When I graduated with my Master of Science in genetic counseling, I had little exposure to industry roles. That changed when I met a Myriad Genetics medical science liaison (MSL) while working as an oncology genetic counselor (GC). That relationship opened my eyes to how genetic counseling skills could be used beyond the clinic. 

Now, five years into my own MSL role at Myriad Genetics, I feel grateful to supervise and mentor students and to pay forward the guidance I once received. I’m proud to be part of a company that values education, invests in future genetic counselors and recognizes the transformative power of real-world learning.

Myriad has long been committed to giving GC students meaningful, hands-on experience in diverse industry settings. According to Shelly Cummings, MS, CGC, VP of medical affairs, “Myriad strongly encourages our genetic counselors to engage in student education by actively supporting and recognizing these efforts through dedicated leadership initiatives and a company culture that values mentorship and learning.”

Myriad developed a program that includes rotations and fellowships tailored to a specific stage of training and provides unique opportunities to build confidence, refine skills and explore career paths within genetics. The program includes:
 

1. The patient education team rotation is open to first- and second-year genetic counseling students. Over six to seven weeks, students engage in patient education, counseling sessions, journal clubs and case conferences. With supervision from multiple genetic counselors, participants gain real-world counseling experience that helps them bridge classroom learning with clinical practice.
2. Students also benefit from a dedicated variant interpretation rotation, which emphasizes evaluating genetic variants and applying critical thinking to classification. As one student reflected, “I’m feeling more comfortable and confident with variant interpretation, and I’m looking forward to applying what I learned in my future clinical rotations.” 
3. The summer fellowship provides a high-impact, four-day immersive program for selected students. Participants shadow MSLs and the patient education team, attend seminars and engage in leadership discussions that highlight the broad range of roles genetic counselors can pursue in industry. The fellowship often becomes a defining moment in a student’s training; according to one participant, “I feel this experience has been perhaps the most impactful of my graduate training.” 
4. For second-year students seeking deeper engagement, the field-based rotation offers a customizable learning experience, typically lasting four to six weeks. This rotation often shifts perceptions about industry careers. “As I gained more understanding of Myriad's field-based roles, I became less intimidated by the idea of working in industry and was excited to learn more,” according to one participant. Students dive into the work of an MSL and other industry-based GC roles, completing assignments and reflections that foster initiative and critical thinking. 
5. Finally, the sales training internship, offered in the spring for second-year students, spans six to eight weeks. Students leverage their genetic counseling expertise to educate the sales team about genetics and the impact of testing. This unique opportunity provides insight into how GCs contribute to expanding patient access while strengthening skills in communication, education and collaboration. 

These programs provide a comprehensive training experience that blends hands-on learning with professional guidance. Myriad helps prepare the next generation of genetic counselors for success in both clinical and industry settings.

In fact, these programs not only benefit the students, but the supervisors as well. 

“I often find myself reflecting on whether I am teaching my students more than they are teaching me,” shares Kim Worley, MS, CGC, Myriad Patient Education Genetic Counselor. “Working with students offers a unique opportunity for self-reflection and critical evaluation of my own performance — I might not have undertaken without them!”

Additionally, program directors deeply appreciate the valuable experiences and opportunities their students gain through these industry rotations.

“These experiences offer our students rare access to genetic counselors working across a broad spectrum of roles — including patient-facing care, marketing, clinical variant science and product development,” said Karin Dent, MS, CGC, program director of the graduate program in genetic counseling at the University of Utah. “This multifaceted exposure not only enriches students’ understanding of the profession but also empowers them to envision the diverse career paths available within genetic counseling.”

The student rotations at Myriad Genetics not only provide a window into the diverse roles genetic counselors can hold in industry, but they also empower students to envision new possibilities for their careers.

Myriad Genetics is presenting two posters from the field-based rotation at this year’s NSGC Annual Conference in Seattle, WA:

• EDU161: “Shaping the Future: Evolving a field-based laboratory rotation to meet the needs of genetic counseling students” presented Friday, Nov. 7 at 5:15 p.m. in the exhibit/poster hall 
• EDU159: “Genetic Counseling Student Interest in GC Roles in an Industry Rotation Setting” presented Friday, Nov. 7 at 5:15 p.m. in the exhibit/poster hall 

Breanna Roscow, MS, CGC

Breanna Roscow graduated from CU Denver - Anschutz in 2014 with a degree in human medical genetics and genetic counseling. She started out as a clinical oncology genetic counselor, where she also mentored students and built an internship program. For the past five years, she’s been a medical science liaison at Myriad Genetics, where she helped launch the Field-based Rotation Workgroup. Roscow enjoys working with students and helping them connect their training to real-world industry settings.