Wicklund Heads National Society of Genetic Counselors

Editor’s Note: Since this story was written, Catherine A. Wicklund has accepted a new position at Northwestern University.

Catherine A. L. Wicklund

Genetic counseling is one of the most rapidly changing fields in the health care professions, and Catherine A. Wicklund is at the center of educating others and initiating new approaches at the local and national levels.

Wicklund became president-elect of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) and received the Region V Leadership Award in November at the society’s national conference.

She has been active in genetic counseling at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston for 10 years. An assistant professor, she is director of Prenatal Genetic Counseling Services for the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the UT Medical School at Houston.

Genetic counseling is the process of evaluating family health history, medical records, and other risk factors, offering genetic tests if appropriate and evaluating the results of the investigation.

The counselor’s job is to explain to the patient, in everyday terms, what the tests reveal, the nature of any disorder, how it is inherited, and the available options. They also help the patient sort through all the information and provide psychological support and coping mechanisms.

“Patients are referred to a genetic counselor, and sometimes they do not understand why. Many times we can relieve their fears because often people come in thinking that the risk to their baby or themselves is much higher than it turns out to be,” Wicklund said. “We hope to continue to educate the public about the service we provide so they will ask the physician to be referred to a genetic counselor.”

Along with Jacqueline T. Hecht, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics, Wicklund is co-director of the Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling at the UT Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston (GSBS), the only accredited program in the state of Texas. She also is a member of the Texas State Licensure Committee.

“After being a member of NSGC for several years, I wanted a better understanding of what challenges my profession faces, outside of seeing patients,” recalls Wicklund, who became active at the national level by joining committees.

She was elected Region V Representative for 1999- 2001, and during 1999-2000 she was appointed to the advisory board for the Jane Engelberg Memorial Fellowship Project: Development of a Genetic Counseling Helping Skills Training Manual. During 2002-04, she served as secretary on the board of directors. Wicklund co-chaired this year’s NSGC Annual Education Conference, the 2003 program committee and the 2002 abstract committee.

“Our strategic plan targets three main topics – visibility, billing and reimbursement – as well as developing a genetic counseling delivery model that reflects how we fit into the health care delivery system. We are striving to become a more successful advocate for the profession and our patients.” The 26-year-old society has more than 1,800 members.

Wicklund’s year as president-elect will include strategic planning, serving as liaison with the regional representatives and mentoring new members in the organization.

“I will be doing outreach to graduate students and other new members to get them involved. The objective is to prepare the next wave of leaders who will take over the organization,” she said.

Wicklund received her master’s degree in genetic counseling at GSBS in 1993. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University ofWisconsin with a biology major and a chemistry minor.

While Wicklund was an undergraduate, one of her biology teachers – who was pregnant and over 35 – described her visit to a genetic counselor.

“Through that teacher, I set up an internship with the counselor and spent every day for more than six weeks in her office,” she said. “I love science and really enjoy people, and I knew this was exactly what I wanted to do.”

By Nora K. Shire