Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design. As the largest pediatric provider in the region with a 140-year legacy of excellence, kids and their families are at the center of all we do. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked in all 10 specialties by the U.S. News & World Report.

Day (United States of America)

Location

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Job Description

This is an advanced level clinical genetic counselor position providing genetic counseling to patients and families for a variety of indications.  The position involves participation in all aspects of delivery of genetics services, including involvement in the diagnostic evaluation process, care coordination, identification of resources, and advocacy.  Applicants must have a minimum of 2 years relevant Genetic Counselor experience and demonstrate proficiency as a Level I Genetic ounselor to be considered for an interview.

The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health is a growing multidisciplinary team of experts in prenatal and postnatal care of medically complex pregnancies. Our clinic team provides comprehensive consultation, intervention and care coordination of mothers with pregnancy complications such as twin to twin transfusion and babies identified in utero with congenital anomalies and other medical conditions. The CIFH mission is to empower families to understand their baby’s diagnosis, prepare for the birth, learn what to expect after birth and provide the specialized follow-up care needed for all babies. The CIFH genetic counselor will provide comprehensive genetic counseling for parents referred to our center for variety of fetal indications and coordinate and communicate prenatal genetic test results performed through the CIFH. In this role, the genetic counselor will collaborate seamlessly with the Northwestern Medicine Section of Reproductive Genetics to provide comprehensive counseling for pregnant patients carrying a fetus with known or suspected genetic conditions. In addition to working with the CIFH team members, the genetic counselor will also be an integral member of the Division of Genetics, Genomics and Metabolism and have the available resources and support of our geneticists and genetic counselors. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational skills, passion for independent learning, leadership qualities and ability to collaborate with a diverse group of healthcare professionals. While at least 2 years relevant genetic counseling experience is preferred, new graduates are welcome to apply.

Essential Job Functions:

Core Responsibilities for all Genetic Counselors:

Proficient in the Core Skills of Genetic Counseling as outline by the National society of Genetic Counselors.

Deep and broad knowledge of genetics.

Ability to tailor, translate and communicate complex information in a simple, relevant way for a broad range of audiences.

Strong interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and self-awareness.

Ability to dissect and analyze complex problems.

Research skills (self-education).

In-depth knowledge of healthcare delivery.

Performs job functions adhering to Lurie Children’s core values and mission

The following list of responsibilities may or may not be applicable based on your individual position and job responsibilities.

Clinical Genetic Counselor Responsibilities:

Communicates test results to patients/families, referring physicians, primary care physicians and other appropriate clinicians.

Coordinates and communicate all aspects of post evaluation patient follow up.

Writes proper documentation of patient visit and visit letters.  Generate other letters for patient case as needed.

Helps coordinate general and specialty genetics clinics as assigned.

Serves as the liaison between specialty services involved in the care of children with genetic disorders and assist with case management of medically complex patients.

Coordinates genetic testing of patient and appropriate family members, including obtaining insurance authorization.

Provides education on the natural history, management, genetics, and inheritance of genetic disorders with language tailored to patients and families.

Performs psychosocial assessment and provides appropriate support and resources to patients and families in the coping of their genetic diagnosis or medical condition.

Participates in inpatient consultations if applicable.

Participates in genetic counseling on-call rotation if applicable and performs duties such as fielding telephone calls from clinicians and patients requesting genetics information, assessing referrals to Genetics and determining appropriate scheduling of patient, triaging urgent patient calls, etc.

Keeps up to date on latest clinical and research developments in medical genetics.

Masters all necessary functions in Epic or current Lurie Children’s electronic medical record software.

Serves as a lead coordinator for multidisciplinary and/or specialty clinic, including organizing clinic schedule, communicating with participating groups, lead projects to continue clinic growth and serve more patients, and improve delivery of clinic services.

Becomes recognized as expert in specific area of genetics or specific genetic disorder by providing presentations, participating in ad board meetings and participating in multicenter or large scale research projects.

Participates in a Division level improvement project that will benefit patient care and services, such as streamlining insurance authorization process, improving clinic documentation, improving communication with patients, etc.

Other responsibilities as they arise that are within the genetic counselor’s scope of practice.

Laboratory Utilization Management Genetic Counselor Responsibilities:

Functions as a liaison between laboratory and clinicians to address questions regarding genetic testing and to help ensure appropriate patient referral.

Screens and reviews orders for genetic tests, whether in-house or sent to reference laboratories.  Recommends alternative genetic testing based on analysis of the risk, benefit and cost.

Reviews clinical and family histories as required to outline appropriate genetic testing strategy for ordering clinician.

Provide guidance on obtaining insurance authorization for genetic testing and facilitate the process.

Maintains list of referral testing sites and maintains communication with referral laboratory representatives.

Reviews test results by performing necessary literature searches to integrate new discoveries with clinical diagnoses and test interpretation.  Effectively communicate this information to ordering clinicians.

Coordinates appropriate follow up testing with ordering clinicians based on results of the proband and assessment of risk for family members and future pregnancy.

Provides written documentation/reports of test results, summaries, recommendations, and support groups.

Works with laboratory management and clinicians to consolidate genetic reference lab testing on an ongoing basis to minimize the number of laboratories used and negotiate the lowest cost per test.

Assist laboratory revenue cycle coordinator with the establishment of CPT coding for genetic tests to ensure regulatory compliance.

Leads and facilitates communication between laboratory team and genetic genetics team regarding changes to laboratory services and processes.

Participates in a Genetics Laboratory/Pathology improvement project that will benefit patient care and services.

Becomes recognized as expert as a molecular genetics or lab utilization management genetic counselor by providing presentations, participating in ad board meetings and participating in multicenter or large scale research projects.

Other responsibilities as they arise that are within the genetic counselor’s scope of practice.

Molecular Laboratory Genetic Counselor Responsibilities:

Along with laboratory directors, perform data interpretation and analysis for in house genetic tests, including reviewing relevant patient and family histories to correlate test results.

Generates written documentation/reports of test results and includes disease summaries, recommendations, and support group information.

Communicates genetic test results with appropriate follow up recommendations and facilitates or provides genetic counseling services as requested by healthcare providers.

Performs necessary literature searches to integrate new discoveries with clinical diagnoses and test interpretation.

Participates in molecular laboratory new test development.

Maintain and develop standard operating procedures (SOP) or workflows for optimization of in-house genetic testing interpretation, reporting and curation.

Screens and reviews orders for genetic tests, whether in-house or sent to reference laboratories, and when appropriate, recommend alternative genetic testing approach based on analysis of the risk, benefit and cost.

Assist laboratory revenue cycle coordinator with the establishment of CPT coding for genetic tests to ensure regulatory compliance.

Leads and facilitates communication between laboratory team and genetic genetics team regarding changes to laboratory services and processes.

Participates in a Genetics Laboratory/Pathology improvement project that will benefit patient care and services.

Becomes recognized as expert as a molecular genetics or lab utilization management genetic counselor by providing presentations, participating in ad board meetings and participating in multicenter or large scale research projects.. 

Other responsibilities as they arise that are within the genetic counselor’s scope of practice.

Research Genetic Counselor Responsibilities:

Conducts study start-up activities and prepares and maintains all regulatory documents required by sponsor and/or regulatory agencies.

Prepares protocols, informed consent documents, modifications, renewals, and other necessary documents for review by the IRB and/or sponsor.

Coordinates study activities with other research departments to effectively implement clinical research projects. This includes

Obtaining required letters of support and/or approvals as needed (i.e., IBC, SRC, etc.).

Monitoring protocols are followed.

Obtains high level of knowledge regarding specific condition(s) which is(are) the subject of the research study to provide education on the natural history, management, genetics, and inheritance of genetic disorders with language tailored to study patients and families.

Identifies, verifies, and recruits eligible study participants and conducts the informed consent/assent process. This includes:

Communicating with appropriate clinical team members to identify eligible patients

Using functions in Epic such as SlicerDicer to identify eligible patients

Attending meetings and patient gatherings to spread awareness of research being conducted at our organization

Performs study participant research visits. This includes:

Scheduling necessary study assessments and procedures per study protocol

Preparing laboratory/specimen collection kits and ensuring samples are processed and sent out appropriately

Communicating with research partners such as CRU, research pharmacy, research laboratory, and other applicable departments regarding study visit

Communicating with study participants regarding their study visit so participants understand scheduled study procedures

Facilitating travel and reimbursement for study participants if applicable

Manges and conducts site qualification, study initiation, monitoring and/or close-out visits.

Communicates with study sponsor and study vendors and responds to queries/requests promptly.

Records, submits, and maintains study data and documents as outlined in study protocols. This includes:

Abstracting data from medical records and enters medical information/data onto protocol specific case report forms, study flow sheets, and other required study forms

Preparing abstracted/coded data for processing/analysis

Recording data on source documents and CRF’s and/or electronic web-based systems

Creating and/or updating case report forms and/or source document templates

Maintaining all study documents such as regulatory binders, source documents, correspondence, etc. as required by sponsor and/or regulatory agencies.

Monitors, documents and reports adverse events  as required.

Maintains inventory of research related supplies, lab kits, and equipment.

Functions as a patient liaison and addresses study questions, billing issues, barriers to compliance, etc. and appropriately communicates with study patient’s clinical team as needed. Educates participants on continued investigational product (IP) compliance.

Helps research staff and study participants understand and recognize the difference between research related activities and assessments, and participants ongoing clinical care and management needs of their condition.

Assists with QA/QC procedures and QA/QC checks for database validity and data monitoring.

Tracks study progress and deadlines for grants/deliverables.

Perform financial tasks related to studies, which include:

Assisting in the preparation of budgets and fund management.

Preparing study invoices and study billing.

Evaluates new protocols for feasibility.

Assists in the training of personnel for role in study conduct; maintains delegation of authority and training logs.

Assists in statistical analysis in research studies under guidance of statistician.

Prepares for and facilitates external audits by sponsor, regulatory agencies (OHRP, FDA, etc.).

Attends investigator meetings.

Participates in the production of abstracts/posters for scientific meetings and manuscripts for publication as a contributing or lead author; and presents research data at national scientific meetings.

Assists the PI in drafting investigator led research protocols, grant submissions, and grant reports.

Assists in the submission of required documents to regulatory authorities (i.e., FDA) when applicable.

Registers study with clinicaltrails.gov if applicable.

Participates in process improvement projects for clinical research studies, and research workflows at the division and institutional levels.

Serves on relevant research committees.

Continues to learn new research methods, tools, systems, and scientific principles and shares knowledge with others.

Serves as a resource for other research genetic counselors and clinical research coordinators. Assists in the onboarding and training of new hires, which can include serving as a preceptor.

Promotes the ethical conduct of research by actively participating in research related educational meetings/conferences (planning, presenting, etc.).

Adheres to research protocol in compliance with applicable institutional, local and federal regulations (OHRP, FDA, GCP, etc.).

Other responsibilities as they arise that are within the genetic counselor’s scope of practice.

Research Activities not associated with Research Genetic Counselor Responsibilities:

Participates in a research project at Lurie Children’s or in collaboration with other institutions.  If enrolled as study personnel in IRB approved study, comply with IRB standards and maintain Human Subjects and Good Clinical Practice certifications.

When opportunities arise, participates in student research project by serving on student thesis committee.

Participates in authorship or is lead author of abstract submitted to major genetics or other scientific educational meeting or conference.

Education Activities:

Provides lectures or participates in student courses, workshops or other educational programs at Feinberg School or Medicine, Northwestern University Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling or other educational institutions.

Participates in educational events for health care providers within Lurie Children’s or the community.

Serves as lead supervisor for student rotation.

Advocacy Activities:

Participates in the organization of patient advocacy or patient education meeting.

Participates in promotion of genetic counselor activities and awareness within Lurie Children’s and greater community.

Leadership and Professional Development Activities:

Serves as Committee Chair/leader in a Division or Hospital committee.

Participates on a committee or program activities in one of the major professional societies such as GTFI, NSGC, ASHG, ACMG, SIMD.

Serves as a preceptor for new hired and less experienced genetic counselors.

Serves as a mentor for Level I Genetic Counselors

In addition to the responsibilities outlined above, the genetic counselor in this role will specifically:

1. Coordinate scheduling, review medical records and other data, provide counseling and follow-up testing, and communicate with referring providers for pregnant patients with known or suspected genetic conditions seen through the Chicago Institute for Fetal Health (CIFH).

2. Collaborate with CIFH medical director to develop and implement protocols for prenatal multi-disciplinary counseling and care pathways for pregnant patients with known or suspected genetic conditions seen through the CIFH.

3. Communicate results from prenatal genetic testing to referring providers and patients, arrange follow up family studies as indicated, and provide additional follow up genetic counseling and education to referring providers and patients.

4. Assist in coordination of appropriate postnatal genetic evaluations of infants as needed.

5. Understand the lab utilization management process and assist with insurance authorizations and appeals for genetic testing.

6. Participate in educational programs through the CIFH and Division of Genetics, Genomics and Metabolism.

7. Collaborate with clinical geneticists, genetic counselors and other genetic providers within our organization and our community partners.

8. Respond to telephone inquiries regarding genetic services, genetic disorders, patient advocacy groups, and other requests for genetic information and resources.

9. Supervise students from the Northwestern University Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling during their fetal health rotation.

10. Participate in CIFH research initiatives as they arise, including the data collection and creation and curation of a CIFH patient database.

11. Participate in established case conferences and other educational programs through the CIFH and the Division of Genetics, Genomics and Metabolism.

12. Other genetic counseling duties as needs arise with growth of the CIFH.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Master’s degree from an accredited genetic counseling graduate program

Certification/Licensure/Registration: Active IL Genetic Counseling License

Years of Relevant Experience: minimum of 2 years

For research genetic counselors, maintains CITI certifications outlined by IRB to serve as study coordinators

Computer Skills (i.e. Software/Hardware): Microsoft Office Programs

Other Skills (i.e. Project Management, Negotiation)

Education

Benefit Statement

For full time and part time employees who work 20 or more hours per week we offer a generous benefits package that includes:

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Employer paid group term life and disability

Employer contribution toward Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending Accounts

Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave

403(b) with a 5% employer match

Various voluntary benefits:

Supplemental Life, AD&D and Disability

Critical Illness, Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage

Tuition assistance

Student loan servicing and support

Adoption benefits

Backup Childcare and Eldercare

Employee Assistance Program, and other specialized behavioral health services and resources for employees and family members

Discount on services at Lurie Children’s facilities

Discount purchasing program

There’s a Place for You with Us

At Lurie Children’s we embrace and celebrate diversity and equity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and viewpoints — recognizing that diverse identities strengthen our workplace and the care we can provide to the Chicago community and beyond. We treat everyone fairly, appreciate differences, and make meaningful connections that foster belonging and allyship. This is a place where you can be your best, so we can give our best to the patients and families who trust us with their care.  

Lurie Children’s and its affiliates are equal employment opportunity employers.  We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status, order of protection status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Support email: candidatesupport@luriechildrens.org