The Genetic Counseling Program continues to have interest in the development of genetic counseling and the education of genetic counselors, internationally. Program director, Janice Edwards, through interactions with genetic counseling education programs in several countries, has developed a special dimension in genetic counseling education, international clinical rotation exchanges.   

In the summer of 2002, USC's Kristin Frazer visited the University of Melbourne for a six-week rotation in which she also completed research for her master's thesis comparing prenatal genetic counseling procedures and education in the two countries.  In November of 2002, Penny Pitt from the University of Melbourne came to Columbia to further her studies in the field of prenatal and infertility genetic counseling.  Other USC students have ventured internationally with Beth Lutz pursuing her summer rotation at University of Manchester, England, Jeanie Schaller at University of Melbourne, and Christina Rybak at University of Cape Town, South Africa. The program also enjoyed hosting New Zealander, Ali Archibald, for a rotation as part of her University of Melbourne training.

In 2004, Edwards was awarded the Jane Engelberg Memorial Fellowship through the NSGC to promote international collaboration in genetic counseling education.  In May 2006 in Manchester, England, the first ever international conference on genetic counseling education entitled, "Genetic Counseling Education:Connecting the Global Community", gathered genetic counseling professionals from fifteen countries. The major conference outcome was the creation of a collaborative network, the Transnational Alliance for Genetic Counseling. 

Christina Rybak tackles one of the big five in South Africa.

 

Jeannie Schaller explores King's Canyon in central Australia.

New Zealander Ali Archibald enjoys an American tailgate.

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Kristen Frazer and her kangaroo friend Down Under