The genetic testing industry, while promising in its potential to advance healthcare, has also been plagued by challenges such as layoffs, budget cuts, and uncertainty. My journey in this sector began with enthusiasm but eventually led to burnout and apathy. Seeking to reignite my passion for genetics and make a meaningful impact, I embarked on a career pivot towards the environmental field. This article chronicles my transition, emphasizing the importance of transferable skills, embracing change, and finding joy in new endeavors.

Burnout in the Healthcare Sector

Leaving behind my clinical oncology position for an MSL role marked the start of a journey to reclaim my love for genetics and contribute to positive change in the world. And for a while, I enjoyed the new challenges associated with an industry role and was thrilled to be part of a fast-moving and exciting industry. However, amidst the recent tumultuous landscape of the genetic testing industry, I recognized familiar and insidious feelings of burnout and apathy creeping back into my career life and recognized the need for a shift. My decision to pivot stemmed from a desire to align my expertise with a field that resonated with my values and offered renewed inspiration.

Transferable Skills and Versatility

The knowledge we build as genetic counselors qualifies us as experts in the field of genetic testing, however genetic testing is not solely reserved for healthcare. As I began investigating career pivots outside of clinical genetic testing, I realized that our unique knowledge and skills could be used in several different non-clinical fields such as agriculture, animal sciences, forensics, and environmental sciences. Indeed, any field that uses genetic testing could benefit from a genetic counselor. However, these fields remain largely unexplored by our profession. There are many examples of roles that we may be qualified for, and yet may not have ever been held by a genetic counselor, such as an agricultural role as a plant breeding and genetics expert (all positions found on Indeed.com) or a crop molecular improvement specialist.

When considering forensics, I have the privilege of knowing a genetics specialist nurse who works in the Ontario Forensic Pathologist Office as the coordinator of molecular autopsy and genetic diagnosis department, a position that a genetic counselor would easily fit into. And finally, in animal sciences, a genetic counselor seems aptly suited for a role in animal breeding programs, animal microbiologist, geneticist, or research scientist. In fact, as I was exploring my options, I was tempted by a role posted for a local farm needing a part time geneticist to aid in their livestock breeding program. Anyone else tempted by tiny baby goats?

But genetic counseling also equipped me with invaluable soft skills such as empathy, effective communication, and active listening which are also invaluable to diverse industries. As I explored alternative careers, I discovered the relevance and value of these skills in every industry. Embracing my versatility empowered me to pursue avenues aligned with my passion for genetics while transcending the confines of a singular career trajectory.

Finding Purpose in Environmental Impact

Joining a company in the environmental field represented a pivotal moment in my career journey. Here, genetic testing serves a different purpose – evaluating biodiversity and contributing to environmental conservation efforts. The vibrant atmosphere, characterized by enthusiasm and positivity, reignited my sense of purpose and joy. A great example of this is highlighted during my interview where each interviewer took the time to tell me about their personal passion related to environmental sciences. And although I joined the team with cautious optimism, I was delighted that the atmosphere did represent the image that had been portrayed; each team member has a similar internal mission, which leads to easy teamwork and a sense of urgency to further the team purpose with stress replaced by excitement and enthusiasm.

In addition to a positive and motivating work culture, environmental genetics also presents me with new challenges and opportunities to make a tangible difference, reminding me of the profound impact we can achieve beyond the confines of traditional roles. For example, in clinic I knew I was helping each of my patients. In my genetic testing industry role, I knew I was having an impact on the health system mainly through provider education related to genetic testing. Now, I get to impact the health of my community by engaging in activities that monitor biodiversity in an attempt to help protect nature. In my day to day, that may look like meeting with large company CEOs to discuss strategies on how they can measure and decrease their impact on nature or present recent research at conferences. I also work with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to further their goals related to biodiversity. Considering that the World Economic Forum states that the impact of ecosystem collapse is already being felt and is expected to cause an annual decline in global GDP of 2.3 per cent, or $2.7 trillion by 2030, I feel that my work continues to have a profound impact on the health and well-being of my community.

A challenge I have experienced in my new role is learning about an entirely new field. For example, I previously had no idea how difficult it is for biologists to figure out which fish live in any given body of water. Well, now I know how fish surveys are done, along with a host of new knowledge. You may be interested to know that reptiles shed less DNA into the environment than other animals or that elephants have 28 pairs of chromosomes and may have low levels of cancers because they have around 40 copies of TP53 (although many are inactive retrogenes). And this new knowledge includes the guidelines and regulations for this field. As a previous cancer genetic counselor, citing NCCN guidelines became second nature. Now, however, I have a whole new set of regulations, guidelines, and governing bodies to become accustomed to. I think anyone who has completed a genetic counseling program can say with confidence they have the skills necessary to learn a new field, however the discomfort with being a non-expert and taking the time to build expertise can be challenging, especially to those of us who have enjoyed the comfort and ease of knowledge afforded by experience and specialization.

Embracing Change and Relishing the Unknown

My transition underscores the importance of embracing change and approaching the unknown with curiosity rather than fear. While the path ahead may be uncertain, it is also brimming with potential and possibility. By reframing challenges as opportunities, we can navigate career transitions with resilience and optimism. Through my journey, I encourage others to embrace their multifaceted talents, pursue their passions, and find fulfillment in unexpected places.

Conclusion

The trajectory of my career reflects a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and adaptability. From the challenges of burnout in clinical genetics to the ups and downs and associated uncertainty in the genetic testing industry, finally to the revitalizing energy of the environmental field, I have learned the value of embracing change and following my passion. My experience highlights the varied strengths and skill sets inherent in genetic counselors. We are genetics experts with counseling training. These two facets actually make us ideally suited to a number of fields using genetic testing, not just healthcare. As such I would encourage anyone else who is ready for a change not to be afraid of the unknown and to allow your career to be defined not by one specific title, Genetic Counselor, but by the skills embedded in your training and experience.

As I continue to explore new horizons, I am reminded that our true potential knows no bounds when we dare to embrace the unknown and pursue our passions with unwavering determination.

Disclaimer: The content of this article was written with assistance from ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI. While ChatGPT provided suggestions and guidance, the final text was edited and reviewed by Rachel Mador-House to ensure accuracy and alignment with personal perspectives and experiences.

Rachel Mador-House is a genetic counselor, molecular biologist, and an MBA candidate. Her passion is to use cutting edge genetic testing techniques to improve the health and wellbeing of her community. She has done this clinically as a cancer genetic counselor and director of a newborn screening program. In addition to her clinical experience, she has also participated in training programs in the U.S. and Canada by providing workshops about diversity, equity, and inclusion, the lived experience of healthcare providers with disabilities and the perspectives of international clinicians in the U.S. Currently, Rachel uses cutting edge genetic testing techniques to monitor biodiversity changes in our environment as the Head of Scientific Affairs for North America at NatureMetrics.