#366 Inside NSGC 2025: Entrepreneurship, Career Growth, & Genetic Counseling Trends

We’re back from the 44th National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) Annual Conference, which took place this year in scenic Seattle, Washington! Between the waterfront views, lively poster sessions, and packed educational symposia, the energy was electric as genetic counselors and industry partners came together to celebrate the progress and future of our field.

This marks the 7th year in a row that DNA Today has produced an NSGC recap episode, and it continues to be our favorite conference of the year (shhh don’t tell the others).

Our host Kira Dineen, MS, LCGC, CG(ASCP)CM, spent the week attending sessions, reconnecting with past guests and sponsors, and meeting so many listeners in person (thank you to everyone who stopped to say hello!).

In this episode we conduct a few in-person lightning interviews featuring attendees of the conference highlighting their favorite sessions and what they learned. Attendees featured include Grace Drew, Celine Belekdanian, Sofia Sheikh, Cristina Liriano Cepin, and Kim Ta.

Kira Dineen was one of six panelists for the preconference workshop, “Think Big, Start Small: A Practical Guide to Entrepreneurship”. After it wrapped she caught up with Kate Wilson to reflect on entrepreneurship as a career path for genetic counselors. Kate Wilson was the session coordinator and moderator. Kate’s two podcasts All Access DNA and DNA Dialogues are housed under our science podcast network, Gene Pool Media.

Relevant Resources:

NSGC Professional Status Survey (PSS)

DNA Dialogues, Journal of Genetic Counseling’s Podcast

All Access DNA

Gene Pool Media: The Science Podcast Network

Relevant DNA Today Podcast Episode:

#232 Entrepreneurship in Genetics with Matt Tschirgi

#302 DNA Dialogues: Gender-Affirming Terminology and Hereditary Cancer Care

#307 NSGC 2024 Recap

Curious about other NSGC conferences? We have recapped the last seven years of conferences including 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Don't forget to mark your calendars! The 45th NSGC Annual Conference is happening next year in Baltimore, MD from November 10-14, 2025. We are already excited to eat lots of crab cakes with fellow genetic counselors.

What’s next on our conference schedule? We will be in New Hampshire for NERGG December 4th and 5th. Our host Kira Dineen will be presenting about how to utilize social and digital media in advocacy efforts. Check out the agenda here and register here, and if you are a student you get 50% off!

Get ready, genetic nerds—another brand-new episode of DNA Today drops this Friday! You can always count on us to deliver fresh content every Friday.

While you wait, why not dive into our library of over 350 episodes? Binge them all on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or wherever you love to listen—just search “DNA Today.”

Prefer watching? We’ve got you covered! For the past four years, we’ve been recording episodes with video, including some filmed at the iconic NBC Universal Stamford Studios. Check them out on our YouTube channel!

DNA Today is hosted and produced by Kira Dineen, MS, LCGC, CG(ASCP)CM. Our Video Lead is Amanda Andreoli. Our Social Media Lead Liv Davidson. And our logo Graphic Designer is Ashlyn Enokian, MS, CGC.

See what else we are up to on Instagram, X (Twitter), BluSky, Threads, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNAToday.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to info@DNAtoday.com.