Genetic Counseling Assistant Training
BIOL-40375
Genetic Counseling Assistant Training
This class is designed to prepare those interested in becoming a Genetic Counseling Assistant (GCA) or to assist participants interested in graduate programs in genetic counseling. Students will learn practical skills used by GCAs in various settings including genetic laboratories and clinical settings. Hear from working GCAs about their scope of practice and day to day work. Explore critical aspects of professional development, fundamental business skills, and other best practices that support a successful career as a genetic counseling assistant. Students will be introduced to resume writing, interviewing skills, job searching tips, remote working best practices, principles of customer service, and other critical office skills.
Prerequisites
Participants must first complete Genetic Counseling - BIOL 40359. This course will build and expand on what was covered in this foundational class.
Format
This course is offered in an online asynchronous format. There are no set meeting times, however, students follow a weekly schedule and there will be deadlines and deliverables to meet in terms of course requirements. This course cannot be completed at an accelerated rate.
Course Objectives
- Students will learn about career opportunities as a Genetic Counseling Assistant (GCA)
- Gain the fundamental skills needed to utilize best practices within the GCA workplace setting
- Know how to apply communication skills in a culturally responsive and respectful manner
- Understand how to navigate genetic resources when researching diseases; including rare disease, hereditary disease, and other common adult onset diseases
- Learn the fundamentals and the workflow of genetic laboratory testing
- Develop skills to assist genetic counselors with pre and post genetic counseling sessions
- Gain an introduction to the fundamental principles of insurance, billing, and reimbursement as it pertains to genetics and genetic counseling clinical practice
- Learn specific concepts related to working in a reproductive genetics clinic or laboratory
- Students will learn foundational principles of medical terminology, disability awareness, of fundamental genetics terminology, and of working in clinical, hospital, and laboratory settings
Course Information
Course sessions
Section ID:
Class type:
This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
Textbooks:
No textbook required.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 2/24/2025
Schedule:
Instructor:
Romela Pasion
Romela Pasion has been a Genetic counselor for over 22 years, graduating from the University of California at Berkeley in 1998. From there, she has worked in a variety of settings in diverse roles in clinical patient care – including prenatal, pediatric and adult genetics – industry laboratory genetic testing, and the insurance industry. Her clinical work shaped her drive to be a strong patient advocate when implementing and launching new genetic testing at GeneCare, LabCorp, and Mayo Clinic Laboratory.
Her previous diverse experiences in clinical care and genetic laboratories have been crucial in her current role as a Genetic Program manager at Blue Shield of California where she works as a genetics consultant for genetic claims, reviewing genetic medical policies, evaluating new genetic tests for medical necessity, and acting as a liaison between the insurance company and genetic laboratories. Romela has a passion for education and paving new pathways for genetic counselor roles in medicine and industry.
