University of Pittsburgh Genetic Counseling Program

Overview

The mission of the Department of Human Genetics is to discover new knowledge about the genetic determinants of human health and disease through basic and applied research; to educate students, trainees and other interested persons in that knowledge; and to apply that knowledge to improve the health of populations, families and patients.

The Genetic Counseling Program in the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh has a long history. The Program was established in 1971 and is the second oldest program nationally. The Genetic Counseling Program received full accreditation from the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 1997.

Recent discoveries concerning the genetic origins of diseases mean that genetic counseling has an increasingly important role in health care delivery. The genetic counselor is trained to provide patients and families with pertinent genetic information to understand their risk for disease and to make informed decisions. The Genetic Counseling Program at the University of Pittsburgh is committed to providing up-to-date training in the complex science of human genetics, as well as in counseling skills. As a result, the Genetic Counseling Program is based on three important foundations: scientific training in human genetics, clinical experience, and understanding the psychology and social aspects of counseling.

The two-year program provides students with an in-depth background in human genetics and counseling. Training incorporates specific aspects of disease as they relate to individuals or families, including disease prognosis, consequences, treatment, risk of recurrence, and prevention. An internship in the second year requires students to integrate the science of human genetics with the social, psychological, moral, and ethical issues of genetic counseling. This program consists of prescribed courses during the first ten months, followed by an intensive rotation experience through the department's training programs at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Magee-Women's Hospital, the Cancer Genetics Program, and the University of Pittsburgh Health System. All the rotation sites are located within walking distance from the Graduate School of Public Health.