Category Archives: Allie Janson Hazell

by Allie Janson Hazell | July 28, 2009 · 7:24 AM

Building on our Strengths

Image Credit: Trey Ratcliffe (click image for link to original photo)

Why we are well poised for tomorrow

As part of a committee I recently joined, we were each asked to put together a list of strengths of the genetic counseling profession. Although I’ve written about this before, brainstorming for this project reminded me how incredibly relevant our strengths are in the context of the future direction of healthcare in North America. I thought I’d share a few of my ideas here:

Our focus on patient autonomy. There is a huge trend (at least in mainstream media) towards patient-centered care. This article from the New York Times last month is a prime example. It highlights the idea that patient’s no longer want to be told what to do, but are looking for a healthcare provider that will help educate them and involve them in their own healthcare decisions. Assisting patients in making informed decisions for themselves is one of the foundations upon which our profession is built. We are, by default, way ahead of other health professions in this respect.

Our focus on prevention. “Preventative medicine” is a buzz term these days, especially given Obama’s healthcare plan, that calls for the promotion of “smart preventative care, like cancer screening.” (This strength was highlighted recently in a list serv discussion.)

Our multidisciplinary perspective. Genes are not limited to a specific organ or body part. As the medical paradigm transitions from looking at patients as a series of “parts” (cardiology, nephrology, psychology) toward a more holistic approach, we are well poised to become active participants.

I believe that knowing one’s strengths and learning to capitalize on them is essential, which is one reason why I enjoyed this activity so much. I’m interested to hear others’ perceptions of the ones I’ve listed above, and ideas about how we can build on these strengths to ensure that we maximize our potential.

When to take the debate public

I am an advocate for public thinking. In this era of social media, collaboration and transparency, there seems to be little benefit in keeping ideas to yourself and engaging only with those with similar backgrounds and viewpoints. By opening the conversation up to a larger audience, you can challenge yourself to consider others’ opinions and create a more dynamic and evolving dialogue.

I’ve always found the genetic counseling list serv an interesting phenomenon. From a clinical perspective it is a great tool to disseminate and receive info. But as a tool to discuss professional issues, media articles, political events, etc. I’ve always found it somewhat inadequate. Interesting debates and insights get lost in inboxes and archived folders. A blog, in my opinion, is a much more appropriate and user-friendly way to discuss and document these issues.

Then, about two weeks after the launch of DNA Exchange, Dr. Tiller was murdered. With indisputable relevancy for and impact on the genetic counseling community, it seemed obvious that this event should be addressed here. We asked Betsy Gettig to put some of her thoughts on paper, and I drafted a post. But as I watched the discussion unfold on the list serv, with all of the uncensored expressions of grief, anger, confusion and hope, I reconsidered the utility of taking the discussion public at that particular point in time. With such an emotion laden and polarizing topic such as late-term abortion, adding a public element to an already difficult disucssion seemed excessive. As simple as it sounds, the experience taught me about the value of our profession’s private discussion list- namely the ability to discuss issues directly with other GCs, and only other GCs.

As some time has passed and I have had more time to digest my thoughts and feelings about Dr. Tiller’s death, I feel more comfortable discussing it online. I still may publish the drafted Dr. Tiller post at some point, and I know others are wanting to write on the topic as well. But for the time being, I am hoping to hear what you think about the benefits of private vs. public discussion of professional issues. What do you believe to be the strengths and drawbacks of this type of forum? What do you hope to see discussed here?

Open call for Guest Bloggers

Thank you to everyone who has provided feedback over the past week. The response to DNA Exchange has been great so far, and it is encouraging to know that the GC community is excited about participating in this venue. Please continue to provide your comments, both positive and constructive; we appreciate hearing your voice.

A chance to discuss your thoughts publicly

We have had several people inquiring about participating in this initiative. In the interest of diversity and openness, we’ve developed a “guest blogger” policy. For obvious reasons, this open call is limited to those intending to discuss genetics or genetic counseling related issues.

How it works:

If you’re interested in contributing a post, leave a comment here or send me a note at alliejanson[at]gmail.com with the topic you’re hoping to discuss
Once you’ve written your post, the core group here will review it (to ensure there is no breach in patient confidentiality, to maintain the integrity of the site etc)
Your content will be published with a short bio under a “Guest Blogger” title

We hope this process will encourage those who:

are interested in blogging, but aren’t ready to make a permanent commitment to it
are intimidated by some of the technical aspects of contributing to a blog. There is no technical knowledge required

We would also love to include posts from some non-GCs, including physicians, researchers, health advocates, legal experts, patients. Or anyone with an opinion about genetics, really.

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

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by Allie Janson Hazell | May 19, 2009 · 5:03 PM

Welcome to The DNA Exchange

Image credit: Walter Parenteau (click on image for link to original photo)

Over the past year or so, I’ve gotten to “know” the incredibly vibrant and active online genetics blogging community. These bloggers (made up of researchers, medical students, geneticists etc) are not only a great resource for up-to-date information, but also provide unique perspective on the implications of scientific advances on health care providers, patients and society.

The idea behind The DNA Exchange is to allow GCs to be more proactive, rather than reactive, with respect to public discourse on the web. The hope is that this centralized forum will encourage GCs to get involved and share their individual point of view.

In one of our profession’s most prominent teaching texts, the authors write:

Being a member of a relatively small profession that deals with issues at the cutting edge of science, medicine and ethics requires a commitment to continued growth and to the assumption of responsibility for helping other health professionals, policy makers, and clients understand genetics and its implications.

– A Guide to Genetic Counseling (1998), Chapter 1, p. 18

The web provides us with an excellent opportunity to grow and contribute to a broader discussion. And I’d argue that we have as much to learn from other professionals and stakeholders as they do from us. Let the sharing begin.

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