“Are you prepared to choose between your career and faith?” That’s a question I was asked by a family member as a high schooler dreaming of going into genetic counseling. “I am not sure. I’d never thought of it that way!” I said, not looking her in the eye.
One of the reasons I was drawn to genetic counseling was my faith. I envisioned myself holding firmly onto my beliefs and values because of how beautiful genetic counseling is: it weaves together human experiences and sees people as people, not merely patients. Counseling in any form holds great value in Islam, and I knew deeply that with every patient interaction, I would be fulfilling a small part of the Qur’an, which says, whoever saves a life, it is as if they have saved humanity. After that conversation, I reflected, “Why would I have to choose between the two when I knew both could exist in my life simultaneously?” Many years later, I realized I was right.
When Faith Felt Invisible
As I was preparing for GC programs, I received feedback that bringing religious sentiment into my personal statement might lessen my chances of getting into a program. I felt that religious and spiritual identities were almost invisible in GC spaces. I found myself questioning: should I dilute my passion to conform to expectations, or stay true to my beliefs? And if I am not true to myself and my values, how can I bring my authentic self to my patients and colleagues?
When I got into genetic counseling school and became involved in cases that were ethically, medically and emotionally complex, I felt a slight tug toward my faith. My personal relationship with Islam became stronger and deeper over time, shaping the way I held space for patients and grounding me personally and professionally. Despite that, I hesitated to discuss this part of myself out of fear of being perceived as biased, unscientific or imposing beliefs. Research resonated with these feelings: many GCs and physicians report discomfort discussing religion and spirituality in clinical settings, while patients may welcome these conversations when approached respectfully. About 40% of GCs do not discuss faith or spirituality due to a lack of confidence, and about 80% would be more likely to engage if patients approached the topic first (Reis et al., 2007; Sagaser et al., 2016; Thompson et al., 2016).
A Moment of Connection
One case that comes to mind is from a pediatric setting where a family came in to discuss genetic testing results for their son, who was diagnosed with developmental delay and autism. The testing did not explain any of his medical concerns, leaving the family disheartened and searching for answers. The mother asked me if he would ever be able to speak, and if there was a cure. It was difficult for me to provide reassurance, knowing that the journey ahead would be challenging and uncertain. She recited verses in Arabic about trusting God and His plans and how much in life remains outside of our control. I responded with verses about hope in uncertainty, patience, and remaining mindful of God during difficult times, and saw her face turn from disappointment to subtle relief. Because she had initiated the spiritual conversation, the interaction felt natural, culturally familiar and grounding for both of us.
Beyond the Prenatal Setting
I had always assumed that faith conversations played a significant role in prenatal settings due to sensitive topics related to pregnancy termination and assisted reproductive technologies. However, this interaction made me reflect more deeply on how grief, uncertainty and hope can emerge in any specialty, including pediatrics, cancer genetics, rare disease, chronic illness, disability end-of-life care, etc. and how faith can become a grounding source for families navigating the complexities of diagnosis and prognosis. These interactions also influenced my values and strengthened my faith, allowing me to show up for patients with greater empathy, compassion, gratitude and a deeper sense of purpose.
Making Space for These Conversations
These clinical experiences also made me reflect on the role of faith and spirituality within GC training. In my program, I was grateful to have classmates who were open to faith-related discussions around clinical cases, though these opportunities were often sporadic. After graduation, I was inspired to teach a class on this topic and host a panel discussion with individuals with different religious backgrounds. Through this class, I learned the importance of examining our spiritual or religious views and familiarizing ourselves with different practices and identities. It is okay not to know everything about a patient’s religious background; often, being open, supportive and willing to listen can make a meaningful difference. Prior research shows that patients are comfortable discussing religion and spirituality when GCs are prepared to “listen” and “be supportive” (Thompson et al., 2016). Building relationships with spiritual leaders or chaplains can support referrals and collaboration.
These reflections also made me consider how we can better prepare GCs for these conversations. This could include more open discussions during training, frameworks for navigating faith-centered conversations, collaboration with chaplains and spiritual care teams and research projects exploring faith/spirituality in genetic counseling practice. Creating resources on faith, spirituality, and healthcare decision-making, while fostering spaces for discussion, may support both providers and patients holistically.
This discussion feels like only the beginning, and deeper reflections are perhaps best reserved for a future article. The expectation is not for GCs to become spiritual leaders or religious authorities, but to recognize that faith, spirituality and religion may touch many aspects of patients’ lives. In doing so, we can continue learning how to hold space for the values, beliefs, identities and experiences of our patients, colleagues and ourselves with greater compassion and understanding.
References
Reis, L. M., Baumiller, R., Scrivener, W., Yager, G., & Warren, N. S. (2007). Spiritual assessment in genetic counseling. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 16(1), 41–52. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-006-9041-8
Sagaser, K. G., Hashmi, S. S., Carter, R. D., Lemons, J., Mendez-Figueroa, H., Nassef, S., Peery, B., & Singletary, C. N. (2016). Spiritual exploration in the prenatal genetic counseling session. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 25(5), 923–935. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-015-9920-y
Thompson, A. B., Cragun, D., Sumerau, J. E., Cragun, R. T., De Gifis, V., & Trepanier, A. (2016). “Be prepared if I bring it up:” Patients' perceptions of the utility of religious and spiritual discussion during genetic counseling. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 25(5), 945–956. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-015-9922-9