Shadowing and Opportunities for Students
Connecting with a Counselor: Journey into the Field of Genetic Counseling
Connecting with a genetic counselor is a great way to gain hands-on experience and learn more about a career in genetic counseling. Most shadowing opportunities are targeted toward undergraduate students interested in entering the field, but MNGCA strongly encourages high schoolers and other students to learn more about genetic counseling before entering college.
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Please review the list below outlining shadowing opportunities across the state of Minnesota (updated as of October 2024).​You can also visit https://findageneticcounselor.nsgc.org/ to find a genetic counselor near you to connect with and inquire about shadowing opportunities.​
Allina Health Care
Allina Health offers in-person observation and phone interviews with genetic counselors working in prenatal and cancer specialties. Remote observation is not offered, and observations are limited to one day. Observers must complete HIPAA paperwork and show proof of vaccination to be in person. Please contact MaryAnn Fox at maryann.fox@allina.com to get started!
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Aspirus St. Luke's
Aspirus St. Luke’s in Duluth offers shadowing in cancer, perinatal, pediatric, and adult genetic counseling, with greater opportunities available to shadowing in cancer. Please contact Delaney Pease at Delaney.pease@slhduluth.com or apply at
http://app.clinicannexus.com/search/rotations if interested. While completing the application, you must apply for the St. Luke’s Hospital Main Campus clinical site and request genetic counseling.
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Essentia Health
Essentia Health in Duluth offers a full day of in-person shadowing with a genetic counselor. GCs see a variety of indications, including oncology, prenatal, pediatric, cardiology, neurology, endocrinology, and more. To start the process, please create an account at https://app.cliniciannexus.com/search/rotations/53726 and select “shadow application”. The workforce develop team point of contact will be in touch shortly.
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M Health Fairview
M Health Fairview offers in-person shadowing, informational interviews, and volunteer opportunities. This clinic includes genetic counselors specializing in multiple areas. Please review the attached document and email your completed form to students@fairview.org to initiate the process. In-person shadowees will need proof of immunizations and a photo ID.
M Health Fairview also offers a volunteer (unpaid) position in the genetic counseling department. This position provides a long-term opportunity to work alongside a large team of genetic counselors. The schedule is flexible and involves remotes and in-person work. Please see the attached document for details. Interested individuals show apply at: https://mhealthfairview.org/About-Us/volunteering
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic offers an informational interview with a genetic counselor in the lab or the Center for Individualized Medicine at Mayo Clinic, which serves to answer questions about the profession and set expectations for shadowing. After the informational interview is complete, you will schedule a half-day to shadow a clinical genetic counselor, either in-person or by telemedicine. Telemedicine shadowing is prioritized for those individuals where travel to Rochester or other Mayo Clinic Health System sites (Eau Claire or Mankato) is not possible/feasible. Mayo Clinic’s shadowing program currently prioritizes those individuals who have had less exposure to the field of genetic counseling. Interested individuals are offered one
shadowing opportunity per person. Shadowees are also required to: 1) complete a brief application, 2) sign a confidentiality agreement 3) review a Mayo Clinic HIPAA training module and/or 4) sign a telemedicine agreement (if shadowing via telemedicine). Mayo Clinic also hosts an annual information session and panel discussion for anyone to attend, typically in October. Individuals interested in shadowing, an informational interview, or the information session can
email RSTGCShadow@mayo.edu to learn more.
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Minnesota Department of Health
The MN Department of Health employs several genetic counselors in their newborn screening program. Their work includes calling providers to share abnormal newborn screen results and recommended follow up, creating resources for providers and families about newborn screening and the screened conditions, and being subject-matter experts in discussions about how to improve newborn screening, such as in the addition of a new condition to the screening panel. They are available for informational interviews with prospective students. Of note, they work in a non-direct patient care role, so an informational interview may be especially helpful for individuals who already have some understanding of clinical genetic counseling and/or have specific interest in public health. If interested in an informational interview, please email health.newbornscreening.gc@state.mn.us.
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Regions Hospital Lab
The application process is currently in development. Please check back for updates.