Highlighting Two ABGC Research Grant Recipients

The purpose of the ABGC Research Award is to encourage and fund research initiatives that support the mission of ABGC to protect the public by setting certification standards and providing leadership to promote the value of certified genetic counselors. Learn more about the grant at abgc.net/research-resources.

We sat down with two recent recipients of the grant, Jeanna McCuaig and Lisa Schwartz, to learn more about their careers and research topics.
 

2020 Recipient Jeanna McCuaig, MSc, PhD, CGC®, CCGC Genetic Counselor, Bhalwani Familial Cancer Clinic at the Princess Clinical Instructor, MSc in Genetic Counselling Program at the University of Toronto
 

What is your background, and how did you get involved in the field of genetic counseling?

I completed my Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Waterloo. As part of my degree, I became involved in the field of genetic counseling by completing several a co-op terms in hereditary cancer clinics working with genetic counselors in a role similar to a genetic counseling assistant. During two work terms at the Familial Cancer Clinic (FCC) at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM) in Toronto, Canada, I was also given opportunities to work on clinical research projects.

I received my Master of Science in genetic counseling from the University of Toronto, where my independent research project fostered my growing interest in genetic counseling related research. Upon graduation in 2010, I took a job as a genetic counselor in the FCC at PM, where I continue to work in both clinical and research roles.

Given my interest in clinical research, I recently obtained a PhD from the University of Toronto.

What was your research topic’s aims/objectives, and why did you choose it?

The aim of my study was to evaluate reported outcomes (including cancer-related distress, genetic testing-related distress and satisfaction) among newly diagnosed high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) patients who had BRCA1/2 tumor testing and subsequent germline testing with post-test genetic counseling.

Initially, I was interested in studying the patient impact of mainstreaming (oncologist ordered genetic testing); however, by the time I was at the point of my PhD where I was defining a research question, many studies were already being done in this area. At the same time, Ontario implemented reflex BRCA1/2 tumor testing for all HGSOC, which was quite novel to me and was quickly becoming a growing area of interest in the field of hereditary cancer. As a genetic counselor, I had many questions about how this would impact patient care. I also thought it was extremely important area of study since this genetic testing model was implemented at a large scale prior to any patient outcome data.

What were your methods/research plan?

I completed a prospective, exploratory cohort study of newly diagnosed HGSOC patients receiving reflexive BRCA1/2 tumor testing at two hospitals in Toronto. Participants were asked to complete two study surveys that measured various outcomes, including cancer-related distress, genetic testing-related distress and satisfaction. Surveys were completed after receiving tumor results and after receiving germline results with post-test genetic counseling.

Once you were given the grant, how long did the full process of conducting the research and publishing/presenting take?

I was awarded the grant in December 2019 and am just completing revisions on the second of two papers now (November 2022). While I had relevant research ethic board approvals prior to receiving the grant, data collection was significantly delayed due to pausing of research during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, ABGC granted an extension so I was able to complete data collection as well as present my findings at the 2022 Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors Annual Education Conference and publish two peer-reviewed articles.

What is the anticipated impact of the project?

The anticipated impact of this project is to inform genetic counseling practices and facilitate the expanded implementation of tumor genetic testing in other disease sites and at other institutions, thereby improving outcomes for individuals and families with hereditary cancer syndromes.

What advice would you give others looking to apply for an ABGC research grant?

Just try! It seems that more and more genetic counselors are becoming involved in research, which they are trying to do “off the side of their desk.” The ABGC grant allowed me to hire a research assistant to help with participant recruitment and data collection. This allowed me to complete my research study while continuing to meet my clinical demands. You also don’t know if you will be successful in obtaining a research grant until you apply. I had several unsuccessful grant applications before receiving funding, so don’t give up!

2021 Recipient Lisa S. Schwartz, EdD, MS, CGC® Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences Director, Pre-Health Professions Advising, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University

What is your background, and how did you get involved in the field of genetic counseling?

I was originally a pre-med student in college, but after volunteering in an emergency room, I realized that medicine was not the right field for me. I was fortunate to attend a guest lecture by the late Beth Fine, a genetic counselor, in one of my classes at Cornell, who sparked my interest in the field. Well before the advent of the internet, I was able to secure a summer internship with a genetic counselor and in a cytogenetics laboratory at the National Institutes of Health, and I was convinced genetic counseling was the right path for me.

I completed the genetic counseling program at the University of Pittsburgh in 1992 and worked in a variety of clinical settings (prenatal, pediatrics and cancer) for a number of years before assuming the role of director of the University of Maryland genetic counseling program in 1997. I was in that role until my family moved to Northern Virginia in 2004, where I completed my doctorate in higher education administration and joined the faculty of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at The George Washington University in 2010.

Although I haven’t practiced as a genetic counselor since leaving the University of Maryland, I remained engaged in the field by teaching an undergraduate and graduate-level genetics course, serving as a dissertation chair for genetic counselors enrolled in GW’s PhD in Translational Health Sciences Program, and volunteering with ACGC and NSGC.

What was your research topic’s aims/objectives, and why did you choose it?

As a faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences at GW, I was interested in exploring the potential need for a post-master’s certificate for genetic counselors working in the laboratory setting. I ended up turning what was initially intended to be a market needs assessment into the ABGC Research Grant application. The specific aims of the study were to:

• Identify knowledge, skills and competencies required for an entry-level laboratory genetic counselor as noted by experts in the laboratory (e.g., laboratory genetic counselors with more than five years of experience, genetics and non-genetic laboratory directors and managers).
• Determine the perceived level of preparation in laboratory genetic counseling knowledge, skills and competencies among currently practicing genetic counselors, both within and outside of the laboratory setting.
• Assess the perceived value of an additional credential for genetic counselors practicing in laboratory settings.
• Suggest the preferred method by which laboratory genetic counseling knowledge, skills and competencies may be best developed and attained, such as more hands-on experience through existing accredited genetic counseling programs, credit-bearing academic program (e.g., post-master’s certificate) or continuing education (e.g., non-academic credit-bearing certification).

What were your methods/research plan?

The study used a two-phase, exploratory mixed-method approach. Phase I involved interviews of genetic counselors working in the laboratory setting, the results of which informed the development of a survey used in Phase II.

Once you were given the grant, how long did the full process of conducting the research and publishing/presenting take?

After getting the agreement between ABGC and GW settled, as well as approval from the GW IRB, Phase I (qualitative interviews) took about nine months, and then Phase II (quantitative survey) took another six months. I will be presenting the qualitative phase of the study as a platform presentation and the quantitative phase as a virtual poster at the NSGC conference in November in Nashville. I am working on revisions to a manuscript submitted to the Journal of Genetic Counseling on the qualitative phase and, if accepted, will submit a manuscript on the quantitative phase results to JOGC.

What was the anticipated impact of the project?

Overall, the results of the study indicate that genetic counselors working in the laboratory setting feel well-prepared and uniquely positioned to serve in their roles, but recommend that more didactic and field work training about the clinical laboratory be incorporated into master’s in genetic counseling training programs. They also reported that the current (2019) PBCs were transferable to their roles but could benefit from being revised and expanded to better reflect the oftentimes non-direct patient care roles in the laboratory setting.

Interestingly, while I was conducting the study, ABGC was conducting a practice analysis and working on revision of the Practice Based Competencies for Genetic Counselors. Nearly all participants expressed not wanting an additional credential or specific training to be required to serve in a laboratory-based role, as they felt it would restrict genetic counselors’ ability to move into these roles.

What advice would you give others looking to apply for an ABGC research grant?

If you have an interest in exploring something that you’ve observed or are curious about, even if not obvious at first glance, the likelihood is that with some creativity and hard work, and support of other like-minded genetic counselors like those I was able to convince to join my Advisory Board for the study, you can successfully turn it into an ABGC research grant application.