Every year at the NSGC Annual Conference, genetic counselors influencing the future of the profession are recognized through a series of awards. We asked the 2024 recipients to share the best professional advice they’ve received. Read on to gather inspiration to implement in your own practice.
Natalie Weissberger Paul National Achievement Award: Laura Hercher, MA, MS, CGC
“If something is broken, turn it off and turn it back on again. That is what I did in becoming a genetic counselor at age 40. It works for people, too!
Leader in Diversity & Inclusion Award: Daniela Diaz Caro, MS, CGC
“’The path to your goals is rarely a straight line, but every twist and turn offers new opportunities to learn and grow.’ This has truly resonated with me because it mirrors the winding journey I’ve been on, shaped in large part by my immigration experiences, which brought unique challenges and limitations. Yet, even in my career as a genetic counselor, I’ve learned that while some goals may feel distant, the true reward is often found in the journey itself. Each step has taught me to find joy in the process, embrace unexpected opportunities and stay open to the surprises that life has to offer. This is a perspective that has helped me remain grounded and fulfilled in both my personal and professional life.”
Leader in Cultural Advocacy Award: Stefania Alastre Arcusa, MSPH, LCGC
“It is okay to set boundaries and to say ‘no.’ When starting out as a new genetic counselor, you may find that you want to be involved in many different areas of our field that could use support (i.e., state licensure efforts, CMS recognition, DEI efforts, etc.) and taking on extra clinical duties in all these areas may become overwhelming very quickly. I have found that focusing my spare time on projects that are most meaningful to me to be the best approach for a healthy work-life balance. You can’t possibly do it all, so I believe in prioritizing what you are most passionate about.
New Leader Award: Laynie Dratch, ScM, CGC
“I feel lucky that I have received many helpful pieces of advice from genetic counselors over the years, from the small things (keep your CV up-to-date in faculty format) to the big ones (say ‘yes’ to things you are passionate about, but be mindful of how much you take on) and therefore it is hard to pick just one! I would say that the most meaningful advice I have received is to question the status quo, and relatedly, to propose solutions when identifying problems. As a genetic counselor, this has come in handy when advocating for clinical care changes, such as implementing the offer of broad genetic testing for all persons with ALS, and for identifying research opportunities, such as studying patient preference for various genetic counseling visit modalities when presenting for personal or family history of neurologic disease.”
Strategic Leader Award: Ashley Svenson, MS, CGC
“Over the course of my career, I have found that leaning into your strengths is the key to success and professional fulfillment. It takes time to really discover those strengths and often, it requires trying and failing at new things. One easy way to tune into your strengths is to seek external feedback and another is to pay attention to what energizes you. The path that led to my current role was paved with experiments, saying yes to new opportunities, and moments of self-discovery.”
Outstanding Volunteer Award: Christine Wensel, MS, CGC
“I received what I considered sad (or terrible) advice to never consider co-workers as friends. I decided to consider the source and have completely ignored that advice. I may not be best friends or ‘bosom buddies’ with every past co-worker, but I have certainly stayed on friendly terms. Genetic counseling may be growing, but there still aren’t that many of us. We cross paths all the time, sometimes unexpectedly, and having that shared history can have a strong positive impact on each of us and may even give us an ally when we need one most.”
Community Engagement Award: Jaime Malone, MS, CGC
“As a new grad, I was once told by a pathologist that ‘tissue is the issue.’ This insight has served me well over the years in my career as a cancer genetic counselor. Additional advice I have received along the way is to stay curious and ask questions. That is truly the best way to learn from others and embrace the unknown.”
NSGC Headquarters promotes the professional interests of genetic counselors and provides a network for professional communications. Access to continuing education opportunities, professional resources, advocacy and the discussion of all issues relevant to human genetics and the genetic counseling profession are an integral part of belonging to the NSGC.