New NSGC President

The National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) elected Robin L. Bennett as President for 2003. Bennett is Senior Genetic Counselor and Clinic Manager for the University of Washington Medical Genetics Clinic in Seattle, and the coordinator of the VHL Clinical Care Center there.

As President of NSGC, Bennett is responsible for leading the association and serving as its chief spokesperson. In her first act as president, she has called for an "environmental scan" to examine how the profession is perceived by key individuals inside and outside of genetic counseling.

Bennett has been with the University of Washington since graduating from the Sarah Lawrence Human Genetics Program in 1984. She is certified in genetic counseling by the American Board of Medical Genetics and the American Board of Genetic Counseling. She has been a forerunner in the development of genetic counseling practice recommendations including developing criteria for pedigree nomenclature that are now the world standard. She has spoken and published extensively on topics related to her work in Huntington disease, consanguinity (when cousins have children together), neurogenetics, VHL, cancer genetics, inborn errors of metabolism, genetic family history, and ethical issues in genetic counseling and genetic testing. She has authored two books including the recent release, The Practical Guide to the Genetic Family History, published by John Wiley & Sons in 1999.

NSGC is a not-for-profit professional membership organization, consisting of more than 2,000 genetic counselors. Genetic counselors work as members of a health care team, providing information and support to families and individuals who have members with birth defects, genetic disorders, or may be at risk for inherited conditions.