| If you cannot view the links above, please click here |
|
The University of Michigan program is structured to provide students with individualized training that supports the development of comprehensive genetic counseling skills through early clinical involvement and strong didactic course work. The Michigan program is a two-year program composed of five consecutive semesters. Students enter in the fall and graduate 20 months later in April. The curriculum consists of three main components: 1) coursework, 2) clinical training and 3) research. A wide variety of supplemental activities complement each of these components. The program is designed so that, with the exception of the third semester (summer), students participate in coursework, clinical training, and research activities every semester, allowing for complementary learning opportunities. The summer is devoted exclusively to clinical training. QUICK LINKS: Educational training in the Michigan program prepares students to face the current and future demands of the rapidly evolving fields of genetic counseling, human genetics and genomics. Coursework provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the medical, scientific and counseling aspects of these disciplines and supports the development of critical thinkers with integrated analytical and clinical skills. The core curriculum takes full advantage of our affiliation with a basic science department and provides students with extensive training in molecular and applied medical genetics. Genetic counseling students receive the same training in the foundations of human genetics as PhD students and the medical genetic class is a required course for our physicians training in the Medical Genetics Fellowship Program. Genetic counseling classroom training covers both applied and theoretical aspects of genetic counseling practice and is taught by experienced clinicians. Classroom teaching is highly interactive and utilizes a multimedia approach that includes role plays with peers and professional actors and supervision groups that are led by both peers and senior genetic counselors. Our small class sizes allow individual attention to each student・s needs and support a nurturing academic environment. Genetic counseling classroom work and clinical training are sequenced and integrated. In each academic semester, didactic and clinical training occur simultaneously and are complementary. This allows students to immediately begin applying the concepts they are discussing in their coursework to their clinical training. Students are also concurrently utilizing the classroom to begin working on advanced clinical skills. In every semester, students also have the opportunity to consider ethical dimensions of clinical practice and the intersections between the clinical and public faces of genetic counseling and genetics; including the translation of research into health care services, policy initiatives and public health genetics. Electives provide students with the opportunity to train in a wide variety of complementary disciplines (public health, psychology, social work, and nursing) and dual degree programs are an option for interested students. As members of the Michigan community, our students have the opportunity to interact with and learn from faculty in a wide variety of academic disciplines working in cutting edge genetics research. SAMPLE CURRICULUM Clinical training is an integral part of the Michigan curriculum and is structured to provide students with increasing counseling responsibilities in a variety of genetics and multidisciplinary clinics. With over 20 permanent clinical genetics sites, our clinical training covers the entire current scope of practice of genetic medicine. In 1941 the first genetics clinic in the world was founded at The University of Michigan. Since that time there has been incredible growth in our clinical genetics programs which now include nationally respected genetics clinics in pediatrics, adult medicine, neurology, cancer and prenatal disciplines. In addition students can train at a variety of innovative subspecialty clinics that include: ophthalmic genetics, biochemical genetics and hereditary hearing loss. Students are also prepared for the expanded mainstream of genetic counseling and genomic medicine with rotations in clinical laboratories and in public health genetics. Clinical training starts in the first semester and continues throughout the entire program. The opportunity to take on clinical responsibilities early in training enables our students to rapidly develop independence and confidence as clinicians and to gain expertise in multiple clinical settings. During the third (summer) semester students are able to individualize their clinical training and have the option of designing their own summer rotation. This process is heavily mentored and provides additional opportunities for diversifying clinical training. One-on-one clinical mentoring is an essential component of our clinical training and is provided in a wide range of settings. Senior genetic counseling clinical supervisors are an important part of our training model and students have the opportunity to work closely with highly experienced genetic counselors and genetic physicians. In addition an individualized clinical training plan is developed for each student. Students regularly meet with senior program faculty to evaluate their progress. Our small class size affords all of our students with multiple opportunities to work in-depth with patients and families with a wide variety of genetic conditions. As a result our students are able to develop a rich clinical logbook that is an essential component in determining eligibility for board certification in genetic counseling by the American Board of Genetic Counseling.
Thefirst semester introduces students to clinical training with the opportunity to observe cases in a variety of clinical settings. Students observe cases on a rotating weekly schedule in clinics under the supervision of staff genetic counselors or other medical staff. This is an opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with different components of the genetic counseling session, observe different counseling styles, and compare and contrast how different clinical sites operate. In the second semester, students rotate through two sites, each for one day per week for six to seven weeks. During this semester students begin to take on case responsibilities. These responsibilities may include case preparation, including review of the medical records and literature, obtaining family, medical and pregnancy histories, providing inheritance counseling, presenting cases to the medical staff, participating in case conferences, and composing counseling letters. The third semester (summer) provides students with extensive clinical training and increasing case responsibilities. Over the summer, students participate in two seven week full time internships (280 hrs each). One of these internships is in the state of Michigan. The second summer internship is generally located outside of Ann Arbor. This provides students with the opportunity to train in varied geographical settings, to work with novel patient populations, and to pursue individual clinical interests. The fourth semester (fall II) begins with a two week observational rotation in the cytogenetic and molecular diagnostic laboratories at the University of Michigan. Students then complete one 6-week internship consisting of 1.5 days per week. Students assume full responsibility for cases during this semester. During the fifth and final semester, students begin with another six week internship consisting of 1.5 days per week with full responsibility for assigned cases. If a student・s clinical training and research project are in good standing, during the second half of the final semester, students have the option of participating in a half semester non-traditional clinical internship. These optional internships allow students to work in a wide variety of clinical settings and to begin developing an understanding of the impact of genomic medicine. Return to Quick Links
Supervisors: Beth Dugan, MS, CGC Carrie Couyoumjian, MS, CGC Autumn Tanksy, MS The Perinatal Assessment Center provides a full range of consultative and diagnostic services, including genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis (chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, umbilical cord sampling), prenatal screening (first trimester screening, second trimester maternal serum screening, ultrasound, carrier testing, etc) and perinatal consultation and management. The Perinatal Assessment Center is staffed by three genetics counselors and multiple perinatologists.
Primary Supervisor: Jane Schuette, MS, CGC The Pediatric Genetics Clinic provides service in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of birth defects, structural abnormalities, inherited diseases, chromosomal abnormalities and mental retardation. It is staffed by five clinical geneticists and two genetic counselors, Jane Schuette, MS and Beverly Yashar, MS, PhD.
Primary Supervisor: Wendy Uhlmann, MS, CGC The Medical Genetics Clinic provides counseling for adult patients who either have or are at-risk for a genetic condition. Services provided include diagnosis, care management, genetic counseling and genetic testing. It is staffed by four clinical geneticists and one genetic counselor, Wendy Uhlmann, MS.
Primary Supervisor: Kara Milliron, MS, CGC The Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk Evaluation Program provides individuals with an accurate assessment of their personal risk for developing breast and other related cancers and offers a plan for follow-up and preventive care. It is staffed by medical oncologist and clinic director, Sofia Merajver, MD, PhD and genetic counselor, Kara Milliron, MS.
Supervisors: Monica Marvin, MS, CGC Jessica Everett, MS Victoria Raymond, MS The Cancer Genetics Clinic provides counseling for all types of cancer including: familial colon cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cancer of the uterus, prostate cancer, melanoma, thyroid cancer, sarcoma, childhood cancers and other less common tumors. It is staffed by medical oncologist, and clinic director, Stephen Gruber, MD, PhD and three genetic counselors.
Primary
Supervisor: Jane Schuette, MS, CGC The Division of Pediatric Genetics conducts genetics field clinics in Traverse City, Gaylord and Marquette, Michigan. Outreach clinics are a unique opportunity to evaluate and manage genetics patients in diverse settings.
Primary
Supervisor: Kari Branham, MS, CGC The Ophthalmic Genetics Clinic is a specialty clinic which provides
services primarily to patients with or at risk for inherited retinal
diseases such as Stargardt・s disease, Best Disease, and Retinitis pigmentosa. Part
of this rotation also includes experience in the Ophthalmic Molecular
Genetics Diagnostics Laboratory. The clinic is staffed by ophthalmologist,
John Heckenlively, MD and genetic counselor, Kari Branham, MS.
Medical Director: Jeff Innis, MD, PhD The Biochemical Genetics Clinic is a specialty clinic that provides services primarily to patients with known or suspected metabolic conditions. The clinic is staffed by two biochemical geneticists and four clinical geneticists. OFFCAMPUS CLINICAL TRAINING SITES
Return to Top If a student・s clinical training and research project are in good standing, during the second half of the final semester, students have the option of participating in a half semester non-traditional clinical internship. These optional internships allow students to work in a wide variety of clinical settings and to begin developing an understanding of the impact of genomic medicine. SAMPLE NONTRADITIONAL ROTATION SITES
SAMPLE: Public Health Rotation at Michigan Department of Community Health
SAMPLE: U of M Oncology
Class of 2006, Year I
Class of 2006, Year II
During the two-year program, students are responsible for developing an individualized scholarly project in collaboration with a member of the faculty. This research project allows students to develop skills that will enhance intellectual development and critical thinking skills. Our research program is driven by the interests of the individual student and takes advantage of the wide variety of genetics initiatives on the University of Michigan campus and within the state of Michigan. In previous years research projects have included gene identification, public policy, education, qualitative inquiry, professional development and clinical practice. Students have had the chance to present and publish their results in local, regional and national forums. This first hand experience with the research process allows our students to develop new skills that may include but are not limited to: generating and testing a hypothesis, working with the IRB to develop an IRB approved study, performing bench work in the laboratory, survey design, interviewing, statistical analysis, collaborating with mentors and committee members, writing proposals, developing scientific presentations (both written and oral) and writing manuscripts. During the first year of training students take a research skills class that helps them identify an area of interest and prepares them for the development and implementation of their research idea. The hope is that at the conclusion of their research projects, students will be contributing new knowledge to the field of genetics and the practice of genetic counseling. Since each student's research project grows out of their own interests, each student's research experience and "lessons learned" are unique. 2006 GENETIC COUNSELING STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
2007 GENETIC COUNSELING STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
A variety of educational and clinical opportunities are integral to the genetic counselor training program at Michigan. These include: Departmental Retreat In the fall of each year, all faculty and students in the Department of Human Genetics participate in a weekend retreat. This annual event brings together the research and clinical arms of our department and features a variety of events supporting both professional and personal development. Laboratory Rotations In the second year of training, students complete rotations in the cytogenetics and molecular diagnostics laboratories. Multicultural Book Club Each semester, the genetic counseling faculty and students read and discuss books that address issues related to health care and cultural diversity. Professional Meetings Students are encouraged to attend the Region IV National Society of Genetic Counselors meeting held in the Spring of each year and the annual meetings of the American Society of Human Genetics and National Society of Genetic Counselors during the Fall of their second year. Reproductive Loss Series This is a monthly series led by an adjunct Clinical Instructor in Psychology and Adjunct Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and addresses a number of issues related to reproductive loss. Teaching Opportunities Students are afforded a variety of teaching opportunities. These include the active participation of second year students in the Reproductive Genetics class to the first year students, mentoring in the student seminar program and in case conference and community-based out-reach activities in local school system. A variety of lectures, conferences, and seminars by faculty and visiting lecturers occur on a regular basis in the medical center, department of human genetics and affiliated departments. |
Perinatal
Assessment Center
Medical
Genetics Clinic
Breast
and Ovarian Cancer Risk Evaluation Clinic
Cancer
Genetics Clinic
Genetics
Outreach Program
Ophthalmic
Genetics