At Color, we celebrate diversity and believe in building a diverse workforce to represent our client population. We tap into our varied cultures, backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to unleash the strength of our diverse team in every aspect of our work. Genetic counselors at Color provide high-quality genetic counseling and care to clients and providers. Our care delivery model improves access to genetic testing and counseling, especially for individuals who have traditionally been excluded and underserved in healthcare and genomics.
Genetic Counseling Programs at Color
Building a diverse genetic counseling workforce
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment market for genetic counselors is expected to grow 26% by 2030, faster than the average for all other occupations.
Despite this rapid growth, the field continues to be composed predominantly of white, cisgender women. Diversity improves the client-provider interaction, but has deeper impact, too–it fosters acceptance of genomic services and research in under-represented groups to alleviate health disparities across populations.
Color offers two education programs as part of our commitment to building a diverse genetic counseling workforce:
- The Lauren Ryan Summer Scholar for current students
- The GC Immersive for prospective students
The Lauren Ryan Memorial Summer Scholar Program
The Lauren Ryan Memorial Summer Scholar Program, previously known as the Color Genetic Counseling Summer Scholar Program, was established in 2021 as an avenue to help decrease barriers and increase opportunity for underrepresented genetic counseling students navigating their entrance into the profession. Lauren Ryan was a fierce advocate and pioneer in increasing equity and diversity in the genetic counseling profession, and championed the inception of this program as she did all other endeavors – with heart, passion, encouragement and human connection.
This remote internship enables one first-year student to earn a scholarship, while learning alongside and helping to return research results with supervision from the Color and All of Us Research Program genetic counselors. Genetic counseling students who are currently enrolled in an ABGC-accredited genetic counseling program and who are considered to be or identifies as a member of a group or demographic that has been historically excluded from the genetic counseling profession – based on ethnicity, sex, gender, disability, sexuality, financial hardship, and others – are eligible. We hope that each student awarded this opportunity strives to be a champion for cultural awareness, diversity, equity, justice and inclusion within genetic counseling, just as Lauren embodied.
Applications for the 2025 Lauren Ryan Memorial Genetic Counseling Summer Scholar Program are now being accepted until January 5, 2025. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status by February 28, 2025.
To make a charitable tax-deductible donation to the Lauren Ryan Genetic Counselor Access Memorial Award, please visit the National Society of Genetic Counselors website.
The remote internship includes:
$10,000 scholarship to cover living, educational, and other associated training expenses for the summer
A full clinical rotation with mentorship by Color’s board-certified genetic counselors including telemedicine counseling for Color clients and All of Us Research Program participants
Opportunities to work alongside and learn from team members across a wide variety of specialties and backgrounds, including NIH All of Us Research Program management
Special projects, presentations, and collaborations with emphasis on promoting diversity and inclusion either within genetic counseling or genetics research
Genetic Counseling Immersive Program
The GC Immersive at Color is a fully remote, educational program, designed to advance the knowledge and experience of aspiring genetic counselors. The program benefits historically under-represented members of the counseling community by enabling fully remote access to Color’s leading team, enabling participation in the program from anywhere in the world.
Whether you are researching a genetic counseling career or applying for a graduate program, you’ll gain the real-world experience you need to become a qualified and competitive applicant.
Please note, this program may not be for you if you already have shadowing or other experience in the genetic counseling field, and/or if you do not identify as under-represented.
Enrollment will be open through December 1, 2024. Additional enrollment periods will become available Spring 2025.
The remote internship includes:
Fundamentals and history of the genetic counseling profession
Introduction to pedigrees and basic genetic testing strategies
Mock genetic counseling sessions, plus live discussion with current genetic counselors and students
Guidance on how to navigate the genetic counseling graduate program interview process
Resources to strengthen your genetic counseling application, including a certificate of completion
