Genetic counseling program director competencies as proposed by the program leadership development subcommittee of the Genetic Counselor Educators Association

Abstract

The growth and maintenance of a highly qualified genetic counselor workforce necessitates the cultivation of competent leaders of accredited genetic counseling graduate programs. This study aimed to identify essential competencies for Genetic Counseling Program Directors (GCPDs) using a modified Delphi approach. The study was facilitated by the Program Leadership Development Subcommittee of the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors (now the Genetic Counselor Educators Association) and included experienced program directors and associate directors from accredited programs in North America. The process began with a literature review identifying key leadership competencies in medical education, allied health, and other fields resulting in an initial list of 127 potential competencies across nine domains. Graduate program leaders participated in an initial survey, rating the importance of each competency. Subsequent rounds of ranking and feedback enabled prioritization, refinement, and consolidation of critical competencies. The process achieved consensus among the subcommittee on 34 foundational competencies, classified into four domains: Leadership, Relationships, Operations, and Education, with Leadership positioned at the core due to its integral role. A key addition that had not been identified in the literature review or survey responses was a competency related to applying the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice throughout the program, bringing the final number of competencies to 35. This framework of competencies provides a scaffolding for designing targeted professional development and educational opportunities, which will, in turn, help create a robust and effective GCPD leadership pipeline and inform the evaluation of GCPDs.