The National Society of Genetic Counselors
Our Mission and Vision
The National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) promotes the professional interests of genetic counselors and provides a network for professional communications. Access to continuing education opportunities, professional resources, advocacy and the discussion of all issues relevant to human genetics and the genetic counseling profession are an integral part of belonging to the NSGC.
Mission: The National Society of Genetic Counselors advances the various roles of genetic counselors in health care by fostering education, research, and public policy to ensure the availability of quality genetic services.
Vision: Integrating genetics and genomics to improve health for all.
Our History
In 1971 the first class of master's degree genetic counselors graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY. Genetic counselors rapidly became an integral member of the genetics team because of the profession's unique knowledge and skills in counseling and human genetics.
In 1978 a group of genetic counselors recognized the need for a professional society to support the unique needs of their profession. 227 genetic counselors each donated $10 to support the forming of a committee to reach that goal and on October 1, 1979, the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) was incorporated in New York with Audrey Heimler serving as the first NSGC President.
Contact Information
National Society of Genetic Counselors
330 N. Wabash Avenue, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60611 nsgc.org/About/Contact-NSGC
Phone: (312) 321-6834
Fax: (312) 673-6972
Email: nsgc@nsgc.org
Additional Resources
Click here to learn more about NSGC's history.
Click here to view a timeline of the genetic counseling profession and NSGC milestones developed by the NSGC Late Career Special Interest Group (SIG) in 2019, in honor of NSGC's 40th anniversary.
The National Society of Genetic Counselors also has a newsletter, Perspectives, which you can subscribe to here.
