A family tree being mapped out on a white board by a genetic counsellor. And a black and white drawing of a section of a family tree.

Genetic counselling, ethics, nursing and society

Date: 1 January 2015

Genetic counsellors and genetic nurses work at the coal face, delivering genomic information to patients. We contribute to policy, ethics and education that supports genetic counselling practice.

Members of the Engagement and Society group are genetic counsellors; having experience working directly with patients in the NHS has a significant impact on the strategic direction of our group. We are interested in the genetic counselling process and the evidence base behind practice; we are also interested in how families communicate about genetics and how we can create evidence-based tools to support this.

We have created a collection of our resources showcasing current research and practical information to help you succeed, whether you are considering a career in genetic counselling, or working as an educator and looking for support to explain the impact of the discipline.

Find out more in the Resources for Genetic Counsellors. 

Professor Anna Middleton was chair of the Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors in the UK and Ireland (2017-2019) and through this role has facilitated numerous educational and policy activities to support the practice of genetic counsellors. She co-created the Genomic Practice for Genetic Counsellors two day course at the Wellcome Genome Campus. She also co-created the World Congress of Genetic Counselling, 3 day conference for international genetic counsellors (one of the only international conferences designed and delivered by genetic counsellors for the genetic counselling profession). She supported the Global Genomics Nursing Alliance (G2NA) to achieve funding for a three day retreat at the Wellcome Genome Campus on creating a road map to deliver genomics into nursing practice, curricula and policy worldwide.

Sasha Henriques is currently on the Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors committee and brings her specific expertise on EDI to the Engagement and Society group.

Science and Technology Parliamentary Committee 2019

Future of Genetic Counselling 2018