Genetic Counselor in Training
Jordan Peters, originally from Anniston, Alabama, is a Jax State alum who graduated in 2022 with a B.S. in Biology. After graduating from JSU, she worked as an intern at the UNC Cancer & Adult Genetics Clinic for a year, and now she is attending the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine training to be a genetic counselor.
During her time at JSU, Peters discovered her passion for genetics, and she became eager to study genetic conditions, their causes, and how they affect people’s lives. After considering what career would provide her the opportunity to combine her love for research, desire for knowledge of medical genetics, and passion for patient care, she realized that genetic counseling is the career for her. Genetic counselors interpret family and medical histories, educate patients on things such as risk occurrence and appropriate genetic testing options, and support patients’ emotional and psychosocial needs in the counseling process.
After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Peters hopes to step into a genetic counseling role, possibly specializing in cancer. As an advocate for patient care, one of her end goals is to connect with the communities that face challenges receiving quality genetic services due to disadvantages such as racial, financial, or geographic barriers. She recognizes that many people lack access to these services, have limited to no knowledge that they exist, or are apprehensive of pursuing them due to mistrust in the healthcare system. She hopes to address these issues and establish trust with patients from all backgrounds.
Peters is grateful for the dedicated people in the JSU Biology department who pushed her to think big, provided her the knowledge that allowed her to stand confidently amongst her peers in the field of genetics, and prepared her for real-world challenges that have granted her a smooth transition into the professional world.
Peters says that genetic counseling is an incredible profession, but because it is such a specialized field, it may be difficult to figure out how to get your foot in the door. She advises those interested in this profession to gain as much information and exposure as they can and to not be afraid to reach out to genetic counselors in their area and ask about shadowing opportunities and any questions they may have. Most importantly, Peters says one needs to know why they want to pursue this profession, saying, “It is not an easy journey whether it be getting through undergraduate or graduate school but keeping your ‘why’ in mind will push you through any difficulties you may face.”
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