GENC 563 Diversity in Genetic Counseling

Genetic 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 underserved, diverse, unique, and sometimes isolated populations. In the context of medical genetics and genetic counseling, groups of individuals studied in the course include the Hutterites, Native Americans, Hmong, Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews, Dwarfs, and Deaf Culture. The course also examines genetics services around the world and working with interpreters. Offered every other January. The J-term is designed to be a time of unique curricular exploration.