The GC Immersive: Patching the pipeline with genetic counseling experiences for all.

Abstract

Genetic counseling graduate programs largely recommend that prospective applicants shadow or gain exposure to genetic counselors (GC) as a means of developing insight into the profession. However, prospective students have cited this need to shadow genetic counselors as harder to access in comparison to other prerequisites. The GC Immersive (GCI) at Color was created as a no-cost, remote, self-paced professional exploration program designed to provide resources and live interaction with a team of genetic counselors to increase accessibility to GC exposure and enhance the competitiveness of underrepresented GC candidates. The program design and curriculum were developed by a team of certified genetic counselors and a GC student in 2021 and is marketed to those who have one or more identities underrepresented in the GC field. In total, 287 individuals enrolled in the program in the first and second cycles, with 115 providing demographic information. The majority of enrollees identified as an underrepresented minority in GC in one or more identities, with individuals who are ethnic and/or racial minority (70%), first-generation college student (44%), lesbian, gay, transgender, queer, intersex, and/or asexual (LGBTQIA+) (27%), and disabled community (16%) reported as the most common identities. Most participants had never shadowed a GC (55%) prior to this course. Twenty-two percent of enrollees resided outside of the United States, representing 15 different countries. Of the 287 enrolled participants, 21 (7%) have completed the program, with the remaining participants having between 5 and 11 months to complete. All individuals who completed the program reported they felt better prepared to apply for a GC program. The general structure of this program can be replicated by any institution, as the program consists primarily of recorded content. Ongoing effort by genetic counselors is minimal and has the ability to provide GC experience to prospective applicants at great scale.