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School of Medicine Columbia

Rotations

While you're studying at one of our regional placements, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team under the direct supervision of a certified genetic counselor.

Fieldwork  Sites

Women’s Institute
Students will work alongside ultrasonographers and Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists to provide the full spectrum of prenatal and preconception genetic counseling services. Patients are referred for advanced maternal age, abnormal prenatal screens, family history concerns, carrier screening, teratogenic exposures, maternal conditions, recurrent pregnancy loss and abnormal ultrasound findings. In addition, students have the opportunity to observe patients in the Fetal Care Center, which provides fetal surgery for complex indications.

Levine Cancer Institute
This rotation offers genetic counseling services, including pedigree analysis, cancer risk assessment, and genetic testing. Students will assist in cancer genetic counseling sessions for a variety of indications, including evaluation for hereditary breast, gynecologic, and gastrointestinal cancers, as well as other hereditary cancer syndromes. Students also will attend our Cancer Genetics Conference and various multidisciplinary tumor boards hosted by the Levine Cancer Institute.

Levine Children’s Hospital
Multiple specialists work as a team to diagnose genetic conditions using the latest chromosomal, metabolic and DNA analysis techniques. Students will be exposed to referrals for pediatric and adult genetic conditions including:

Growth problems, such as skeletal dysplasias
Birth defects and multiple congenital anomalies
Chromosome conditions such as Down syndrome
Developmental delays and neurological problems, such as autism
Metabolic disorders
Spina bifida
In addition to the general genetics clinics, we also have several multidisciplinary clinics for Down syndrome, metabolic disorders, and cystic fibrosis. We will be participating in an aortopathy clinic and Tuberous sclerosis clinics in the near future.

The clinical rotation experience offers students the opportunity to participate in the evaluation and counseling of pediatric, adult (cancer, late-onset disorders, preconception) and prenatal patients. Students also will have the opportunity to participate in the only multidisciplinary Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders clinic in the state, the NC Pregnancy Riskline (teratogen exposure concerns) and follow-up of patients being treated for lysosomal storage disorders.

Columbia, SC
This rotation provides opportunity to participate in neonatal, child and adult evaluations, outreach satellite clinics and specialty clinics such as craniofacial, metabolic and Down syndrome clinics.

Greenville, SC
This rotation provides the opportunity to see children and adults with a variety of genetic conditions and for a variety of referral reasons. Specialty clinics, such as craniofacial, neurodevelopmental and muscular dystrophy, offer exposure to clinics in a team setting. 

Greenwood, SC
This center provides cancer, pediatric and adult genetic counseling services. Individuals are referred for a variety of general genetic conditions; GGC places an emphasis on developmental disorders, autism and birth defects. Laboratory activities include cytogenetic, molecular, and metabolic diagnostics and research. There are opportunities to participate in monthly Case Review.

Charleston, SC
This center provides child and adult evaluations and genetic counseling services.

This rotation offers students the opportunity to participate in a telehealth service delivery model, providing genetic counseling for prenatal and preconception patients.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Students are exposed to all facets of prenatal screening and diagnosis including CVS, amniocentesis, high-resolution ultrasound, first trimester screening and noninvasive prenatal screening. During the course of the rotation, students also may work with patients for preconception genetic counseling and other adult onset genetic conditions. Students have the opportunity to attend a monthly multidisciplinary fetal board meeting.

Cancer
Students will participate in full genetic counseling sessions for individuals who have a personal diagnosis or family history of cancer. Students will offer gene panel testing, attend tumor boards and participate in telemedicine for satellite clinics. 

Students gain experience in counseling about hereditary cancer risks, reviewing genetic testing options and facilitating patient decision-making in an oncology setting. Students participate in follow-up consultation when a patient is known to have a documented hereditary cancer mutation with our medical director. This includes full discussion of cancer risk management, inheritance pattern and assisting relatives in pursing testing, providing support resources, and psychosocial adjustment to hereditary cancer risk.

Students will participate in full genetic counseling sessions for individuals who have a personal diagnosis or family history of cancer. Students will offer gene panel testing, attend tumor boards and participate in satellite clinic and participate in High Risk Cancer Clinic.

Mini Rotations

Senior students will virtually participate in a two-week directed study to deepen their understanding of genetic counselors working in niche settings such as:

  • Research
  • Variant Classification
  • Utilization Management
  • Telehealth
  • Industry
  • Huntington Disease Center for Excellence
  • Genomic Medicine
  • Cardiology
  • Pulmonology
  • Education
  • Marketing
  • Advanced Reproductive Technology (ART)

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