ONE YEAR AS A GENETIC COUNSELOR | q&a

[@LexiBoo12123]

First off I want to say THANK YOU! Thank you for keeping up with this and sharing. It's so hard to find people who keep up with their YT or socials in GC. I really appreciate you and the time you take out. You are truly helping in so many ways! Also I'm so proud of you!! Would love that video you mentioned on talking about just Pre-natal! I like both of the questions below. I'd love to know if there's any time for research or even if it's possible to cross into the labs? Is that even an option or legal or valid lol I have an affinity for the lab and RND but I know that that is not where I want to end up forever. I love helping humans and having face to face (or zoom) interactions. I was a Next Gen Sequencing (NGS) intern for a big pharma for 6 months and also work per diem as a residential counselor for a group home, it is the best of both worlds. I loved having the lone quiet time in the labs doing some really mind blowing things (but it got repetitive doing a lot of the same things every day just for different projects yeah but for the same results) but (most of the time on the same day going from one job to the other) I love dealing with the kiddos and families and helping them understand how to cope with their difficult situations (abandonment, parental death, dcf custody, abuse, etc.) and understand their feelings. but mental burn out be real, it's heavy stuff to battle every single day. Doing both jobs I got to escape and enjoy the perks of both without ever feeling the fatigue but have heard and seen my collogues from both ends go through it. I wonder if you know of GCs that started out in the lab and then transitioned to clinical roles or vice versa? is there a pay difference? Did you, or anyone you came across think of being a Genetic Physician? If applicable, what were the motives that led them to GC? I imagine you might interact with Genetic Physicians, what's that like? Do you truly get to bounce ideas off them, do they actually listen to you advise? Do you have any insight to their day to day? Is there a I guess... a promotional ladder to be climbed? Titles or I guess raises and or things like that. Are there different achievable goals you can look forward to once the day comes where you feel like you've gotten comfy and want a change or challenge within the career that you have noticed? Is there truly that flexibility to explore other specialties once you're actually working? You mentioned maybe one day switching, what is the difference for a GC between the things you mentioned? Clinical vs Industry vs academia vs... as a GC? I am so sorry for this mammoth lol there's just so little resources for asking these questions. I am happy to be refereed to someone else. I'd love if you are comfy doing so to host someone that maybe has been at it for a while or a few people to get different POVs I know that's not your typical style on your channel but I think it would be nice. Most of the stuff out here is about applying, the match, getting into a program but not much on actually working. If you read this all bless your heart hun, my deepest apologies lol.

[@amanovershares]

all great questions! send me an email so we can discuss further: [e-mail]

[@hannah.joseph]

Could you maybe do a q&a w a genetic counsellor from another speciality like neurogenetics or oncology? Would love to see the different POVs :)

[@amanovershares]

this is a great idea - I'll see what I can do!!

[@drurviparmar9746]

Finally, I have someone to go to for my Genetic counseling queries after banging my head on the wall for over a year now. I am literally incredibly grateful to you for making such informative and elaborate videos on Genetic counseling. Thankyou so so so so very much for being the light at the end of the tunnel. Truly grateful. I have so many questions, that i don't even know where to start with. Can I please connect with you on mail?? Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

[@amanovershares]

Feel free to send me an email - [e-mail]

[@abbeyroth4379]

Thanks so much for your content! I am getting ready to start my first year of a GC program in the fall and it's great to hear a bit more about what the transition to working was like/ what to expect as a new genetic counselor in the workforce. I watched your videos before my interview process and they helped me so so much. Your videos are much appreciated :)

[@amanovershares]

so nice to hear! best of luck this fall :)

[@mariacarneiro7495]

Hi! Is it possible to be a GC without having to have to do prenatal tests and IVF? What could I do as a GC without having to be involved in such delicate topics? Could I just do the cancer patients? Thank you so much!

[@amanovershares]

Yes, great question! My focus is prenatal, but there are definitely GCs that just do cancer or another speciality ☺️ Check out this video to learn more: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6uraH6qpc-cb6ssi=H60DZWGvOaQBvlBq

[@zakirmurji5953]

Hi Aman, whay kind of research do genetic counselors do?

[@amanovershares]

there are a lot of different options for research in the field: public health, new technologies, specific therapies, drug trials etc.

[@lilytrembeczki3587]

Is it possible to have more flexible schedule hours such as 3 12 hour shifts a week?

[@amanovershares]

It depends on where you work. If it's within a patient-facing clinic, they will likely have M-F business hours. I'm sure there are roles out there that do evening/weekend work but I don't know about longer shifts!

[@lisam9089]

Hey, curious! For prenatal diagnosis testing, what tests do you offer your patients? Karyotype and CMA? Exome sequencing too?

[@amanovershares]

Good question - baseline in our clinic is microarray and QFPCR (for 13/18/21 and X/Y). Karyotype only if QFPCR is positive for any of those conditions. Exome is really case by case!

[@Yagurllyyy]

What are the work hours? I see that you can work from home which is good. I hear that genetic counselors normally work 40 hours but what are the time that you go in and go home or when you get done with work?

[@amanovershares]

This is clinic dependant. Usually GCs work M-F business hours.