Climbing the Ladder: Experience with Developing a Large Group Genetic Counselor Career Ladder at Children's National Health System. Issue 4 (23rd May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kofman, Laura; Seprish, Mary Beth; Summar, Marshall
• Is Part Of: Journal of genetic counseling. Volume 25:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 644
• Page End: 648
• Publication Date: 2016-05-23
• Subjects: Career ladder -- Career development -- Genetic counselor -- Advancement -- Salary -- Professional growth -- Genetic counselor development; Genetic counseling -- Periodicals; 616.042
• DOI: 10.1007/s10897-016-9967-4
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1059-7700

Abstract

Abstract: Children's National Health System (CNHS) is a not‐for‐profit pediatric hospital that employs around twenty genetic counselors in a range of specialties, including clinical pediatric, neurology, fetal medicine, research, and laboratory. CNHS lacked a structured system of advancement for their genetic counselors; therefore, a formal career ladder was proposed by the genetic counselors based on years of experience, responsibility, and job performance. This career ladder utilized monetary, academic, and seniority incentives to encourage advancement and continue employment at CNHS. The creation and ultimate approval of the career ladder required direct input from genetic counselors, Department Chairs, and Human Resource personnel. The establishment of a genetic counselor career ladder at CNHS will hopefully benefit the profession of genetic counselors as a whole and allow other facilities to create and maintain their own career ladder to meet the needs of the growing, competitive, field of genetic counseling.