The case for integrating genetic counselors into primary care:A paradigm shift for our profession

Natasha Berman (she/her) MA, MS, MPH, CGC is a clinical genetic counselor at the UPMC Department of Family Medicine who works within the primary care precision medicine clinic. She provides direct patient care to patients for a variety of indications. She has coauthored multiple textbook chapters covering family medicine genetic topics. Her primary areas of research include improving equitable genetics care.

Vivian Pan, MS, CGC is a Senior Genetic Counselor at the University of Illinois Cancer Center and Mile Square Health Center, where she provides genetic counseling services and conducts research on integrating genetics into primary care settings. She has extensive experience developing telehealth and precision medicine programs across diverse healthcare settings, with a focus on increasing equitable access to genomic medicine for underserved populations.

In this episode we discuss:

• Integrating genetic counseling into primary care to improve access and equity
• Educating and collaborating with primary care providers to enhance and expand genomic care
• Expanding counselor roles for multifactorial conditions and preventive care
• Sustaining the model through advocacy, partnerships, and reimbursement reform

Would you like to nominate a JoGC article to be featured in the show? If so, please fill out this nomination submission form here. Multiple entries are encouraged including articles where you, your colleagues, or your friends are authors.

Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Dialogues! In the meantime, listen to all our episodes Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Dialogues”.

For more information about this episode visit dnadialogues.podbean.com, where you can also stream all episodes of the show. Check out the Journal of Genetic Counseling here for articles featured in this episode and others.

Any questions, episode ideas, guest pitches, or comments can be sent into DNADialoguesPodcast@gmail.com.

DNA Dialogues’ team includes Jehannine Austin, Naomi Wagner, Khalida Liaquat, Kate Wilson and DNA Today’s Kira Dineen. Our logo was designed by Ashlyn Enokian. Our current intern is Stephanie Schofield.