One of the things I have learned as president is that successful professional associations are built through partnership. While members may most often interact with NSGC through conferences, advocacy efforts, educational programs or Communities, a great deal of collaboration happens behind the scenes to make those experiences possible. Last week provided two excellent reminders of that reality.

Association Management 

NSGC Executive Director Meghan Carey and I attended the CEO Symposium hosted by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Center for Association Leadership in Washington, DC. This unique opportunity allows the NSGC President and Executive Director to learn together, strengthen our partnership, and ensure NSGC remains well positioned to meet the evolving needs of the organization and its members. Many of the attendees were also in the healthcare space such as the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology and the Oncology Nursing Society, and there were also leaders from associations unrelated to healthcare such as the American Association of School Librarians and the American Sportfishing Association. Since many associations have similar goals and face similar challenges, meeting with others, seeing best practices demonstrated, and gaining expert insights means we don’t have to learn the hard way – we can position NSGC both strategically and operationally to be the professional association genetic counselors deserve and maximize the value we provide to members.

Most associations have a volunteer member/leader partnered with a professional in association leadership. In the case of NSGC we have a Board of volunteer leaders led by the President. Our Board turns over each year with the President-Elect becoming President and President becoming Immediate Past President, and so on. Half of the Directors-At-Large roll off each year and new ones join. The President-Elect has to have served on the Board within the past five years as well. This ensures that we both avoid the stagnation of a long-term Board, and also maintain some continuity from year to year while bringing in new voices and perspectives to strengthen the Board. And what makes this possible is a dedicated Executive Director and staff. We are fortunate to have a long term relationship with Smithbucklin and their expertise in association management. Meghan Carey is our Executive Director and contributes to that strategic and operational continuity, along with her staff, bringing expertise in education, marketing, operations, and project management. While I know genetic counselors can do just about anything, it is important to have experts help guide us so we maximize the value we provide to members and the profession at large.

NSGC Volunteers

As a reminder, our volunteer-led Nominating Committee goes through a rigorous process of evaluating and selecting the next slate of new Board members. This dedicated group of genetic counselors is a combination of general members and members of the Board. Any member can submit an application to be on the Nominating Committee during the call for volunteers in September and it is a wonderful way to learn a lot about NSGC and make an enormous contribution to and impact on NSGC’s leadership. The next slate to join the 2027 Board will be shared with membership for approval in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for that. 

While I am highlighting the work of volunteers, this work only happens because we have strong partners in the Executive Office with professionals who know how to manage operations, facilitate communications, and keep things coordinated and efficient. These dedicated folks have interesting backgrounds in social work, marketing, government affairs, advocacy, and more, but share a desire to help others through association management. Volunteers contribute expertise that no staff model could ever replicate because we are actively practicing genetic counselors, but volunteers alone cannot lead or grow our wonderful organization, so the partnership with executive staff at the top leadership level all the way through to committees and SIGs is absolutely essential to meeting the needs of our members, now and in the future.

Industry Council

The other event I attended last week on behalf of NSGC was the Industry Council Innovation Summit, also in Washington, DC. This is an in-person meeting with representatives from our Industry Council partners.NSGC’s Industry Council exists because collaboration helps create opportunities for genetic counselors and improves patient access to genomic healthcare. The purpose of the Innovation Summit is to learn from one another. Industry Council members get a chance to hear about NSGC priorities, including our policy efforts, strategic plan, and efforts to increase the influence of, and opportunities for genetic counselors. We also brought in subject matter experts from our Board, Committees, and SIGs to listen, learn, and share with Industry Council members about particular topics including rare disease, market access, and the use of AI.  We also held a session with all of our Industry Council representatives, highlighting the unique value genetic counselors bring to industry through a panel discussion with four genetic counselors who hold roles in medical affairs, product development, market access, and strategic relationships.  . 

Out of these conversations come tangible next steps and mutual opportunities such as educational grants, new toolkits, building on the as the previously launched Cancer Genetic Counselor Business Toolkit, introductions to other professional societies, and improved understanding of the value of genetic counselors. We also saw great examples of how some Council members support genetic counselors through hiring across their organizations, creative support for training programs with student rotations, and paid fellowships. 

These engagements are not simply about industry learning from genetic counselors; they are also opportunities for genetic counselors to influence how genomic technologies, services, and support programs are developed and implemented.

The Genomics Ecosystem

NSGC is part of a whole universe of interlocking, dynamic, and essential parts that make up healthcare. The more we understand these parts, the more we engage with them, the more we share with them, the more we will be able to positively influence that universe, ensuring we are fulfilling our Mission… 

And in the universe of NSGC, our Members are the most important part of this ecosystem. More important than the Board, more important than volunteers, more important than the Industry Council. None of these efforts matter without engaged members. Members are the foundation upon which everything else is built. You invest membership dues, provide feedback, advocate, vote, and utilize resources, tools, and services. Without our members we do not have a professional association and will not achieve our Vision. 

So thank you for your membership. Thank you for your investment. Thank you for your insights. Let’s go!!

(Concept and content written by me with AI support for copy-editing.)

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