Genetic Counselors are health professionals with specialized master's degrees and experience in the areas of medical genetics and counseling. Genetic counselors work as members of a health care team, providing information and support to families who have members with birth defects or genetic disorders and to families who may be at risk for a variety of genetic conditions. They identify families at risk, investigate problems present in the family, interpret information about the inheritance patterns and risks of recurrence, and review available options with the family. Genetic counselors also provide supportive counseling to families, serve as patient advocates, and refer individuals and families to community- or state-supported services. They serve as educators and resource people for other health care professionals and for the general public. Many counselors also engage in research activities related to the field of genetic counseling and/or medical genetics (National Society of Genetic Counselors).

The Program is sponsored by Mount Sinai School of Medicine's Department of Human Genetics, a large multidisciplinary center providing clinical and laboratory services to a wide range of patients and families. Our faculty is on the forefront of research in the diagnosis and treatment of genetic disorders and has proven commitment to the field of genetic counseling and to the families we serve.

As part of The Mount Sinai Medical Center, students of our Department have access to the laboratories, libraries, and educational resources of the School of Medicine and are affiliated with The Mount Sinai Hospital. The integration of academic and clinical disciplines within one of the country's preeminent medical centers provides an ideal environment for our Master's Program, affording our students unparalleled opportunities for study, research, and practice in the challenging and exciting field of human genetics and genetic counseling.