2015 National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Education Conference

Recently, the genetic counseling students attended the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) Annual Education Conference.  Here are some thoughts from our second year students about their first NSGC conference!

"Meeting so many successful and experienced counselors and being able to discuss varying aspects of the field with them, as colleagues, was very empowering.” - Erin

“I was amazed and inspired by Kristen Powers, and her documentary entitled “Twitch.” Kristen shared her journey to get tested for Huntington’s disease, and had very thoughtful answers to the questions posed by audience members about her experience.” – Amy D.

“I was surprised by how much fun I had! I met so many incredible genetic counselors ranging from new graduates to experienced pros, being surrounded by so many amazing and accomplished people was absolutely inspiring. I am so grateful and excited to be a part of this field” –Nikki

"I was very inspired by the lecture about Roe vs. Wade and Down Syndrome Information Acts. It was so intriguing to hear from a panel of experts that included a lawyer and English professor. As a student who is interested in law and ethics and how they interact with genetic counseling, the interdisciplinary lecture was a perfect fit! By the end, most of us in the audience had shed a few tears and felt a true call to action to advocate for our patients.” -Becca

“The conference in general was a great chance to meet GCs from around the country. Everyone was so friendly and excited to share advice with new grads as well as encourage us to apply for job opportunities.” 

–Amy B.

"The educational breakout sessions had a large variety of intriguing topics. It was an amazing experience to hear individuals at the top of their field explain revolutionary topics, debate ethical implications of technologies, and have general discussions regarding current and future practices. It is inspiring to see where our field has come from and what the future holds.”–Kerrianne

“I really enjoyed the session on CRISPR. The presenters raised many of the ethical debates and technical challenges of a new gene editing technology that may have a huge impact on the field. It’s important for GCs to be aware of these issues so they can be part of the conversation and help direct how this technology can be used responsibly.” 

-Bess

“The NSGC conference really made me feel encouraged by the growth of the field. It was so great to see that there are many genetic counseling jobs out there and that they WANT US! It is a nice reminder that we have worked hard, and all have a very bright future ahead with endless opportunities.” –Kelly

“I enjoyed having the opportunity to hear from and talk to so many genetic counselors in various specialties with a variety of backgrounds. Being in the environment itself, surrounded by people who are so interested in genetics and the advancement of genetic counseling was a unique and fun experience.” -Laura

“I really enjoyed the lecture on newborn and fetal exome/genome sequencing and the ethical implications that these useful technologies have in that setting. It applied to my thesis, but was also just generally interesting”. – Tricia

“I thought Dr. Austin’s address was up-lifting and powerful. It was inspiring to hear such a strong woman’s vision for the future of NSGC and the field of genetic counseling.” - Kristin