In the mid-1990s, researchers found two genes – breast cancer gene 1 and breast cancer gene 2, or BRCA1 and BRCA2 – that are altered in many families with hereditary breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, an inherited mutation in one of those two genes can increase the lifetime risk of breast cancer to around 70%. The discovery led to opportunities to provide lifesaving preventive care by identifying at-risk individuals, who are often referred to a genetic counselor.
Genetic counselors use their expertise to help patients and their families interpret genetic testing results and understand the diagnosis. They can also help guide decisions about medical care, including screenings, surgeries, medications and more.
The Genetic Counseling Graduate Program was the first of its kind in Arizona when the initial students were accepted in 2019, when the program was located in the College of Medicine – Tucson’s Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and administered by the University of Arizona Health Sciences.
The rigorous two-year, 63-credit master’s program involves academic work, clinical rotations, and a research project. Graduates of the program are well-equipped to work in a variety of settings, from traditional health care organizations to commercial laboratories, and across different clinical specialties, including adult genetics, pediatrics, oncology, obstetrics, cardiology, public health and pharmacogenomics.
The cornerstone of genetic counseling is the communication of complicated genetic health information to patients and their families. Genetic counselors use their expertise to help clients interpret genetic testing results and understand the diagnosis. They can also help guide decisions about medical care, including screenings, surgeries, medications and more.
Genetic counselors can provide insight that can help determine the best treatment options, whether the issue is an inherited gene mutation that increases the risk of breast cancer or an undiagnosed pediatric condition. It is a field that requires lifelong learning of new techniques and new technologies. Recent advancements in precision medicine and an ever-expanding understanding of genetics make the field of genetic counseling ripe for new discoveries and new ways of helping patients.
