So, What Can You Do with a BBH Degree? By, Sandy McDonough, MS, CGC BBH Graduate ’98

Goals of Presentation Undergraduate Experiences Undergraduate Experiences Planning for the Future Planning for the Future Post-College Post-College The “In-Between” Stage The “In-Between” Stage Graduate School Graduate School Focused Studies Focused Studies The Real World The Real World Finding the Right Job Finding the Right Job

Undergraduate Professional/Volunteer Work Externship Externship Community Hospital, Planning Department Community Hospital, Planning Department Internship Internship Johnson & Johnson Health/Wellness Johnson & Johnson Health/Wellness BBH Department BBH Department Research Assistant, Behavioral Pharmacology Lab Research Assistant, Behavioral Pharmacology Lab Volunteer Volunteer Community Hospital, Public Relations & Marketing Community Hospital, Public Relations & Marketing

Sample Resume: Education EDUCATION: BS in Biobehavioral Health with Minors in Spanish and Psychology The Pennsylvania State University  University Park, PAMay ‘98 The Pennsylvania State University  University Park, PAMay ‘98 Current GPA: 3.75 of 4.0, Dean’s List each semester Current GPA: 3.75 of 4.0, Dean’s List each semester Relevant Courses Relevant Courses Research and Applications in Biobehavioral HealthPhysiology Research and Applications in Biobehavioral HealthPhysiology Planning and Development of Health Education ProgramsGenetics Planning and Development of Health Education ProgramsGenetics Spanish for Social ServicesEpidemiology Spanish for Social ServicesEpidemiology

Sample Resume: Professional Experience Health & Wellness InternMay ’97 – August ’97 Johnson & Johnson World Headquarters  New Brunswick, NJ Developed skills in fitness center supervision. Developed skills in fitness center supervision. Conducted fitness assessments, facility tours, and exercise programs. Conducted fitness assessments, facility tours, and exercise programs. Designed and led safe, effective group exercise classes for a variety of fitness levels. Designed and led safe, effective group exercise classes for a variety of fitness levels. Planned, promoted, implemented, and evaluated a health promotion program. Planned, promoted, implemented, and evaluated a health promotion program. Coordinated a Health Fair for over 1,800 employees. Coordinated a Health Fair for over 1,800 employees. Research AssistantMarch ’96 – May ’97 Behavioral Pharmacology Lab  The Pennsylvania State University  University Park, PA Recorded and analyzed Centers for Disease Control data on cigarette smoking. Recorded and analyzed Centers for Disease Control data on cigarette smoking. Compiled and logged data for research projects. Compiled and logged data for research projects. Worked collaboratively with research team in analyzing data sets. Worked collaboratively with research team in analyzing data sets. ExternJanuary ’97 Planning Department  Saint Barnabas Health Care System  Toms River, NJ Shadowed Director of Planning during administrative meetings, task force, and community outreach programs. Shadowed Director of Planning during administrative meetings, task force, and community outreach programs. Oversaw the daily operations of a health care system. Oversaw the daily operations of a health care system. VolunteerJune ’96 – August ’96 Public Relations and Marketing  Community/Kimball Health Care System  Toms River, NJ Wrote press releases collaboratively with Public Relations Specialist. Wrote press releases collaboratively with Public Relations Specialist. Researched hospital marketing and promotion strategies Researched hospital marketing and promotion strategies Assisted in updating physician directory and arranging promotional mailings. Assisted in updating physician directory and arranging promotional mailings.

First Job: Fox Chase Cancer Center Research Study Assistant, Department of Psychosocial & Behavioral Medicine Research Study Assistant, Department of Psychosocial & Behavioral Medicine Interviewed colorectal and prostate cancer survivors about long-term medical and psychosocial issues Interviewed colorectal and prostate cancer survivors about long-term medical and psychosocial issues Facilitated discussion sessions for couples coping with breast cancer Facilitated discussion sessions for couples coping with breast cancer

Applying to Graduate School GRE Preparation GRE Preparation Gained Counseling Experience Gained Counseling Experience Bereavement Volunteer Bereavement Volunteer Course Prerequisites Course Prerequisites Shadowed Genetic Counselor Shadowed Genetic Counselor Letters of Recommendations Letters of Recommendations

What Is A Genetic Counselor? Work with individuals or families at risk for or diagnosed with a genetic condition Work with individuals or families at risk for or diagnosed with a genetic condition Provide information and supportive counseling Provide information and supportive counseling Coordinate testing Coordinate testing Connect families with community resources Connect families with community resources Involved in teaching, research, screening programs, coordination of support groups Involved in teaching, research, screening programs, coordination of support groups

Where Do Genetic Counselors Work? Work with MD or PhD Geneticists Work with MD or PhD Geneticists Part of a team of specialists Part of a team of specialists Work in large medical centers or hospitals, usually in departments of pediatrics and obstetrics Work in large medical centers or hospitals, usually in departments of pediatrics and obstetrics Some work in research, public health or in private commercial laboratories Some work in research, public health or in private commercial laboratories Private Practice Private Practice

What Kind of Education and Training are Required? Undergraduate degrees in biology, genetics, nursing, psychology, public health, social work, or a related biological science Undergraduate degrees in biology, genetics, nursing, psychology, public health, social work, or a related biological science *Broad based educational backgrounds *Broad based educational backgrounds Interest in and knowledge of basic genetics and some counseling experiences Interest in and knowledge of basic genetics and some counseling experiences Skills in communications, listening and counseling Skills in communications, listening and counseling Must complete a master’s degree from a training program Must complete a master’s degree from a training program Courses focusing on genetics, psychosocial theory, and counseling techniques Courses focusing on genetics, psychosocial theory, and counseling techniques

Graduate School: Mount Sinai School of Medicine Masters of Science in Genetic Counseling Masters of Science in Genetic Counseling Coursework: Embryology, Biochemistry, Medical/Clinical/Human Genetics, Biostatistics, Bioethics, Psychology Coursework: Embryology, Biochemistry, Medical/Clinical/Human Genetics, Biostatistics, Bioethics, Psychology Thesis: Perceived Risk and Communication of Genetic Information in Families with Colorectal Cancer Thesis: Perceived Risk and Communication of Genetic Information in Families with Colorectal Cancer Research Assistant, Colon Disease Family Registry Research Assistant, Colon Disease Family Registry Conducted interviews about personal, family, medical, and psychosocial histories Conducted interviews about personal, family, medical, and psychosocial histories Constructed family pedigrees and made referrals for genetic counseling services for hereditary colon cancer syndromes Constructed family pedigrees and made referrals for genetic counseling services for hereditary colon cancer syndromes

Genetic Counseling: St. Barnabas Medical Center Maternal-Fetal Medicine Maternal-Fetal Medicine Provided prenatal counseling in high volume setting Provided prenatal counseling in high volume setting Took detailed family and medical histories Took detailed family and medical histories Offered and coordinated genetic testing Offered and coordinated genetic testing Explained test result Explained test result Provided ongoing psychosocial support and resources to patients Provided ongoing psychosocial support and resources to patients Provided documentation and medical management recommendations to patients and referring obstetricians Provided documentation and medical management recommendations to patients and referring obstetricians

From Clinical to Corporate: Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc Meet with New York City physicians and genetic counselors to provide education, implement new genetic testing programs, and increase utilization of cancer genetic testing Meet with New York City physicians and genetic counselors to provide education, implement new genetic testing programs, and increase utilization of cancer genetic testing Raise awareness of availability and clinical utility of genetic testing for physicians and patients through hospital-based outreach events Raise awareness of availability and clinical utility of genetic testing for physicians and patients through hospital-based outreach events

Inherited Cancers Overview Up to 10% of all cancers are inherited Up to 10% of all cancers are inherited Clinical tests Clinical tests Hereditary Breast & Ovarian Cancer: BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes Hereditary Breast & Ovarian Cancer: BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer: MLH1 and MSH2 genes Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer: MLH1 and MSH2 genes Familial Adenomatous Polyposis: APC gene Familial Adenomatous Polyposis: APC gene Hereditary Melanoma: p16 gene Hereditary Melanoma: p16 gene Benefits of Genetic Testing Benefits of Genetic Testing Personalized Risk Assessment/Clarify Risk for the Family Personalized Risk Assessment/Clarify Risk for the Family Medical Management Decisions/Cancer Prevention Medical Management Decisions/Cancer Prevention Reduce Stress and Anxiety Reduce Stress and Anxiety

You Have to Start Somewhere Have Realistic Expectations Have Realistic Expectations Have a Resume & Cover Letter Ready Have a Resume & Cover Letter Ready Get Experience Get Experience

Keys to Success Networking Networking Put in the Time/Research Put in the Time/Research Be Proactive Be Proactive Take Advantage of Resources Take Advantage of Resources Be Open Minded Be Open Minded Take Small, Manageable Steps Take Small, Manageable Steps Find a Balance Find a Balance

Genetics Resources National Society of Genetic Counselors National Society of Genetic Counselors Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc. Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc March of Dimes March of Dimes Genetics Education Center Genetics Education Center

Job Resources Penn State Career Services Penn State Career Services

BBH APG (Affiliate Program Group) Connect with Alumni Connect with Alumni Website: Website: Get Involved, Make Suggestions Get Involved, Make Suggestions Build Your Alumni Society! Build Your Alumni Society!