Genetic Counselor On Call
A genetic counselor is on call from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday to address medical genetic questions by phone or to counsel directly in the physician's office. Call (404) 778-8549.

Download and print our quick reference sheets:
For Your Office:
When to Refer Patients

For Your Patients:
Preconceptional Genetic Counseling Info
Cancer Genetic Counseling Information

What Is Genetic Counseling?
Genetic Counseling is a professional assessment of a patient's risk factors regarding their family history or a pregnancy. The goal of genetic counseling is not only risk assessment, but also to explain cause/inheritance of a disorder, availability of testing, prognosis and management/ treatment, and options. Genetic counseling sessions typically last one hour, or longer, depending on the complexity of the case. There is usually no charge for patients who need further genetic counseling after their first session (i.e. such as in the case of an abnormal prenatal diagnostic result). Each counselor is assigned to one patient for continuity in complicated cases.

What Is a Genetic Counselor?
Genetic counselors have a minimum of a master's degree in genetic counseling or a related field. The former includes extensive training in both human genetics as well as psychology. Board Certification for Genetic Counseling is offered every three years by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. All Genetic Counselors at Emory Genetics are Board-Certified and work under the supervision of a Board-Certified M.D. Clinical Geneticist, who reviews and signs out on all of the genetic counseling cases.

What Happens in a Genetic Counseling Session?
Typically, the components of a genetic counseling session include:

• Asking the patient, couple or family their understanding of why they were referred.
• Obtaining a family pedigree of at least 3 generations (preferably 4), documenting all genetic conditions and health problems, with medical records.
• Obtaining the couple's environmental history and personal medical history.
• For a child or adult suspected of a genetic disorder, their environmental and personal medical history are also obtained.
• Obtaining the mother and father's reproductive history.
• Explaining the genetic causes of birth defects.
• Explaining the diagnosis of a genetic disorder or risk of a genetic disorder, the inheritance, recurrence risk, prognosis, management and treatment options.
• Explaining genetic testing options for the current or future pregnancy, or for symptomatic or at-risk individuals in the family. This may include research studies depending on the disorder.
• Provide supportive counseling and referral to patient support groups and/or other families with similar experiences.
• Support the individual, couple or family in whatever decision best suites them, with regards to the information received, their personal, religious, and moral values. In this manner, genetic counseling is non-directive.

At Emory Genetics, we leave a copy of the progress note for the referring physician, followed by a detailed summary letter mailed to both the patient and the referring physician for their records. Depending on the situation, follow-up sessions are sometimes needed. These sessions are scheduled with the same genetic counselor for continuity and confidentiality.

Genetic Counselors

Heather Clark, M.S.
Board-Certified Genetic Counselor
Perinatal and Cancer Genetics

Karlene Coleman, R.N., M.N.
Board-Certified Genetic Counselor
Pediatric Genetics

Shelley Dills, M.S.
Board-Eligible Genetic Counselor
Perinatal and Pediatric Genetics

Andrew Faucett, M.S.
Board-Certified Genetic Counselor
Director, Genomics and Public Health Program

Sallie Freeman, Ph.D.
Board-Certified Genetic Counselor
Down Syndrome

Eleanor Geller-Botha, M.S.
Board-Certified Genetic Counselor
Lysosomal Storage Diseases

Karen Grinzaid, M.S.
Board-Certified Genetic Counselor
Lysosomal Storage Diseases

Nikki Justice, M.S.
Board-Certified Genetic Counselor
Pediatric Genetics

Dawn Jacob Laney, M.S.
Board-Certified Genetic Counselor
Perinatal Genetics, Newborn Screening, and Lysosomal Storage Diseases

Ken Loud, M.S.
Board-Certified Genetic Counselor
Co-Director, Genetic Counseling Program

Patricia Page, M.S.
Board-Certified Genetic Counselor
Newborn Screening

Sharon Quary, M.S.
Senior Research Coordinator

Vanessa Rangel, M.S.
Board-Certified Genetic Counselor
Laboratory Triage

Christine Stanislaw, M.S.
Board-Certified Genetic Counselor
Cancer Genetics

Catherine Tesla, M.S.
Board-Certified Genetic Counselor
Perinatal Genetics, Cancer Genetics, Web Education in Genetics

Counseling Sites
On a call-in basis or at a regularly scheduled time for your clinic site. Call (404) 778-8549 or (800) 366-1502.

ATLANTA
Emory Genetics Counseling Center (404) 778-8549
Gwinnett Medical Center (404) 778-8549
Kennestone Hospital (404) 778-8549
Northside Hospital (404) 778-8549
Piedmont Hospital (404) 778-8549

Summary Notes and Letters
Summary notes from counseling sessions are faxed to the referring physician within 24 hours of the meeting. Detailed letters are subsequently mailed to the patient and referring physician for their records.