Outstanding Supervisor Winner 2021
Alex Tessari - Novant Health in Charlotte, NC

 

Fieldwork (formerly known as clinical) experiences provide a critical opportunity for students to learn first-hand about the impact of genetic conditions on individuals and their families. Students will develop skills to effectively communicate with families and healthcare professionals while more clearly understanding the role of genetic counselors in healthcare.

First Year:  During the first year of the program, students will primarily participate in patient simulations through the RHIC (Rural Health Innovation Collaborative).  This is an opportunity for students to practice the skills they are learning in a realistic environment.  Students will participate in over 30 full case simulations during their first year.  In addition to the patient simulations, students will also observe and begin counseling in our local genetic counseling clinic during their first year. 

Second Year:

Students will have the opportunity participate in multiple fieldwork rotations in the areas of pediatrics, prenatal, cancer, adult, and other specialties including industry. Genetic counseling students will play an active role in the cases seen at each rotation and will be supervised by a certified genetic counselor.

Students must complete a minimum of 50 core cases (logbook cases) to be eligible for the ABGC certification examination. ISU students typically participate in over 150 cases during their fieldwork rotations. These are achieved through six different fieldwork rotations throughout the country and in rare cases internationally which begin in the summer between the first and second year of the program. 

Therefore, second year students must have access to transportation because all of our fieldwork rotations are outside of Terre Haute, Indiana (ISU campus).  In some cases one or two rotations can be within 2 hours of campus and considered within driving distance.  The majority of rotations will require the student to temporarily relocate.  Students are typically able to stay in one city for at least 2-3 rotations to minimize the number of times a student must move.  Common sites are listed below with the majority in Indiana, Michigan Illinois, Wisconsin, and Kentucky though we have over 60 possible sites around the country.  Below is a list of sites students have gone to but is not comprehensive or guaranteed.