Hometown: Whitehorse, Yukon
Program: Genetic Counselling
Year in Program: 2
What inspired you to pursue your program?
As with many other genetic counsellors, what drew me to the field originally was the opportunity to combine the science of genetics with the art of counselling. Genetics is an exciting and constantly evolving field, and we are learning more and more about how our genes – and variants within those genes – influence our health. There is always something new to learn and I wanted a career that would challenge me. Counselling patients, while extremely rewarding, provides its own set of challenges. Even after decades in the profession, genetic counsellors continue to find new ways to engage and explain complex ideas in a way that is meaningful to patients. Finally, there is flexibility – genetic counsellors may choose to work in a clinical, research, or industry setting (or some combination of all three!) and they may also choose to specialize in certain areas such as prenatal, cancer, pediatrics, cardiac, metabolics, and more.
There is so much to love about the growing field of genetic counselling, I wouldn’t choose anything else!
What are you looking forward to most this upcoming year?
Our class is very tight-knit, and so I am looking forward to spending time with my classmates and getting to know our new first years. I am particularly excited for us to attend the annual National Society of Genetic Counselors conference being held in Atlanta, Georgia this November. Of course, I am also very much looking forward to finishing the program and becoming a genetic counsellor.
Best piece of advice
Don’t give up! Genetic counselling programs are competitive and many people don’t get in on their first try. I was one of them. If you know that this is the right career for you, try again. Seek out new experiences in the field – volunteer in a medical genetics clinic, shadow genetic counsellors, and reach out to current students. One of the great things about genetic counselling is how excited people in the profession are to share their stories and lessons they have learned with prospective students. Take advantage of this!
First job
I was a cashier/barista at our neighbourhood grocery store.
What’s next on your BC bucket list?
A weekend of wine tasting in Kelowna with my classmates!