Community of Scholars

We foster an inclusive and collaborative environment where individuals from various backgrounds can openly share ideas, learn from one another, and contribute to the collective growth of our community. Our Scholars thrive through mutual respect and the free exchange of knowledge, enriching the learning experience for all.

Scholars from the five programs build relationships through monthly virtual meetings during the academic year where they share experiences, discuss critical topics, and prepare for their careers as professional genetic counselors. They also meet at in-person retreats twice each year, in Philadelphia in the fall and in Boston in the spring.

To support scholars in our alliance programs, we pair two students per institution, fostering partnership and mutual support. The NSGC Minority Genetics Professional Network has highlighted challenges with students often feeling pressure to represent both their personal and minority group perspectives. Clustering scholars can promote inclusion, shared experiences, and emotional support. Research shows that clustering diverse faculty improves retention and reduces isolation in academic settings. We believe that applying this approach will have similar positive effects on our scholars.