Genetic counseling, a profession born within the very halls of the institution I am privileged to work in, carries with it a rich history and a pressing need for evolution. The visionary, Melissa Richter, envisioned genetic counseling as a career for healthcare professionals “conversant with the manifestation of genetic diseases along with techniques of psychological support”. She eventually became the inaugural Program Director of the Graduate Program in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College, the first genetic counseling training program in the country. The necessity of this profession has become ever more apparent over the years, with its growth surging by a remarkable 88% in the past decade alone (Hoskovec et al., 2018). Notably, Sarah Lawrence has graduated over a thousand genetic counselors since its pioneering days in 1969, constituting a significant portion of the genetic counseling community across North America and beyond.
Reflection
As we celebrate the program's accomplishments, it is also crucial to confront the fact that the challenges the genetic counseling field faces today may have originated within these very halls. The program's origins in the 1960s, situated in an era when Sarah Lawrence (and many of its peer institutions) catered to upper and middle-class, able-bodied, heterosexual, white, anglo-saxon protestant, cisgender women, inevitably shaped the demographic profile of its graduates. While there is no solitary factor to blame, the program's historical context likely contributed to the lack of diversity that still plagues the profession. The field's composition has remained largely static since demographic data was first collected in 1992, with 89-97% of genetic counselors identifying as white and only 5% identifying as male, highlighting a pressing need for diversity.
Achieving true diversity, inclusion, and belonging within the genetic counseling field demands an honest acknowledgment and rectification of the barriers that the profession’s founders, including Sarah Lawrence, inadvertently constructed.
Acknowledging Unintended Consequences
Looking back at the path that Sarah Lawrence blazed – one often praised – reveals inadvertent barriers and limitations that persistently obstruct certain students' access even today. Some of these barriers are deeply entrenched and will require concerted efforts to dismantle. Achieving true diversity, inclusion, and belonging within the genetic counseling field demands an honest acknowledgment and rectification of the barriers that the profession’s founders, including Sarah Lawrence, inadvertently constructed. Both the achievements and oversights of those who came before us deserve recognition.
Continuing a Legacy of Innovation and Evolution
Over the decades, the genetic counseling program at Sarah Lawrence has evolved significantly. The program has proactively established initiatives aimed at promoting success of individuals from groups that are underrepresented in genetic counseling. These initiatives include offering accessible opportunities (both virtual and free, or even paid) for individuals to learn about the field and establish professional networks through community events, internships, and educational series.
Efforts to eliminate barriers to program entry has also been a focal point. These measures include waiving application fees, conducting virtual interviews, removing standardized tests (such as the GRE) from application requirements, restructuring the admission processes to mitigate biases (more on this in a future post!), and earmarking scholarships for students from underrepresented backgrounds. As a result of these endeavors, the number of students who obtain an interview and the final student body has grown increasingly more diverse; in the current classes there is a higher representation of students identifying as People of Color compared to their white counterparts and 15% of students identify as male.
Our focus on change extends beyond diversification of our student cohort. Every student within our program is frequently and intentionally encouraged to delve into the history and current realities of racism, discrimination, power dynamics, and privilege and explore how this relates to health disparities and society at large. Students attend rotations throughout the New York metropolitan area and frequently serve underprivileged and underrepresented populations. All of this is done with the ultimate goal of integrating awareness into their healthcare practices.
Although we have made some great strides, there is still more work to be done.
As we celebrate the program's accomplishments, it is also crucial to confront the fact that the challenges the genetic counseling field faces today may have originated within these very halls.
Commitment to Continue Working
The current leadership of the program is committed to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Our commitment extends to fostering and sustaining diversity among our leadership, students, and staff, engaging with underrepresented communities in genetic counseling, creating accessible avenues for advancement for prospective and current students, as well as alumni, and dismantling biases and barriers in our admission processes and academic practices. Our focus lies in listening and elevating diverse voices, with the aspiration of generating transformative change within the genetic counseling profession.
For Alumni
We invite you to join our community. By signing up, you become part of a growing network of individuals collaborating with our program, sharing their experiences, supporting our students, and embarking on this journey of learning together.
For Prospective Students
For those interested in becoming part of our program as students, I encourage you to reach out to Janelle Villiers. We welcome your enthusiasm and are excited to help you explore this rewarding field.
About the Author
Katie Gallagher (She/Her) is Assistant Program Director at the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College. She identifies as a white, queer, currently able-bodied, cisgender woman.