From Pipettes to Pedigrees: How my Lab Experience Prepared me to be a Genetic Counselor - Cassidy Mills

Before entering Pitt’s Genetic Counseling program, I spent many of my days working in research labs. As an

undergraduate, I studied the genetic diversity of an invasive species, running experiments like DNA isolations and PCR. After graduation, I worked in a clinical trial vaccines lab, testing the efficacy of vaccines before they went to market. On the surface, these experiences might not seem directly applicable to the field of genetic counseling. However, the skills I gained in the lab are deeply relevant to my training and future work as a genetic counselor.

 

 The Importance of Communication and Collaboration

In both my academic and professional time in the lab, I learned how important teamwork and communication are to success. As an undergraduate researcher, I relied on mentors, professors, and fellow students to help strengthen my research. Presenting that research taught me to tailor my communication to different audiences. This is a necessary skill for genetic counselors who must often explain complex genetic concepts to patients in understandable ways. Later in the clinical trial lab, I worked on a team where every person was responsible for a different step in the experiment. In this situation, mutual trust in each other helped us work more efficiently and effectively. Similarly, collaboration in genetic counseling is not limited to the counselor-patient relationship, but extends to other healthcare professionals, laboratories, and researchers to help the patient receive the best care possible. 

Understanding Laboratory Processes

One of the core classes for Pitt GC students is Genetic Techniques. In this class, we learn about and practice many different genetic testing techniques that we’d encounter in our career. While we likely won’t be conducting these tests ourselves, understanding how they work gives us important context when interpreting lab reports and communicating results to patients. Thanks to my previous lab experience, I came into this class with an appreciation for the complexity and precision involved in these processes. Ultimately, this will help to tease out the most important scientific information the patient should know to make informed decisions on their health. 

Critical Thinking

If there is one thing I learned in the lab, it’s that things don’t always go as planned – equipment can break, steps may be missed in the protocol, or unexplained errors occur. Investigating the problem and learning to adapt allowed me to develop important critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These skills can be directly applied to genetic counseling. Every patient comes with a unique story, often seeking answers, resources, or support. Genetic counselors help piece together that puzzle by analyzing family histories, interpreting test results, and responding thoughtfully to the patient’s emotions. This process shows patients that genetic counselors truly care about their health and well-being and are there to support them, no matter what they’re facing.