Genetic Counselor

Genetic Services, AHS South, provides the highest quality genetic health care services for the population of Southern Alberta. Genetic Services are organized in a hub-and-spoke structure, with core facility located at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, and peripheral clinic sites located at Cambrian Wellness Centre, Richmond Road Diagnostic & Treatment Center, Chinook Regional Hospital, and Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. This temporary 1.0 FTE Genetic Counsellor position is currently assigned to the Adult Genetics Division, located to the Richmond Road Diagnostic & Treatment Center, in Calgary. This position reports to the Unit Manager of Genetic Services, AHS South. Your practice will primarily focus on providing genetic counselling services to adult patients with cardiovascular conditions (arrhythmias, cardiomyopathies, aortopathies), in close partnership with medical geneticists, cardiologists/cardiac electrophysiologists, genetic counsellors, genetic assistants, and administrative support professionals. Care is provided both 1:1 (in person and virtually) as well as via group webinars. This is an exciting opportunity to work with an experienced, highly collaborative, multidisciplinary team in providing world class care to patients with medically actionable cardiovascular conditions. Both new and experienced genetic counsellors are encouraged to apply.

As a Genetics Counsellor I, you will determine a patient or family's risk for a genetic condition, interpret test results, analyze inheritance patterns and risks of occurrence or recurrence, and review available options with the individual/family in a manner that promotes informed choice. You will assist patients, families and/or medical care providers to understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of how genetics contributes to disease. In addition, you may guide individuals/families and other clinicians in discussions about testing options, test result interpretation, prevention, medical management, newborn metabolic screening, and options for prenatal diagnosis. You may also provide supportive counselling to individuals/families and other clinicians with sensitivity to ethnic and cultural diversity and how they address potential ethical issues. Furthermore, you may serve as a patient advocate and refer individuals and families to available support services, and as an educator and resource for other healthcare professionals and the general public.

Master's degree in Genetic Counselling. Board Certification or eligibility with either the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors (CAGC) or the American Board of Genetic Counsellors (ABGC).

Expertise in analyzing and accurately interpreting complex genetic, genomic, medical, and family data to arrive at a diagnosis for patients with suspected genetic condition. Recognized aptitude for relationship management, including significant experience establishing and maintaining collaborative professional relationships and working effectively within shared-care multidisciplinary teams. Proven ability to participate productively in a team environment, including understanding own role and the roles of other professionals, and actively seeking, respecting, considering and being receptive to the diverse perspectives and opinions of collaborators. Demonstrated emotional self-awareness and self-management, including the ability to build understanding and shared meaning between people, and strong problem solving and conflict management skills. Past experience actively participating in organizational change initiatives including building a shared vision, identifying and addressing associated risks, developing new processes and workflows, contributing to setting goals and metrics and monitoring performance, using positive feedback and recognition to support coworkers, and serving as a resource to colleagues.

Previous experience providing high quality genetic healthcare services to patients and families with cardiovascular conditions.