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

Author(s):  
Joanna Mercado ◽  
Janette Z. Lawrence ◽  
Michelle Moore ◽  
Arpita Neogi ◽  
Hetal Vig
Author(s):  
Colleen Caleshu ◽  
Helen Kim ◽  
Julia Silver ◽  
Jehannine Austin ◽  
Aad Tibben ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (13) ◽  
pp. 1300-1307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicoletta Colombo ◽  
Gloria Huang ◽  
Giovanni Scambia ◽  
Eva Chalas ◽  
Sandro Pignata ◽  
...  

Purpose There is a growing demand for BRCA1/ 2 mutation ( BRCAm) testing in patients with ovarian cancer; however, the limited number of genetic counselors presents a potential barrier. To facilitate more widespread BRCAm testing in ovarian cancer, pretest counseling by the oncology team could shorten testing turnaround times and ease the pressure on genetic counselors. Patients and Methods The prospective, observational Evaluating a Streamlined Onco-genetic BRCA Testing and Counseling Model Among Patients With Ovarian Cancer (ENGAGE) study evaluated a streamlined, oncologist-led BRCAm testing pathway. The analysis population comprised 700 patients with ovarian cancer at 26 sites in the United States, Italy, and Spain. The primary objectives were to assess turnaround time and, using questionnaires, to evaluate stakeholder satisfaction (patients, oncologists, and geneticists or genetic counselors) with the oncologist-led BRCAm testing pathway. Results The median overall turnaround time was 9.1 weeks (range, 0.9 to 37.1 weeks), with median turnaround times in the United States, Italy, and Spain of 4.1 weeks (range, 0.9 to 37.1 weeks), 20.4 weeks (range, 2.9 to 35.4 weeks), and 12.0 weeks (range, 2.0 to 36.7 weeks), respectively. Patient satisfaction with the oncologist-led BRCAm testing pathway was high, with > 99% of patients expressing satisfaction with pre- and post- BRCAm test counseling. Oncologist satisfaction with the BRCAm testing pathway was also high, with > 80% agreeing that the process for performing BRCAm testing worked well and that counseling patients on BRCAm testing was an efficient use of their time. Oncologists expressed higher levels of satisfaction with the BRCAm testing pathway than did geneticists or genetic counselors. Conclusion The results of the ENGAGE study demonstrate that an oncologist-led BRCAm testing process is feasible in ovarian cancer. Development of local BRCAm testing guidelines similar to the one used in this study could allow faster treatment decisions and better use of resources in the management of patients with ovarian cancer.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-34
Author(s):  
Christian P. Schaaf

Abstract Genetic counselors represent an indispensable, well-established, and well-integrated group of healthcare providers in the field of genetic and genomic medicine in the United States. They work with other members of the healthcare team to provide information and support to individuals and families concerned with genetic disorders. With more than 5,000 certified genetic counselors in the U.S. and an expected growth of 100 % over the next decade, genetic counseling represents one of the fastest-growing professions in the U.S. Genetic counselors work in clinical environments (e. g., hospitals), in companies (e. g., genetic testing firms), and as consultants to medical practices and others. Twenty-six states license genetic counselors as practitioners who can bill independently, with licensure applications underway in the remaining 24 states. Physicians, genetic counselors, and diagnosticians represent the three pillars of comprehensive, integrated genomic medical care. Within this triad, genetic counselors see their primary role in procuring and interpreting family and medical histories, assessing inheritance, quantifying chances of recurrence, facilitating decision-making regarding genetic testing options, and explaining the results of such testing to the respective individuals within the greater context of their families.


Author(s):  
Malia Triebold ◽  
Karina Skov ◽  
Lindsay Erickson ◽  
Sarah Olimb ◽  
Susan Puumala ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Brooke Richardson ◽  
Sara M. Fitzgerald‐Butt ◽  
Katherine G. Spoonamore ◽  
Leah Wetherill ◽  
Benjamin M. Helm ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Susheela Jayaraman ◽  
Shelby Koenig ◽  
Morry Fiddler ◽  
Eve Simi ◽  
Aaron Goldenberg ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
A. Hakam ◽  
J.T. Gau ◽  
M.L. Grove ◽  
B.A. Evans ◽  
M. Shuman ◽  
...  

Prostate adenocarcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of men in the United States and is the third leading cause of death in men. Despite attempts at early detection, there will be 244,000 new cases and 44,000 deaths from the disease in the United States in 1995. Therapeutic progress against this disease is hindered by an incomplete understanding of prostate epithelial cell biology, the availability of human tissues for in vitro experimentation, slow dissemination of information between prostate cancer research teams and the increasing pressure to “ stretch” research dollars at the same time staff reductions are occurring.To meet these challenges, we have used the correlative microscopy (CM) and client/server (C/S) computing to increase productivity while decreasing costs. Critical elements of our program are as follows:1) Establishing the Western Pennsylvania Genitourinary (GU) Tissue Bank which includes >100 prostates from patients with prostate adenocarcinoma as well as >20 normal prostates from transplant organ donors.


Author(s):  
Vinod K. Berry ◽  
Xiao Zhang

In recent years it became apparent that we needed to improve productivity and efficiency in the Microscopy Laboratories in GE Plastics. It was realized that digital image acquisition, archiving, processing, analysis, and transmission over a network would be the best way to achieve this goal. Also, the capabilities of quantitative image analysis, image transmission etc. available with this approach would help us to increase our efficiency. Although the advantages of digital image acquisition, processing, archiving, etc. have been described and are being practiced in many SEM, laboratories, they have not been generally applied in microscopy laboratories (TEM, Optical, SEM and others) and impact on increased productivity has not been yet exploited as well.In order to attain our objective we have acquired a SEMICAPS imaging workstation for each of the GE Plastic sites in the United States. We have integrated the workstation with the microscopes and their peripherals as shown in Figure 1.


2001 ◽  
Vol 15 (01) ◽  
pp. 53-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Rehfeld

Every ten years, the United States “constructs” itself politically. On a decennial basis, U.S. Congressional districts are quite literally drawn, physically constructing political representation in the House of Representatives on the basis of where one lives. Why does the United States do it this way? What justifies domicile as the sole criteria of constituency construction? These are the questions raised in this article. Contrary to many contemporary understandings of representation at the founding, I argue that there were no principled reasons for using domicile as the method of organizing for political representation. Even in 1787, the Congressional district was expected to be far too large to map onto existing communities of interest. Instead, territory should be understood as forming a habit of mind for the founders, even while it was necessary to achieve other democratic aims of representative government.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document