In this chapter of Career Stories, we bring you the journey of Lakshita Chauhan , who is the first (Senior) Genetic Counselor of the Defense Forces of India in the Army Hospital. She is currently a Senior Genetic Counselor on a consultancy basis with Mapmygenome which provides actionable steps for individuals and their physicians combining genetic health profile and health history with genetic counseling.
With a soaring passion and commitment to the field of genetic counseling, she continues to put her best foot forward.
In this candid discussion, she speaks at length about her journey, while carving out a career in genetic counseling.
Having come from a diverse educational background, what caught your interest in Genetic Counseling?
I still remember when I was in class eight, I learned about genetics and biotechnology. Since then, genetics was stuck in my mind. I always wanted to study more about it and work in the same field. I was sure I did not want to be a researcher or work in research labs, so my search for the field was narrowed down to Genetic Counseling. I had no godfathers to guide me in this field so I started my own exploration. When I first read about genetic counseling, I felt – “This is it! This brings an end to my search. This is what I want!”
Which educational qualification(s) would lead an aspirant toward genetic counseling?
I myself have completed a PG diploma in Genetic Counseling.
However, in India it is not mandatory to have a master’s in Genetic Counseling (GC). A prerequisite for training as a genetic counselor is either:
- B.Sc + M.Sc (total 5 years) or,
- B.Tech (4 years) in health sciences and allied fields, or
- B.Sc + 1-year Diploma course in Genetic Counseling (total 4 years).
Once an individual trains under a GC, they write the certification exam conducted by the Board of Genetic Counseling India (BGCI), to practice as a GC.
Separately, students from a medical background (MBBS and MD degrees) can pursue a doctorate of medicine (DM) course in Medical Genetics (3 years) and then opt for a career in genetic counseling.
Please share your views on the scope of Genetic Counseling in India.
According to me, the scope and demand of GC is growing in every domain.
Looking back, a decade ago, Indian society was largely unaware of genetic counseling. Even if they were aware, the clinicians were not accommodative of the field, and hardly felt the need for it. But now, the medical bodies and society are welcoming the GC profession with open arms.
As the rate of prevalence of diagnosing genetic conditions is gradually increasing, and understanding the report is not everyone’s cup of tea, people have started acknowledging the significance of a genetic counselor in India.
What is the most satisfying part of your work, as a GC?
Being the first GC of the Defense Forces says it all!
I feel honored and blessed to be a part of such an organization. I can get valuable clinical exposure and every single day I meet a new family with diverse perspectives and understanding of their health condition, genetic testing, and cultural beliefs. Counseling, diagnosing, and helping out patients and their families, especially when they are heartbroken, showing them a ray of hope is what I have always wanted from my life.
How important is regional language proficiency, for a practicing genetic counselor in India?
It plays a crucial role in this profession. Not everyone is comfortable with the national language. A large part of those who need genetic counseling, understand it best in their native language. I believe that as genetic counselors we need to build a rapport and make our patients and their family comfortable. It is always a two-way street. If my consultee is confused or is left in doubt due to the language, then it is a barrier to delivering essential information.
It is necessary for the families to comprehend the knowledge and hence, language cannot act as a deterrent.
Having experienced both, a clinical lab and a hospital setting, could you compare the two, in terms of the work profile as a genetic counselor.
There are three different aspects that we can discuss here:
In terms of the frequency of patients – I have observed that the number of patients and their follow-up rate is good in the setting of an army hospital. But if I talk about private or government hospitals in India, genetic testing is still quite expensive and it is inversely proportional to the number of patients.
Comparing this with clinical labs that offer genetic counseling, the sample size could be quite high due to the presence of the lab in multiple cities. Unfortunately in a lab setting – clinical exposure as a genetic counselor, ample patient interaction, and follow-up is something that is still lacking.
In terms of the patient’s acceptance of the counseling offered – In India, a family trusts the counseling provided in a hospital setting when compared to a lab setting. Therefore, when counseling is offered in a hospital setting, patients are more welcoming and accepting.
Job-related perspective for genetic counselors – As I mentioned above, the field is gradually expanding and genetic counselors are in demand, in metro cities. Although we still need to work hard to spread awareness and promote genetic counseling and its importance. We need to work to make it a better place for newcomers in this field.
