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Chairman's Welcome
Welcome to the
Web site of the Department of Genetic Counseling of the College of
Health Related Professions [CHRP] at the University of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences [UAMS].
Now is an
extraordinary time to consider an education and career in human
genetics. The explosion of genetic research afforded by completion of
the worldwide Human Genome Project in 2003 dramatically increases the
need for more genetic counselors, particularly for work in the heartland
of the United States. As you may well appreciate, genetic counselors
have traditionally worked closely with other health care providers in
many areas of medicine. Yet, as our understanding of the genetic
component of more common conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, and mental illness increases, genetic counselors are becoming
vital contributors to these health care sub-specialties as well.
As defined by the
American Society of Human Genetics, genetic counseling is a
communication process
which deals with human problems associated with the occurrence or risk
of recurrence of a genetic disorder in a family.1
Communication, however, requires understanding, and when it comes to
genetics, many Americans require assistance. The Institute of Medicine
of the National Academies estimates that about 90 million American
adults have literacy skills that are below high school level. Because
the medical and public health literature indicates that health
literature is complex and often far above high school level,
approximately 90 million adults may lack the needed literacy skills to
effectively use the U.S. health care system.
Because of this
limited medical literacy among our population, the UAMS Master of
Science Program in Genetic Counseling helps each graduate student to
develop multiple ways to describe the hereditary basis of medicine in
terms that are understandable by any client whose education in science
may not have included high school biology or beyond. Our graduates
translate genetic science into understandable and practical information
for individuals and families at risk for hereditary diseases and/or
birth defects. In-depth education in human genetics, genetic testing,
as well as the psychosocial consequences of genetic disease allow our
students to serve as educators and advocates for their patients.
The UAMS Master
of Science program is unique in several respects:
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It is delivered by an educational consortium
including UAMS, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and the
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center—combining resources
and talents of geneticists, genetic counselors, and other
specialists at these academic health science centers. The
consortium’s name is “Mid-America Genetic Education
Consortium”, or “MAGEC”.
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The lecture and classroom portions of this
program use distance education technologies (viz., various
instructional media, the Internet, and compressed, interactive
video), allowing students to reside either in Omaha, NE or in Little
Rock, AR. Courses originate from each of the MAGEC member
institutions.
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Clinical rotations are available at each of the
participating institutions or affiliated programs within MAGEC.
Clinical affiliations at additional medical centers within and
beyond the current MAGEC states are under active consideration for
membership.
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The program makes
extensive use of the UAMS Clinical Skills Center as a place to
practice genetic counseling by working with “standardized patients”
portrayed by a talented cadre of specially trained actresses and
actors.
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A popular weekly
Genetics Film/Lecture series, drawn from both classical and
contemporary film, elicits lively discussions concerning difficult
familial and societal questions particularly relevant to human
genetics and health care.
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Our principal
location is in a city with a relatively low cost-of-living, and our
program has tuition rates that are competitive. (Residents of MAGEC
states pay UAMS resident graduate tuition, irrespective of
which institution originates a particular course.)
Successful
completion of all the academic requirements, including each of the
clinical genetics rotations and an individual master’s research project
or thesis in an approved topic in human genetics, earns the candidate
the Master of Science in Genetic Counseling degree from the University
of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and entitles him or her to apply
for Board eligibility with the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC).
The faculty is readily available to answer your questions about our
curriculum, our admissions requirements, MAGEC, or genetic counseling in
general. If human genetics and serving humanity are your primary
interests, we look forward to discussing with you our program and your
career in genetic counseling. Thank you again for your interest in our
department, program, and the profession.
1
American Society of
Human Genetics Ad Hoc Committee on Genetic Counseling (1975) Genetic
counseling. Am J Hum Genet (27): 240-242. |