Genetic Counseling: Its History and Contemporary Practice
Section outline
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In this topic, we will examine the evolution of the definition of genetic counseling since it was first coined by Sheldon Reed in the mid-1900s. We will explore the history of the profession and examine the factors that enabled and supported the development of the profession through the years. By examining these, we shall try, in the discussion forum, to contextualize the development of genetic counseling as a profession in the Philippines.
Please read through the required readings in this topic and answer the discussion form that follows.
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These papers describe the history of genetic counseling. They provide the necessary historical perspective on how genetic counseling developed and evolved through the years from the time it was first formally offered as a graduate program in Sarah Lawrence College until the formation of a new professional group. Through these papers, we can examine the significant contributions of milestones in specific time period in the development of the profession.
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These journal articles describe the development of genetic counseling in the United States primarily and in other areas of the world. There is also a paper by Laurino and Padilla about the establishment of genetic counseling training program in the Philippines. Another paper by Padilla and Cutiongco-dela Paz discusses the genetics and genomics services in the Philippines. Please read through these papers to have a better understanding of the context by which genetic counseling as a profession developed. Try to reflect on how the developments in genetics and genomics services in the Philippines served as impetus for pushing genetic counseling in the country.
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Traditionally, genetic counseling deals with single-gene conditions like inborn errors of metabolism and cancer predisposition syndromes. However, the advent of advanced testing methodologies such as the use of next generation sequencing, and the increasing use of whole exome and whole genome sequencing have impacted the way genetic counseling happens. In this paper by Ormond (2013), she discusses the implications of 'genomics' to the practice of genetic counseling and she puts forward the change from genetic to genomic counseling.
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This 2018 manuscript by Ormond Kelly et al presents the developments in genetic counseling globally. While the profession has an established presence in US, Canada, UK, and Australia, the profession is slowly developing in other parts of the world such as in the Philippines. This paper would give you an overview on how genetic counseling is integrated in each of these countries health systems and what challenges the profession is encountering in each of these settings.
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