Genetic Counseling in Middle School Science Club: A Pilot Study

A call for unity in DEIJ efforts using a proposed framework for education, Recruitment, Retainment, Research, and Active outreach (ERA) for genetic counselors in the United States

Genetic counselors, like many other healthcare providers, play a vital role in genomic health care. As a profession, we, along with our colleagues and students, have recognized the need to improve and incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) within our daily ways of practice to help create access to genomic technologies. In order to create systemic change and focus on unity, open communication, and transparency, we introduce a suggested framework called ERA (Education, Recruitment, Retainment, Research, and Active Outreach). This framework would benefit a genetic counselor throughout various stages of their career, from student to practicing genetic counselor, and can be broadly applied to all specialties of genomic medicine. Different iterations of DEIJ efforts have arisen in the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC), from the D&I (Diversity and Inclusion) Task Force to the J.E.D.I (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion) committee. The lack of recorded history of these previous efforts and the lack of communication between current DEIJ organizations is one of the many reasons the ERA framework demands unity and transparency to achieve sustainable positive change. Genetic counselors must unite and work collaboratively to conduct and promote DEIJ efforts, so the benefits of genomic medicine can be realized by all.

Efforts of diversity and inclusion, cultural competency, and equity in the genetic counseling profession: A snapshot and reflection

Like its peer health professions, the genetic counseling field recognizes the need for and value of diversity, inclusion, cultural competency, and equity (DICE). However, despite decades of diversity initiatives, minimal gains in the percentage of genetic counselors with minority identities have been realized. In order to gather information about DICE efforts, two surveys were created and distributed to genetic service providers, trainees, and genetic counseling program faculty yielding a total of 76 responses. Additionally, a literature scan was performed to gain an understanding of past and ongoing DICE efforts in the career. Three emerging domains resulted from quantitative and qualitative analysis of the submitted data: (1) Categories of DICE Projects, (2) Parties Carrying Out DICE Projects, and (3) What is Missing? Overall, inclusion efforts are notably underrepresented among DICE projects. Also, DICE efforts are generally under-supported, unfunded, and under-recognized as work-related responsibilities. To enhance DICE within the genetic counseling profession, we recommend developing additional research and projects focused on career inclusion and equity, implementing policies requiring DICE training for leaders within the field, encouraging project evaluation and outcomes dissemination, and creating a well-maintained web-based centralized repository for DICE resources.