Genetic counseling graduate program faculty perspectives on sharing education materials among programs.

Area of Science:

• Genetic Counseling Education
• Curriculum Development
• Pharmacogenetics Training

Background:

• Rapid advancements in genetics necessitate adaptable genetic counseling (GC) training.
• Shared or standardized educational resources can meet this need by integrating new discoveries.
• The Pharmacogenetics (PGx) Working Group developed a standardized flipped-classroom module to share PGx expertise.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the broader utilization of shared and standardized educational resources in GC programs.
• To understand GC faculty perspectives on using these resources.
• To assess the effectiveness of the pilot PGx module.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to 29 genetic counseling program faculty from at least 14 programs.
• The survey assessed the use and perceived benefits of shared educational materials and standardized curricula.
• Faculty also provided feedback on a pilot pharmacogenetics module.

Main Results:

• The majority of faculty (21/29) reported sharing educational materials, with 90% finding it beneficial for collaboration, efficiency, and expert access.
• Most faculty (16/29) expressed likelihood to use a standardized curriculum.
• The pilot PGx module received positive reception, with all participants finding the flipped-classroom format beneficial.

Conclusions:

• Shared educational materials and standardized modules offer a viable solution for improving efficiency and access to content experts in genetic counseling education.
• Program faculty are receptive to adopting these innovative educational approaches.
• Standardized modules are well-suited for teaching emerging and specialized topics in GC.