1. Genetic Counslor

2. What is a Genetic Counselor?  Genetic counselors are health professionals with specialized graduate degrees and experience in the areas of medical genetics and counseling.

3. What do they Do?  Genetic counselors work as members of a healthcare team, providing information and support to families who have members with birth defects or genetic disorders and to families who may be at risk for a variety of inherited conditions.

4. How can they Help Families?  They identify families at risk, investigate the problem present in the family, interpret information about the disorder investigate the problem present in the family, interpret information about the disorder analyze inheritance patterns and risks of recurrence analyze inheritance patterns and risks of recurrence review available options with the family. review available options with the family.

5. Cri-du-chat Syndrome “Tyler” Cri-du-chat Syndrome “Tyler”

6. Career Opportunities  Clinical - working with patients and families in hospitals, private practice, or on a consulting basis.  Clinical - working with patients and families in hospitals, private practice, or on a consulting basis.  Commercial - working with biotech companies which design, sell, and administer genetic tests  Diagnostic Laboratories – working as a liaison between the diagnostic laboratory and referring physicians and their patients  Education and Public Policy - teaching and advising companies, students, and lawmakers  Research – working as a study coordinator for research projects involved in genetics

7. Compensation  Average income for genetic counselors with a master's degree and 5-9 years experience in 2006 was $61,268.  Median salary for a typical genetic counselor in 2008 in the United States was $54,832