#244 Genetic Counseling History: The 70s

Step into our time machine as we transport you back to the early heydays of genetic counseling (aka the 70s) with our esteemed guest, Virginia Corson. Virginia is a veteran genetic counselor who has weathered the changing tides of this field over the last 50 years, and she's here to share her incredible journey with us. Virginia has spent the vast majority of her career as a prenatal genetic counselor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She has written countless publications with original research, case reports, book chapters, and professional society statements. She earned her Master’s of Science through the OG genetic counseling program, Sarah Lawrence College (which I also graduated from a few years ago).

Get ready to gain an insightful perspective into the pioneering days of the profession, the challenges of a nascent field, and how Virginia carved her niche in a time devoid of the technological conveniences we take for granted today.

 

We'll be journeying through Virginia's academic odyssey at Sarah Lawrence College's one-year program, packed with clinical rotations and field work. Experience the nascent use of ultrasound in prenatal care and how the advent of molecular testing revolutionized prenatal testing, despite the rather limited scope of genetic counseling during the late 1970s. Virginia’s wealth of knowledge is sure to enlighten us all about the critical importance of the field's continued evolution and development.

 

In the last leg of our conversation, Virginia uncovers the intriguing aspects of her various clinical rotations and field work, discussing the glaring absence of molecular genetics and cancer genetics courses at the time. She stresses the significance of lifelong learning for genetic counselors and provides a sneak peek into a typical day in her early career. We'll also delve into the evolution of genetic counseling sessions, the ethical and legal considerations during the 1970s, and even a surprising moment when Virginia found herself on the front cover of the Wall Street Journal. So, buckle up for this enlightening chat with Virginia Corson, and get ready to unravel the captivating world of genetic counseling!

 

Episode Chapters 

 

(0:00:02) - Exploring Genetic Counseling in the 1970s (12 Minutes)

 

Virginia Corson, a seasoned genetic counselor with decades of experience in the field, shares her journey of learning about genetic counseling in the 1970s, a time when the field was still in its infancy. We discuss the landscape of the field at the time, with very few places hiring genetic counselors and no computers or emails to make job search easier. Virginia recounts how she sent out 40 individual cover letters to potential employers and eventually got a job offer from Johns Hopkins. We explore the challenges of entering a new field and the changes the profession has gone through over the last 50 years.

 

(0:11:37) - Prenatal Testing and Genetic Counseling Evolution (6 Minutes)

 

Virginia Corson shares her experience of attending Sarah Lawrence College's one-year program, which was packed with clinical rotations, field work, and electives. We also explore the early uses of ultrasound in prenatal care and how molecular testing has allowed for more accurate prenatal testing. In the late 1970s, genetic counseling was limited in terms of testing and topics available.

 

(0:17:39) - Genetic Counseling in the Past (8 Minutes)

 

Virginia Corson talks about the various clinical rotations and field work she completed as part of the one-year program at Sarah Lawrence College. She had the opportunity to visit Mount Sinai Hospital, Albert Einstein Hospital, and Creedmoor Institute, where she interviewed people at-risk for Huntington's Disease. Virginia also discusses the lack of molecular genetics and cancer genetics courses at the time and the importance of continuing education for genetic counselors. She shares what a typical day was like for her, which included taking family histories, discussing testing options, and navigating the four-week waiting period for amniocentesis results.

 

(0:25:50) - Evolution of Genetic Counseling (8 Minutes)

 

We discuss the changes in genetic counseling sessions over the years, from the early 1970s when carrier screening was much simpler to the present day, where there are hundreds of tests offered. Virginia Corson shares the story of her 15 minutes of fame when she was featured on the front cover of the Wall Street Journal in the late 1980s. The journalist wanted to make the article more personal and interviewed her, and how it ended up being a front page article. We also explore the ethical and legal considerations in the 1970s, such as the debate around whether genetic counselors could counsel independently without a doctor present, as well as the establishment of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. Finally, we talk about the exams Virginia and the other geneticists took, which was the same core exam and then a separate genetic counseling exam.

 

This episode is part of our Genetic Counseling History series backed by the National Society of Genetic Counselors’ Late Career Special Interest Group. Be sure to check out Episode 234 and Episode 235 which explore the first few NSGC conferences and the formation of the American Board of Genetic Counselors. 

 

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