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The Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) has awarded the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics full reaccreditation for eight years, the maximum time allowed for programs undergoing reaccreditation. The accrediting body’s decision comes after a yearlong self study followed by a site visit in February from members of the ACGC.
The internal review process began in 2016 and drew on Sarah Lawrence faculty and staff from across campus, as well as the program’s broad network of clinical supervisors and genetic counseling colleagues, totaling seventy-five committee members. The committees were charged with gathering outcome data, analyzing all program components, investigating alternative models and training resources, and engaging in a strategic planning process. The self study culminated in the formation of an external advisory committee, which met in November of last year. Program director Anne Greb praised the efforts of the committees as a critical component in the reaccreditation process. “The level of commitment and participation the program receives from our large training network of exceptional professionals always amazes me,” says Greb. “Their extensive and enthusiastic dedication is at the core of what makes our program so special.
In February, site visitors from the ACGC spent two days on campus meeting with College administrators and program faculty, staff, and students, as well as visiting clinical rotation sites in New York City. The team’s final report praised the program’s depth of teaching expertise and the commitment of its administrative leaders Greb and Associate Director Claire Davis. They also noted the extensive community resources enjoyed by the program.
The program admitted its first students in 1969 and was accredited in 1997, the first genetic counseling graduate program in North America to obtain accreditation and be recognized for meeting established qualifications and educational standards. It remains the largest program in the world to educate genetic counselors.