Alumni Spotlight: Ava Willoughby
The mission of The Ohio State University Genetic Counseling Graduate Program is to train our graduates to be knowledgeable, compassionate and scholarly genetic counselors.
Why The Ohio State University College of Medicine?
The Genetic Counseling Graduate Program at The Ohio State University provides you with the individualized attention you’d receive at a small school but with the resources and infrastructure that only the third largest university in the 14th largest city in the country can provide.
Faculty treat you as a future colleague, making sure you receive the education and support you need for success. Our program averages 10 students per cohort and is ranked one of the top in the nation. You can choose from hundreds of faculty members from seven health science colleges and many health care industry partners to serve on your thesis committee.
We implement experiential learning methodologies, with hands-on and active learning classroom environments. This keeps you at the center of our curriculum, strengthens absorption and better prepares you to help patients.
The fieldwork and research opportunities seem endless, with almost 50 sites throughout the Midwest, including top-ranked large and small hospitals in Ohio, private institutions and industry partners and some of the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals. You’ll also get to work with patients from all backgrounds and ages, from inner-city Columbus to Appalachian Ohio, from babies to geriatrics. Our hope is that you leave The Ohio State University with a broad foundation in genetic research that enables you to continue discovery throughout your career.
By the Numbers
- 10 average cohort size
- 100% employed in genetic counseling or related field
- 35+ fieldwork opportunities
More from Ohio State
Students describe their experiences in the Ohio State Genetic Counseling Graduate Program.
Curriculum overview
Our program’s curricular goals are to teach our students to:
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge in genetics, genomics and psychosocial counseling for use in evidence-based practice.
- Critically think, evaluate and synthesize information from research, as well as produce their own sound, scientific research related to the genetics profession.
- Show respect and empathy to their patients, peers, learners, supervisors and other health care professionals.
- Achieve positions of leadership within their practice setting, local communities and national organizations and provide mentorship to developing genetic counselors.
Our curriculum achieves these goals by providing our students with an integrated student-centered curriculum that incorporates evolving technology in the learning environment. In recognition of the varied opportunities for genetic counselors in today’s medical climate, friends of our program include genetic counselors and other health care providers working in industry, practicing telehealth, serving in community and academic settings and making an impact on public policy.
Our course work, thesis component and clinical experiences provide students with a variety of methods to develop the core skills necessary to become highly competent genetic counselors who’ll go on to practice in diverse settings. To ensure our graduate program continues to provide the training necessary to meet the demands required of practicing genetic counselors, our faculty, clinical supervisors and advisory board regularly assess our rapidly changing profession and adjust the curriculum accordingly.
Faculty
Students who enroll in the Ohio State Genetic Counseling Graduate Program are taught by world-renowned professionals from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, as well as by other regionally and nationally known clinicians and collaborators. Our fieldwork supervisors and faculty include national leaders in professional organizations. Our students work alongside the very individuals who are helping to shape our field, so you learn the importance of leadership by example.
ACGC accreditation
The Ohio State Genetic Counseling Graduate Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC), located at 7918 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 300, McLean, VA 22102. ACGC can be reached at 703-506-3266 or via its website. In 2023, our program underwent re-accreditation and received full accreditation through 2031.
- Of the three most recent graduating classes (2022-2024), our first-time American Board of Genetic Counseling board certification examination pass rate was 70% (21/30) and our overall pass rate 93.3% (28/30).
- 100% of students matriculated into the Ohio State Genetic Counseling Graduate Program have graduated and obtained employment in the field of genetic counseling or a related area.