Genetic Counselor Assistant - Digestive & Liver Diseases

Columbia University in the City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 66,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia University in the City of New York is seeking a Genetic Counseling Assistant to support genetic counselors in clinical, research, and administrative duties. You will gain exposure to patient care in cancer genetics and be positioned for graduate education in genetic counseling.

The role covers coordination of testing, education materials preparation, and data entry, with opportunities to engage in outreach and research activities within the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in genetics or biological sciences.
• Excellent communication (oral and written), interpersonal, customer service, and organizational skills.
• Highly self-motivated and attentive to detail.
• Basic math and computer skills including experience with Microsoft Office products (Access, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Minimum of a 2 year commitment.
• Training and mastery of EPIC electronic medical records will be required upon hire.

Responsibilities

• Clinical: communicate with patients; assist in coordination of genetic testing, counseling, and cancer screening/risk reducing strategies.
• Administrative: gather medical records, coordinate blood draws, shipping, billing codes; liaise with labs and insurers.
• Data maintenance: perform data entry, maintain internal genetics databases, stock testing kits.
• Support education: prepare patient materials and assist with lectures/seminars; gather program statistics.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's Degree in genetics or biological sciences

Tools

EPIC electronic medical records

Microsoft Office

Job description

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $66,300 - $70,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

The Gastrointestinal Cancer Genetics Program identifies individuals and families that may have a hereditary cancer syndrome and provides genetic risk assessment, genetic testing, screening and support. We have an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Genetic Counseling Assistant (GCA). The GCA serves as an assistant to the cancer genetic counselors and responsibilities of the GCA include clinical, research and administrative duties. Individuals in this position will gain first-hand knowledge of patient care related to the field of cancer genetics and will be well-poised to pursue graduate education in genetic counseling, if so desired.

Responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

• Communicate with patients, as necessary, related to clinical care and education
• Assist in the coordination of genetic testing, counseling, and cancer screening/risk reducing strategies across providers in the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, including review of genetic test results, patient pedigrees, cascade testing

Administrative Responsibilities

• Gather pertinent medical records and prepare patient charts
• Coordinate blood draws, package and ship clinical testing specimens, complete genetic testing requisition forms, including interpretation of patient pedigrees and assignment of diagnosis and procedure codes to ensure accurate billing
• Act as liaison between genetic testing laboratories, health insurance providers, and genetic counselors
• Perform data entry and maintenance of internal genetics databases
• Maintain stock of testing kits, patient handouts and other supplies
• Assist genetic counselors in preparing and organizing patient education materials as well as materials for genetics lectures/seminars and community outreach events
• May assist with gathering statistics for the Cancer Genetics Program
• Ensure that all genetic test results are documented in the electronic medical record and that results and result letters have been provided to the patient and referring provider either by US Mail or via the electronic medical record portal.
• Follow HIPAA guidelines for the management of patient privacy and confidentiality

Research Responsibilities

• Facilitate ongoing research protocols which includes but not limited to: screening for patient eligibility, assist with data collection, data entry and maintaining study databases
• Assistance with data analysis, preparation of IRB proposals/regulatory documentation, and preparation of manuscripts and grant proposals

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in genetics or biological sciences
• Excellent communication (both oral and written), interpersonal, customer service, and organizational skills.
• Highly self-motivated and attentive to detail
• Basic math and computer skills including experience with Microsoft Office products required (Access, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Minimum of a 2 year commitment
• Training and mastery of EPIC electronic medical records will be required upon hire

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in medical facility or genetics related field
• Familiarity with medical terminology
• Spanish language skills preferred

Other Requirements

• Participation in the medical surveillance program
  • Contact with patients and/or human research subjects
• Successful completion of applicable compliance and systems training requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.