Position Title: Genetics Counseling Program Director
Posting Number: F230019
Employer: State
FTE: 1.00
Position Summary:
We are seeking a Genetics Counseling Program Director to lead a new specialized master's program in Genetic Counseling. In this role, you will develop and direct the implementation and establishment of a new graduate program at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
As genomic medicine is integrated into the practice and delivery of healthcare across the country, the need and demand for genetic counselors is increasing as patients require assistance with navigating medical and healthcare systems to obtain the best information for their healthcare outcomes. Genetic counseling plays a unique role in healthcare, building strong relationships to facilitate the dissemination of genetic/genomic information to clients in a culturally, socially, and ethically sensitive framework.
University at Buffalo's two-year Genetic Counseling Master's Program is a holistic program that fluidly adapts to the dynamic and complex relationship between scientific knowledge and humanist decision-making. The program will educate and train students in all aspects of the advanced clinical practice of genetic counseling. The program explicitly integrates cutting-edge scientific knowledge, research, and clinical practice with relationship-building and communication; educational innovation in client partnerships; and consideration of potential ethical, social, and legal ramifications of genetic/genomic information. Students will learn to address evolving clinical, public health, and research challenges associated with advances in genetics/genomics. The impact and potential of genomics is expansive—encompassing technology, bioinformatics, individual and public health, and healthcare systems and delivery. Its application ranges from treatments to risk identification to prevention and wellness.
Program courses include, yet are not limited to: medical genetics, emerging topics in clinical genomics and related technology, bioinformatics, genome testing (including direct-to-consumer), counseling and client-focused skills, healthcare ethics in a multicultural setting, and policy development. The clinical/applied component includes extensive and varied cases and experiences, preparatory work, supervision and mentoring, and student-driven research. This GC Program reflects university and interdisciplinary collaboration, including medicine, nursing, public health, law, pharmaceutical sciences, social work, education, biological and social sciences, informatics, and ethics. The program integrates community engagement, spanning hospitals, health agencies, and other relevant area facilities through clinical rotations, as well as the potential for community-based participatory research.
The GC Program meets academic and clinical requirements specified for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC). This accreditation is required for Master's GC Program graduates to qualify to sit for the American Board of Genetic Counseling national certification examination. ABGC certification is the standard of practice for Genetic Counselors.
Responsibilities:
Implement nascent Genetic Counseling program at the University at Buffalo. The program has been approved by SUNY and NYS education Department. There is ample opportunity to the program.
Lead the ACGC accreditation process for this new program.
Maintain program compliance with ACGC standards.
Develop, implement, review, and revise the program's strategic plan, which may include mission, vision, goals, and/or philosophy.
Conduct long-term planning to ensure the program's fiscal stability within the University structure.
Coordinate, monitor, and evaluate all personnel in activities that directly relate to the program.
Serve as the primary contact for communication with ACGC and within the University.
Communicate with the ACGC about compliance with the standards, such as significant staffing, administrative, financial, and/or fieldwork training changes.
Serve as mentor/adviser for clinical rotations, to include careful monitoring and regular weekly meetings.
Outstanding Benefits Package
Working at UB comes with benefits that exceed salary alone. There are personal rewards including comprehensive health and retirement plan options. We also focus on creating and sustaining a healthy mix of work, personal and academic pursuit – all in an effort to support your work-life effectiveness. Visit our benefits website to learn about our benefit packages.
About The University at Buffalo The University at Buffalo (UB), a member of the prestigious American Association of Universities, is the largest and most comprehensive university in The State University of New York (SUNY) system, with about 20,000 undergraduates and 10,000 graduate students and 1600 fulltime faculty. The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences has 6,000 students enrolled across 9 academic departments.
About Buffalo Buffalo is a city with a rapidly growing economy, eclectic neighborhoods, world-class art galleries and museums, a vibrant theater and music community, the Lake Erie waterfront, a city-wide system of parks designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, and major and minor league sports teams. The awe-inspiring Niagara Falls is just 20 minutes away. The department is located on the UB North Campus in suburban Amherst, an area that combines outstanding public schools and services with a surprisingly low cost-of-living.
University at Buffalo is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and, in keeping with our commitment, welcomes all to apply including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Minimum Qualifications:
In addition to having obtained a master's degree in the discipline of genetic counseling, applicants should:
Have current certification in genetic counseling by the ABGC or the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG)
Recertify with ABGC
Have at least five years of experience as a certified genetic counselor, a minimum of three of which must be in a patient-facing role (clinic or research)
Have been the course instructor/instructor of record for at least six credit hours of post-secondary education
Be available for program administration year-round
Complete two hours per year of continuing training/coursework in curriculum design, assessment, evaluation, or educational andragogy
All individuals becoming a program director for the first time must have completed at least 10 hours of training/coursework in curriculum design, assessment, evaluation, or educational andragogy, within the last 10 years
All individuals becoming a program director for the first time must have provided fieldwork supervision for at least five genetic counseling graduate students for a minimum of 500 total contact hours in the last 10 years
Document training, workshops or other experiences related to: Leadership; Professional development; Management; Scholarly activities; Mentoring; Academic advising; and Andragogy.
The University at Buffalo (UB) #ubuffalo is SUNY’s most comprehensive public research university, and an outstanding place to work. UB amplifies ambition for faculty and staff by offering endless possibilities to achieve more. Here, people from all backgrounds and cultures challenge and inspire each other to discover, learn and succeed. Dedicated staff and engaged faculty collaborate to further knowl¬edge and understanding, and develop tenacious graduates who are valued for their talents and their impact on global society.
UB is one of America’s leading public research universities and a flagship of the State University of New York system, recognized for our excellence and our impact. UB is a premier, research-intensive public university dedicated to academic excellence. Our research, creative activity and people positively impact the world. Like the city we call home, UB is distinguished by a culture of resilient optimism, resourceful thinking and pragmatic dreaming that enables us to reach others every day. Visit our website to learn more about the University at Buffalo.
University at Buffalo is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and, in keeping with our commitment, welcomes all to apply including veterans and individuals with disabilities.