Teaching human genetics to nonphysician health personnel

Over the past decade there has been a marked expansion of the need and the potential for genetic services. This trend is likely to continue as the application of advances in molecular genetics, cell biology, and techniques of genetic counseling provide new opportunities and demands for genetic services. An important effort to meet these needs has been the development of training programs for genetic counselors at the masters level. Sarah Lawrence College established the first of the six graduate programs that now exist in the United States. These programs have trained 389 women and men in the past 12 years. The curriculum of these programs includes course work in medical genetics, biochemistry, human physiology, counseling techniques, and a field practicum. The spectrum of services being provided by these counselors under the supervision of a medical geneticist includes administrative coordination of a genetic service, direct counseling to patients and families, and the teaching of basic genetics to other health professionals and community groups. Certification of genetic counselors by the American Board of Medical Genetics will be initiated in 1981.