The University of South Florida is the only institution in Florida with an accredited genetic counseling graduate program. The first cohort of students graduate this week from the USF Health College of Public Health. There’s growing demand for genetic counselors as more people want to understand their risks of inheriting certain medical conditions or diseases, such as cancer.
“Florida has far fewer genetic counselors per capita than the other top 10 most populous states, with only 14 in the Tampa Bay area,” said Deborah Cragun, PhD, assistant professor and director of the USF Genetic Counseling Program. “Students need rotations in a variety of areas, including pediatrics, prenatal and oncology, and there are currently limited opportunities.”
Cragun says there are a number of reasons for the shortage, such as lack of institutional funding for genetic counseling positions, lack of licensure and historically lower pay. According to the National Society for Genetic Counselors, the average salary of a genetic counselor is $88,000.
Graduates of the 21-month genetic counseling program participated in multiple clinical rotations, which entailed shadowing genetic counselors as well as other professionals at genetic laboratories, taking family medical histories, discussing genetic testing options, and helping patients and families understand and adapt to genetic risks.
The first students to complete the USF Health Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling are Joy Kechik, Lindsey Victoria, Réka Müller and Deanna Almanza, two of whom have secured jobs in Tampa Bay. The next cohort includes five students. As the number of genetic counselors in the area grows, Cragun believes so will the USF graduate program.