The global status of genetic counselors in 2023: What has changed in the past 5 years?
Purpose: The profession of genetic counselors has existed for over 50 years. This article provides an update on the global state of the genetic counseling (GC) profession in 2022 and 2023. Methods: We used a survey approach to collect data from individuals who were identified as being leaders in GC...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Genetics in Medicine Open |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949774424010331 |
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| author | Kelly E. Ormond Peter James Abad Rhona MacLeod Masakazu Nishigaki Tina-Marié Wessels |
| author_facet | Kelly E. Ormond Peter James Abad Rhona MacLeod Masakazu Nishigaki Tina-Marié Wessels |
| author_sort | Kelly E. Ormond |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: The profession of genetic counselors has existed for over 50 years. This article provides an update on the global state of the genetic counseling (GC) profession in 2022 and 2023. Methods: We used a survey approach to collect data from individuals who were identified as being leaders in GC practice and/or education around the world. Results: Based on responses provided between October 2023 and January 2024, we estimate that there are over 10,250 genetic counselors in over 45 countries around the world. These numbers have increased significantly in the past 5 years, when there were ∼7000 genetic counselors. Key factors identified as driving the increase in genetic counselors are the number of training programs that have developed (>130 globally, mostly at a master’s degree level) and a growing number of national biobanks and/or population screening programs that require GC as part of the process. There is tremendous variability in how genetic counselors are regulated, with only a few countries holding national statutory regulation processes. There are many commonalities, but the GC profession appears nuanced to their specific country and its wider socio-political context and history. Conclusion: We hope that genetic counselors internationally will come together to assist each other in all aspects: training, statutory regulation, developing the workforce, and establishing GC as an academic discipline. We envision that establishing an international organization for the profession of genetic counselors might maintain such international connections and provide relevant data in future years. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b1fbf1844b0f4df0962f198cf7bd7b35 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2949-7744 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Genetics in Medicine Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-b1fbf1844b0f4df0962f198cf7bd7b352025-08-20T01:56:24ZengElsevierGenetics in Medicine Open2949-77442024-01-01210188710.1016/j.gimo.2024.101887The global status of genetic counselors in 2023: What has changed in the past 5 years?Kelly E. Ormond0Peter James Abad1Rhona MacLeod2Masakazu Nishigaki3Tina-Marié Wessels4Health Ethics and Policy Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH-Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Genetics, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA; Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to Kelly Ormond, ETH Zurich, Hottingerstrasse 10, Zurich 8092, SwitzerlandUniversity of Iowa College of Nursing, Iowa City, IA; University of the Philippines Manila College of Nursing, Manila, PhilippinesManchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom; School of Biological Sciences, Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, University of Manchester, Manchester, United KingdomDepartment of Genetic Counseling, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, JapanDivision Human Genetics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaPurpose: The profession of genetic counselors has existed for over 50 years. This article provides an update on the global state of the genetic counseling (GC) profession in 2022 and 2023. Methods: We used a survey approach to collect data from individuals who were identified as being leaders in GC practice and/or education around the world. Results: Based on responses provided between October 2023 and January 2024, we estimate that there are over 10,250 genetic counselors in over 45 countries around the world. These numbers have increased significantly in the past 5 years, when there were ∼7000 genetic counselors. Key factors identified as driving the increase in genetic counselors are the number of training programs that have developed (>130 globally, mostly at a master’s degree level) and a growing number of national biobanks and/or population screening programs that require GC as part of the process. There is tremendous variability in how genetic counselors are regulated, with only a few countries holding national statutory regulation processes. There are many commonalities, but the GC profession appears nuanced to their specific country and its wider socio-political context and history. Conclusion: We hope that genetic counselors internationally will come together to assist each other in all aspects: training, statutory regulation, developing the workforce, and establishing GC as an academic discipline. We envision that establishing an international organization for the profession of genetic counselors might maintain such international connections and provide relevant data in future years.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949774424010331Genetic counselorInternationalRegulationTrainingWorkforce |
| spellingShingle | Kelly E. Ormond Peter James Abad Rhona MacLeod Masakazu Nishigaki Tina-Marié Wessels The global status of genetic counselors in 2023: What has changed in the past 5 years? Genetics in Medicine Open Genetic counselor International Regulation Training Workforce |
| title | The global status of genetic counselors in 2023: What has changed in the past 5 years? |
| title_full | The global status of genetic counselors in 2023: What has changed in the past 5 years? |
| title_fullStr | The global status of genetic counselors in 2023: What has changed in the past 5 years? |
| title_full_unstemmed | The global status of genetic counselors in 2023: What has changed in the past 5 years? |
| title_short | The global status of genetic counselors in 2023: What has changed in the past 5 years? |
| title_sort | global status of genetic counselors in 2023 what has changed in the past 5 years |
| topic | Genetic counselor International Regulation Training Workforce |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949774424010331 |
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