Penn Medicine has been awarded a nearly $10 million grant to educate genetic counselors
Summary
It takes knowledge and sensitivity to sit patients down and explain that DNA tests show they have a genetic predisposition for a certain cancer and a high probability that theyll get the disease and then explain their options.We talk to them about what it means for themselves and their children, said Kathleen Valverde, director of the Masters of Science in Genetic Counseling Program at the University of Pennsylvanias Perelman School of Medicine. Its kind of life-changing to find out youre at risk for a genetic condition, and theres lots of options that people could take and the options can be overwhelming.While there are advanced continuing education classes for many professions, including nursing and accounting, there are not as many opportunities for genetic counselors to stay on top of a field that is rapidly evolving.Penn Medicine on Wednesday announced a $9.7 million grant from the Warren Alpert Foundation (WAF), a philanthropic group focused on public health, that will help keep genetic counselors stay abreast of developments in the field.Penn will use the grant funding to offer one-credit online courses 10 hours each designed to keep genetic counselors up-to-speed on new research trends and hereditary disorders and teach them to better assess risks and help patients make proactive decisions in areas ranging from cancer prevention to family planning. That license requires continuing education for renewal, said Valverde.Penns masters program currently has 18 students. About 400 students have graduated from the program since its start in 1995, Valverde said.Interest in the field has mushroomed in recent years, in part thanks to celebrities who have drawn attention to its uses. The gene mutation dramatically increases the chances of getting breast and ovarian cancers.Given the increasing complexity of career development and the expanded roles for genetic counselors, support in career development is imperative, said August Schiesser, WAFs executive director.