Performs professional and administrative duties necessary to provide counseling and risk assessment for genetic conditions to patients and families.

UPMC is Pennsylvania’s largest nongovernmental employer with endless opportunities. We offer a competitive benefits package that few employers can match, a generous sign-on bonus of up to $12,500 to those who qualify and have a career ladder in place that provides growth opportunities for associates to enjoy more professional challenges, promotional opportunities, and career enhancement. Apply today to find out where your career can take you!

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh is hiring for a full-time Genetic Counselor I, II, or III in the Pediatrics Genetic Oncology Program. This role will be scheduled Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm with hybrid remote work available!  Applicants will be placed into the appropriate job title and salary based on their individual experience and education. New Grads Welcome!

The candidate hired for this position will provide pediatric genetic counseling services in the Cancer Predisposition Clinic at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.  Job responsibilities include counseling and supporting individuals and families who are at increased risk for developing cancer due family history or inherited predisposition. Tasks include analyzing pedigrees, obtaining pathology records, assessing risk for specific types of cancer, facilitating genetic testing when appropriate, identifying at-risk relatives, and providing a comprehensive cancer screening and prevention plan. In addition to providing clinical care, this job entails participation in research, teaching and community outreach activities related to cancer genetics.

Responsibilities:

• Operate, maintain, and update the genetic databases.
• Implement treatment plan and make the appropriate referrals to medical, nursing, social work, and psychological services.
• Assist genetic laboratory services with interpretation and communication of results to patients and physicians.
• Responsible for following the mandatory reporting procedures for any incident or serious event that did affect or potentially could have affected the clinical care of any patient.
• Provide comprehensive genetic counseling at all designated sites and to patients and families referred for genetic services following the competencies established by the ABGC. This includes case preparation, contracting, review of medical and family histories, creation of pedigree, genetic risk assessment, discussion of inheritance/risk/diagnosis/natural history, genetic testing options, possible result outcomes and implications for patient and family, limited related psychosocial assessment, and resource identification (disease/community/healthcare).
• Prepare and conduct lectures/seminars on human genetics and genetic counseling for lay groups, students, and health professionals; provide clinical supervision for residents and fellows rotating through genetics.
• Assist in the development and implementation of ongoing clinical investigations in genetics by writing and editing research manuscripts and grants; recruit and enroll patients into ongoing studies.
• Act as mentor to genetic counseling graduate students from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.
• Responsible for maintenance of QA for the clinical genetic counseling services.
• Communicate with patients and physicians by phone and/or in writing regarding patient care/testing, which includes interpretation of test results.
• Serve as a resource for various health care professionals regarding genetic testing, genetically based questions, teratogens, and genetic medical information.
• Coordinate genetic testing and insurance coverage for genetic testing of genetics patients.

Genetic Counselor I:

• Master of Science in Human Genetics/Genetic Counseling from an American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) accredited institution.

Genetic Counselor II:

• Master of Science in Human Genetics/Genetic Counseling from an American Board of Genetics Counseling (ABGC) accredited institution.
• 3 years of experience as a genetic counselor is required.

Genetic Counselor III:

• Master of Science in Human Genetics/Genetic Counseling from an American Board of Genetics Counseling (ABGC) accredited institution
• Five (5) years of experience as a genetic counselor is required.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) certified genetic counselor who holds or is eligible for PA licensure or after hire must be eligible to apply for a temporary provisional genetic counselor license within PA and must successfully obtain full licensure within 2 years of being hired.
 

• American Board of Genetic Counseling
• Certified Genetics Counselor
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

Individuals hired into this role must comply with UPMC’s COVID vaccination requirements upon beginning employment with UPMC. Refer to the COVID-19 Vaccination Information section at the top of this page to learn more.  

About UPMC

A $23 billion health care provider and insurer, Pittsburgh-based UPMC is inventing new models of patient-centered, cost-effective, accountable care. The largest nongovernmental employer in Pennsylvania, UPMC integrates 92,000 employees, 40 hospitals, 700 doctors’ offices and outpatient sites, and a 4 million-member Insurance Services Division, the largest medical insurer in western Pennsylvania. In the most recent fiscal year, UPMC contributed $1.4 billion in benefits to its communities, including more care to the region’s most vulnerable citizens than any other health care institution, and paid more than $800 million in federal, state, and local taxes. Working in close collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, UPMC shares its clinical, managerial, and technological skills worldwide through its innovation and commercialization arm, UPMC Enterprises, and through UPMC International. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside among the nation’s best hospitals in many specialties and ranks UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on its Honor Roll of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals. For more information, go to UPMC.com

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