toward the goal of understanding more about the genetic and environmental factors that affect the health of its population. My experiences have broadened my outlook on healthcare and the genetic counseling role. In addition, I plan to soon be the type of practicing genetic counselor that gives outreach talks at the local library once a month and participates in career fairs in high schools and colleges. We should all strive to reach out, in hopes that we might catch the attention of diverse prospective students as well as to expand our own horizons.

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