Grad News
Genetic counselor forges new ground at San Luis Valley hospitalPosted: Wednesday, Aug 20th, 2008
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ALAMOSA CO— Angela Bedard, CGC, can see into the future, at least as far as determining the chance of disease occurrence or recurrence through interpretation of family and medical histories. She is also making her own history as one of the first certified genetic counselors to be based in a rural community. Most of the 3,000 masters trained genetic counselors are centered at large academic medical centers. While genetic counselors make monthly visits to the Valley, Bedard is now available on a regular basis in her permanent office in SLV Regional Medical Center’s OB/GYN Department.
Though she will mostly see prenatal patients who are concerned about hereditary or genetic conditions, she is qualified to counsel patients of all ages. Bedard graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Masters degree in Medical Genetics and then worked as a genetic counselor at a large Cincinnati hospital for four years, practicing in prenatal, pediatric and adult genetics.
Bedard likes that her profession allows her to be a scientist and a counselor. “I sit down with the family or individual and discuss what the concern is regarding the condition, what the risk is for them or for other members of the family, and what the chance is it could be passed on,” she said.
She discusses testing options with the patient - usually blood testing for genetic markers or different gene mutations - but an appointment with her does not always lead to testing. It is a personal choice and many factors go into that decision. For instance, with breast and ovarian cancer, a lot more people get the testing because there are more things that can be done medically or surgically versus something like Huntington’s or Alzheimer’s disease where there is no pre-symptomatic treatment. She said, “We discuss the pros and cons of the testing, how to use this new information in taking care of themselves, what sort of screening options are available, lifestyle modifications, and what to expect long term.”
If the patient chooses to be tested, Bedard will be there to interpret the results. “The counseling part of my job incorporates how to psychologically cope with this new information for themselves and for their family,” she said.
For patients concerned about the impact test results may have on their job or insurance policies, Bedard said the recently passed GINA - Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act - protects them.
Bedard arrived in Alamosa this summer with her husband James after he was offered a position as a biology professor at Adams State College. Her own work at SLVRMC could have nationwide implications. Genetics professionals want her to present her experience at a national meeting next year. “They want to know how the experience in a rural community has worked and if this could perhaps be a new model for the profession because this is just really unheard of,” she said.