Leadership from the USF College of Public Health have teamed up with faculty across the University and beyond to create the Genetic Counseling Program. USF’s Pediatrics Division of Genetics & Metabolism and Obstetrics and Gynecology Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Orlando Health, Integrated Genetics and other community partners will provide students with the hands-on counseling experience required for graduation.

Leadership

• Genetic Counseling Program Director – Deborah Cragun, PhD, MS, CGC

Dr. Cragun is the Program Director for the USF Genetic Counseling Graduate Program. She has over six years of clinical practice in pediatric, prenatal, and cancer genetic counseling at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Moffitt Cancer Center. She was involved in the University of Cincinnati’s GC Program as a clinical and research supervisor for nearly three years. After teaching genetics for two years at the University of Tampa, she began researching genetic counseling access, service delivery, and outcomes while earning a PhD in Public Health at USF and subsequently completing a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center. In 2015, she became an Assistant Professor in USF’s College of Public Health where she conducts research, teaches, and serves as the Program Director for the Genetic Counseling MSPH degree program. Dr. Cragun is also currently a Multiple Principal Investigator on a Cancer Moonshot U01 research study funded by the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Deborah Cragun’s CV

• Genetic Counseling Medical Director – Kathleen Pope, MD, MS, FAAP, FACMG

Dr. Pope is the Medical Director for the USF Genetic Counseling Graduate Program. She has a BA in biology from Williams College, an MS in genetic counseling from Northwestern University, and her MD from Indiana University School of Medicine. She completed pediatrics residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center and genetics residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center. She is board certified in medical genetics and pediatrics, and has been a practicing clinical geneticist, caring for adult and pediatric patients as well as teaching USF students and residents, since 2012. She is currently the genetics division chief at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando. Dr. Kathleen Pope’s CV 

• Genetic Counseling Director of Fieldwork Training – Nevena Krstić, MS, CGC

Nevena is a board certified genetic counselor and an assistant professor at the University of South Florida (USF), the Director of Fieldwork Training for USF’s Genetic Counseling Program, and serves as the Program and Research Coordinator at MotherToBaby Florida. In addition to providing counseling as an information specialist at MTB Florida and USF Exposures Clinic, she provides prenatal and preconception genetic counseling in various clinics across the Tampa Bay area. She provides both clinical supervision and coursework instruction for students form the USF Genetic Counseling Program. Nevena earned her BS in Microbiology and Cell Science for University of Florida in 2010 and a MS in Genetic Counseling from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston in 2012. Nevena Krstić’sCV

Clinical Supervisors, Additional Course Faculty, and Research Mentors

• Deanna Almanza, MS – Clinical Supervisor, USF Pediatrics Division of Genetics & Metabolism
• Emily Anderson, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, UF Health Cancer Center – Orlando Health
• Laura V. Barton, MS, CGC – Course Instructor and Clinical Supervisor, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
• Stephanie Benedict, MS – Clinical Supervisor, Integrated Genetics
• Darcy Berry, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
• Caroline Bertsch, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
• Ryan Bisson, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, UF Health Cancer Center – Orlando Health
• Lisa Brown, MS CGC – Clinical Supervisor, UF College of Medicine
• Jennifer Brzosowicz, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
• Jennifer Claus, MS – Clinical Supervisor, Integrated Genetics
• Devin Fendlay, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, Women’s Care Florida
• Kathleen Gewandter, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center 
• Christopher Griffith, MD  – Course Lecturer and Clinical Supervisor, USF Department of Pediatrics
• Carolyn Haskins, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
• Katherine Hehmeyer, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, Nemours Children’s Hospital
• Jill Hendrickson, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, UF College of Medicine
• Marcia Jodah MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, ARUP Labs
• Amy Jonasson, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, UF College of Medicine
• Alyson Kneusel, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, Tampa General Hospital
• Nevena Krstić, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, USF Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Cheryl Kubas, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, Nemours Children's Hospital and Lakeland Regional Health Care
• Marleah Dean Kruzel, PhD – Course Lecturer and Research Mentor, USF Department of Communication
• Lauren Loffredo, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, Winnie Palmer Hospital
• Meredith Masiello, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, Quest Diagnostics
• Kara Morgan, APRN – Clinical Supervisor, USF Department of Pediatrics
• Jennifer Morrison, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, Arnold Palmer Hospital
• Kristan Moxley, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, Winnie Palmer Hospital
• Réka Müller, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, USF Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Tuya Pal, MD – Research mentor, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
• Kathleen Pope, MD – Clinical Supervisor and Research mentor, , Nemours Children's Hospital
• Melissa Racobaldo, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor and Research mentor, USF Department of Pediatrics
• Judith Ranells, MD – Course Lecturer and Clinical Supervisor, USF Department of Pediatrics
• Amarillis Sanchez-Valle, MD  –Course Lecturer and Clinical Supervisor, USF Department of Pediatrics
• Darrow Speyer, MGC, CGC – Course Lecturer, Invitae
• Heather Stalker, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, UF College of Medicine
• Christine Steele, MS, CGC – Course Instructor, Invitae
• Radha Sukhu, MS, GC – Clinical Supervisor, UF Health Cancer Center – Orlando Health
• Katie Sullivan, MS, CGC – Winnie Palmer Hospital
• Diana Tully, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, Quest Diagnostics
• Susan Vadaparampil, PhD – Research mentor, Moffitt Cancer Center
• Deena Wahba, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, BayCare Health Systems
• Tatiana Wing, MS, CGC - Clinical Supervisor, USF Pediatrics Division of Genetics and Metabolism
• Nicole Wood, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, Sarasota Memorial Hospital
• Abigail Zale, MS, CGC – Clinical Supervisor, Winnie Palmer Hospital

Genetic Counseling Program Advisory Board

• Dr. Deborah Cragun, PhD, Assistant Professor and USF Genetic Counseling Program Director, College of Public Health
• Ms. Nevena Krstic, MS, CGC, Director of Fieldwork Training, USF Genetic Counseling Program, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine
• Ms. Laura Moreno, MS, GC, Clearview Cancer Institute, USF GC Program Alumna
• Dr. Sarah Obican, MD, Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morsani College of Medicine
• Dr. Tuya Pal, MD, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center 
• Dr. Kathleen Pope, MD, Assistant Professor and Medical Director, USF Genetic Counseling Program, College of Public Health
• Dr. Judith Ranells, MD, Chief, Division of Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Morsani College of Medicine
• Ms. Darrow Speyer, MS, CGC, Florida Association of Genetic Counselors/Invitae
• Dr. Thomas Unnasch, PhD, Distinguished University Professor, College of Public Health
• Dr. Jerome Yankowitz, MD, Interim Chair & Professor Emeritus, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morsani College of Medicine
• Dr. Heather Zierhut, PhD, University of Minnesota Genetic Counseling Program Director

The Genetic Counseling MSPH program admissions requirements can be found at USF Graduate Admissions or College of Public Health Graduate Admissions.

Given the competitive nature of the Genetic Counseling MSPH program, we suggest that you review the recommendations for strengthening your application in the FAQ section below.

Application Process and Deadline
Interested individuals who meet the minimum requirements must complete and pay fees that are associated with each of the following three tasks that are described in more detail below.

a)    Submit an application through SOPHAS
b)    Submit an application to USF’s Graduate Admissions
c)    Register for the Genetic Counseling Admissions Match

a)     SOPHAS application - http://sophas.org/
Application materials to be submitted to SOPHAS include:

• All original transcripts from all colleges/universities attended (even if the credit was transferred to or is reflected on another transcript)
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Statement of purpose or objectives (approximately 2 pages double spaced)
• 3 Letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional sources
• TOEFL scores (if applicable)
• WES evaluation (www.wes.org) for applicants with degrees earned from outside of US.
  
  

b)     USF Graduate Admissions
After submitting the SOPHAS application, applicants must also complete a short USF Graduate School application and pay the application fee using the link provided in an email from COPH Graduate Admissions. Do not submit application materials directly to USF, all application materials must be submitted only to SOPHAS.

c)     Genetic Counseling Match Registration https://natmatch.com/gcadmissions/
All applicants must register and pay a fee online to participate in the Genetic Counseling Admissions Match that will be administered by National Matching Services. Only applicants registered for the match can have their applications reviewed. Please visit the website above for more information about the matching process and to register with this service.

Please note that applicants to the MSPH who are interested in the Genetic Counseling Concentration must submit all application materials by December 15 to be competitive for admission in the following fall semester. This is based on the admission timeline as determined by the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you submit your application in November or Early December and check with SOPHAS often to ensure that the application has been verified.

According to a 2017 national report (http://www.bestmedicaldegrees.com/most-affordable-genetic-counseling-programs/), our program was listed as the 5^th most affordable Master’s Degree in Genetic counseling.

Please visit https://www.usf.edu/business-finance/controller/student-services/tuition-rates.aspx to view current graduate tuition rates. The USF Genetic Counseling Program requires a total of 42 credit hours (21 per year). 

Required Coursework 

Genetic Counseling MSPH Program of Study

Course Descriptions

Rotation Requirements

Rotations are routinely held at several different locations throughout the Tampa Bay area and Orlando. Students will complete two 7-week Preparatory rotations in the spring semester of their first year, a 6-week full-time summer rotation (can be within or outside of Florida), and four 7-week core rotations during their second year (two rotations per semester). These rotations will be in the areas of cancer, pediatrics, and prenatal. While there are no specialty rotations at this time, many of the sites where students rotate have specialty clinics that are included in the overall rotation. Students are also required to complete two 1-week rotations with each a Laboratory GC and an Industry GC.

MSPH Thesis

All USF Genetic Counseling students are required to complete a formal Master’s thesis. Although most genetic counselors do not go into research, the objective of conducting research is to help students develop skills in succinctly summarizing existing literature, problem-solving, data analysis, writing, evaluation, and critical thinking, which are useful skills in any setting they may practice.

Each student will work with guidance from their Committee Chair and Supervisory Committee members to create a defined research project for which the student is the principal investigator. During their first semester as part of PHC 6756 Population Assessment I, students will conduct a literature review. Then in the second semester students begin a 3-part clinical research course series, where they will refine or develop the research question and hypothesis, write the specific aims and research plan, and complete IRB forms (in some cases these may be amendments to existing studies). After this, the student will collect data, analyze data, and write a manuscript that is suitable to submit to a peer-reviewed journal. This step-by-step process over the course of their two years will help facilitate the publishing of student research.

Board Examination Practice Test

All USF Genetic Counseling students are required to take a comprehensive exam at the end of their first year and a practice boards exam at the end of their second year. 

USF's Genetic Counseling Program hosts an open house each Fall semester. The Open House is an opportunity for anyone who is interested in learning more about the field of genetic counseling and our program. Prospective students will have the opportunity to hear from our program director and other leadership, current students, and many of our clinical supervisors.  

Previous Open Houses have been recorded and are available for viewing on web browsers:

2021 Virtual Open House, Thursday, October 7 from 5:00-8:00 pm, Co-hosted with the Florida Association of Genetic Counselors.

Time codes for different sections of the Open House:
00:49 Welcome and introduction to genetic counseling
17:10 Day in the life for genetic counselors in different specialties
1:06:10 Recommendations for preparing for a GC graduate program
1:27:30 Q&A session with genetic counselors
2:01:10 Overview of USF Genetic Counseling Program
2:17:13 Introductions to program faculty and current students
2:31:30 Q&A session with USF Genetic Counseling Program

2020 Virtual Open House, Wednesday, October 21 from 5:00-8:00 pm, Co-hosted with the Florida Association of Genetic Counselors.

To learn more, please contact a Pre-Admissions Advisor at (813) 974-6505 or email at preadmissions@usf.edu.

Questions about the Genetic Counseling Program and requests to be added to the USF Genetic Counseling prospective student mailing list can be sent to geneticcounseling@usf.edu.

Follow our students on Instagram at usfgcprogram.

What are the pre-requisites for admission to USF's GC Program? 

• See the "Admissions Requirements" Tab above. 

Have requirements for admission changed since COVID-19?

• Admissions requirements have not changed due to COVID-19, however the admissions committee understands that we are in a unique situation and students may need to be creative in how they seek out relevant experiences.

How can I strengthen my application?

• Have a familiarity with genetics and biology are necessary because they provide a science foundation upon which the program builds. Courses in Biology, Genetics, Psychology/Counseling, and Statistics/Probabilities would strengthen an application. There is no 'expiration date' on coursework, but if a course was taken a long time ago applicants will want to demonstrate they have kept up with or brushed up on new information in the field and that they have a sufficient science background to succeed in the program. 
• Prior counseling or advocacy experience is highly encouraged. Examples include: peer counseling, crisis hotlines, a pregnancy counseling center, or working with individuals who have genetic conditions or disabilities.
• Applicants should have a good understanding of the Genetic Counseling profession. Many applicants have accomplished this by shadowing or interviewing genetic counselors and by attending one of USF's annual genetic counseling open houses or similar events at other institutions. A clear understanding of the genetic counseling profession can be convayed through a well-written statement of purpose. 

Do I have to take an Embryology course in order to apply to USF's GC Program?

• No, you do not need this to apply. However, students who are accepted into the program and have not yet taken an approved Embryology course or an equivalent will be required to complete one (in person or online) the summer before classes begin as it is required for full matriculation into the GC program.

What are the most important parts of the application?

• The personal statement/essay, resume, and letters of recommendation.
• The application must be complete and verified in the SOPHAS system to be considered.

Are there specific things USF's GC Program looks for in an application?

• There is no single formula for success and we value a variety of experiences. USF’s GC admissions committee takes a holistic look at the students’ work/volunteer/life experiences, understanding of and passion for both genetic counseling and public health in the personal essay, letters of recommendation, and grades.
• Applicants who demonstrate familiarity with the genetic counseling profession and those with an interest in public health tend to stand out.
• The overall undergraduate average GPA of students admitted to our program is 3.45.
• To get an idea of the varied work and volunteer experiences students had before coming to our program you can look at the student bios on our Instagram page (usfgcprogram). For shadowing opportunities in Tampa and Orlando, see the information provided in the 2019 Open House recording.

What is the student selection process for entrance into USF's GC Program?

• We follow the same general admissions timeline as other genetic counseling training programs across North America and participate in the NMS GC-match. See https://natmatch.com/gcadmissions/index.html for the specific dates of the next admission cycle.
• Typically 100+ applications are verified through SOPHAS each year for USF’s GC program. USF interviews approximately 30 students in late March and early April and accepts 5 students through the NMS GC-match (results released in late April). 
• The number of students we can accept is based on the number of clinical rotation sites and supervisors in the Tampa Bay area. More positions may be available as we grow the genetic counseling workforce in our area.

Do students see diverse populations during their clinical rotations?

• In Tampa and Orlando we have diverse populations (including Spanish-speakers).
• Miami has an even larger Spanish-speaking population, and we had a Spanish-speaking student rotate in Miami where she was able to work with a bilingual genetic counselor.
• We have graduated two Spanish-speaking genetic counselors, one of whom is currently working at Moffitt Cancer Center.

Is it possible to complete the USF GC Program with a full-time job or online?

• Unfortunately, there is little flexibility in the program. The clinical rotations occur during the day (and the days of the week vary depending on the rotation). Courses are generally in the afternoon and evening. We have not yet worked out a way for students to attend part-time because the order of the courses is set and offered on a full-time schedule. 
• At this time there is no online option for USF’s program, students must attend courses at USF’s Tampa campus and complete rotations in the Tampa Bay area.

To view more FAQs, click here

• USF is home to the first and only ACGC accredited Genetic Counseling Program in the state of Florida.
• USF is the only Genetic Counseling Program to award a MSPH degree (Master of Science in Public Health).
• USF graduated its first class of students in May 2019.
• 100% of USF's GC graduates are employed in a genetic counseling or related position.
• The USF GC Program has a 0% attrition rate since it first admitted students.
• The first-time pass rate of the ABGC Board Exam for our program's graduates is 71%, and 93% of all graduates have passed the ABGC Board Exam.