This past year, we welcomed a new team member at the Institute for Genomics, Education, Workforce & Leadership: Carli Andrews! Carli serves as Head of Program Development for the Institute. If you don’t know Carli, she is a board-certified genetic counselor (GC) and an alumna of Sarah Lawrence College (MS ‘19). Before joining our team, Carli held positions in both clinical and industry settings, most recently as a medical science liaison. In this role, she excelled in providing scientific and clinical expertise, supporting multiple teams, including commercial operations and medical affairs, and engaging with the genetics community at national conferences. Joining the Institute at a pivotal time, Carli is now leading the charge in generating each course and learning path of our new online learning program designed for genetic counselors, GC+ Academy.
In light of the recent launch of GC+ Academy, we sat down with Carli to hear more about what brought her to the Institute, her eye on where the genetic counselor profession is going, and what she is looking forward to in 2025. Check out Carli’s interview, highlighting her journey to this point and her experience in building GC+ Academy, in her own words.
Q: What brought you to the Institute for Genomics Education, Workforce & Leadership?
A: At every conference I have attended over the past two years, there has been a discussion about the genetics workforce and how we just need more of it. I was really drawn to the Institute for Genomics because of its forward-thinking approach to genetics education. It felt like a place where I could make a meaningful impact, especially by building programs that aren’t just about gaining knowledge but about shaping the future of the genetics workforce.
After working in both clinical and industry settings, I saw firsthand how critical continuing education is for not only genetic counselors but all healthcare professionals to stay current and confident in a field that’s evolving so quickly. The opportunity to create something like GC+ Academy—designed specifically with genetic counselors’ needs in mind—was an exciting chance to bring my experiences to the table and help grow the profession.
It felt like a place where I could make a meaningful impact, especially by building programs that aren’t just about gaining knowledge but about shaping the future of the genetics workforce.
Q: What experiences have you had that make you poised to develop impactful courses for genetic counselors?
A: I’ve been fortunate to wear many hats throughout my career. From working as an inpatient genetic counselor—educating fellows and other non genetics healthcare professionals, genetic counseling students, and patients—to my role as medical science liaison—educating sales teams, healthcare professionals, and other internal staff on a daily basis—I’ve always been passionate about education and mentorship. Whether I was speaking to the differences between genome sequencing at X lab vs. Y lab or developing onboarding training programs for sales reps, I’ve had the opportunity to see what works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to making information stick.
I’ve seen the gaps in continuing education and how challenging it can be for genetic counselors to keep up with new advancements while also doing the demanding work they do every day. That’s why I’m excited about GC+ Academy—we’re addressing real-world challenges with practical, impactful learning.
Carli heads the development of GC+ Academy courses and learning paths. Therefore, she also shared what she finds exciting about the program and what she believes its tangible effects will be for genetic counselors.
Q: What excites you about the development of the GC+ Academy coursework?
A: What excites me most is how closely we’ve worked with genetic counselors to develop this content. We didn’t just create courses in a vacuum—we listened to what the field needed. For example, we heard over and over again that GCs wanted more training in areas like business strategy and leadership, which led us to develop courses like “Business Mindsets,” which launched in October 2024. It’s exciting to be part of something that’s not just checking a box for continuing education units (CEUs) but truly helping people build skills that will push their careers forward and help them navigate the evolving landscape of genomics and precision healthcare.
Q: How do you think GC+ Academy will impact the individual genetic counselors who take these courses (i.e., what value will they experience after taking this course)?
A: I think the impact will be really tangible. These courses are designed to address the kinds of challenges genetic counselors face every day. They were also designed to aid in professional development, whether that’s understanding systems theory or figuring out how to advocate for your role within a healthcare team. The “Business Mindsets” course, for instance, will give counselors the confidence to create a business case from scratch. The courses are practical, and the skills you learn can be applied immediately, which I think will really resonate with genetic counselors looking to work more effectively and grow in their careers.
As genetic counselors strengthen these skills, they’ll be better equipped to take on leadership roles and drive change within their organizations.
Q: What value will GC+ Academy bring to the genetic counseling workforce as a whole?
A: For the workforce as a whole, I think GC+ Academy will raise the bar. By offering targeted learning paths that allow genetic counselors to focus on specific areas like strategic thinking, communication, and clinical innovation, we’re helping to build a workforce that’s more skilled, more adaptable, and more prepared for the future of healthcare. As genetic counselors strengthen these skills, they’ll be better equipped to take on leadership roles and drive change within their organizations. Ultimately, this will benefit the entire field by making genetic counselors even more integral to healthcare teams, especially as the role of precision healthcare continues to grow.
Carli’s leadership has already positively impacted the future and development of our initiates at the Institute. To expand upon the launch of GC+ Academy, as Carli alluded to, it is a continuing education portfolio designed for genetic counselors based specifically on feedback from genetic counselors about their professional development needs. GC+ Academy provides CEUs and certificates designed to build the skills genetic counselors need to work smarter, not harder, and grow in their careers and professional opportunities.
The first course, “Business Mindsets,” is a 10-hour, asynchronous course approved for Category 1 CEUs by the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC). This course addresses genetic counselors’ desire to acquire additional business skills, such as how to make a strong business case when working within the healthcare system. The second and third courses, “Systems Theory” and “Strategic Thinking,” respectively, are built with a similar case-based structure and available now as individual courses or as part of the five-course learning path, “Personalized Healthcare.” The remaining two courses within this learning path, “Diagnostic Advances” and “Therapeutic Advances”, have planned releases each month through March 2025.
The Institute for Genomics Education, Workforce and Leadership is committed to delivering postgraduate courses focused on the areas of growth most important to genetic counselors. We invite you to learn more about GC+ Academy, our latest courses, and about the creative team members, like Carli, who are dedicated to deepening educational opportunities for the future of precision health. And don’t forget to join our contact list to always stay up to date on the latest course announcements and events.
We look forward to welcoming you into the GC+ Academy community as you check out the programs Carli continues to create on behalf of the Institute. Welcome to the team, Carli, and congratulations on this momentous launch!