Department of Pediatrics
Department of Pediatrics
The Department of Pediatrics

Genetics - Genetic Counseling Program (GCP)

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston is dedicated to improving the health and welfare of all infants, children, and adolescents.


The Division of Medical Genetics of the Department of Pediatrics also hosts the Master of Science Genetic Counseling Program (GCP) in conjunction with the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (http://gsbs.uth.tmc.edu/programs/genetic_counseling/gencouns.html). The program has trained accomplished genetic counselors since its inception in 1989 under the direction of Dr. Jacqueline T. Hecht. The program was granted full accreditation from the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 2000 and recently received reaccreditation in 2006 for the full eight year term. While Dr. Hecht remains active in many aspects of the program, the GCP welcomed a new Program Director in August 2006, Claire N. Singletary, MS, CGC (Claire.N.Singletary@uth.tmc.edu) who will continue to lead the program in the upcoming years.

In addition to the Program Directors, the GCP is fortunate to have a strong group of core faculty including the Medical Director, Dr. Hope Northrup (Hope.Northrup@uth.tmc.edu) and the Assistant Program Director, Sarah J. Noblin, MS, CGC (Sarah.J.Noblin@uth.tmc.edu). The program is notable for the excellent diversity and complexity of cases that students are exposed to in the Department of Pediatrics, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science (one of 14 National Institutes of Health Maternal-Fetal Medicine Network Centers), and the world renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Research opportunities for student theses abound, as do the opportunities to explore new mainstream genetic counseling in the Texas Medical Center.  The academic coursework is rigorous, with the curriculum providing comprehensive training in cytogenetics, classical and molecular genetics, psychosocial counseling, and research skills.  Additional information on the profession of genetic counseling may be found at the National Society of Genetic Counselors website (www.ngsc.org) and the UT GCP website.