500

Health care professionals, including those in the field of medical genetics, have traditionally received an abundance of training regarding the clinical aspects of their field. The business side of medicine, however, is not often well understood. This course provides an introduction to many business and legal topics encountered by working genetic professionals, such as coding, billing, reimbursement, marketing, budgeting, public policy, business development, and working with the media.

Genetics professionals need to understand the diverse backgrounds of their clients in order to empathetically and effectively communicate. Cultural competency is important for reducing health disparities and providing health care that meets the needs of diverse groups of people. This course focuses on the genetic needs of under-served, diverse, unique, and sometimes isolated populations. In the context of medical genetics and genetic counseling, groups of individuals studied in the course include Hutterites, Native Americans, Muslims, Hmong, Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews, dwarfs, and deaf culture. The course also examines genetics services around the world and working with interpreters.