July 29: Voices from the Field: Genetic Counseling in Hong Kong and the Dominican Republic

This webinar explores the evolving genetic counseling landscapes in Hong Kong and the Dominican Republic, highlighting both opportunities and challenges in expanding access to care. The first half provides an overview of genetic counseling in Hong Kong, including training pathways, service delivery, genetic testing infrastructure, and barriers to workforce development and patient access. The second half offers a first-hand perspective on establishing a genetic counseling practice in the Dominican Republic, examining legal and certification challenges, clinical practice across reproductive and pediatric settings, and obstacles to genetic testing. Participants will gain insight into how genetic counseling is delivered in two distinct healthcare systems and the practical realities of advancing the profession in emerging regions. The session concludes with a call for global collaboration, advocacy, and resource sharing to strengthen genetic counseling services worldwide.

Presented by: 

NSGC International SIG
Yoyo (Wing Yiu) Chu, MGenCoun, FHGSA (Genetic Counselling)
Camila M. Marranzini, MS, GC

Learning Objectives:

1. Summarize the education, training pathways, and professional roles of genetic counselors in Hong Kong, including available programs and integration within public and private healthcare systems.
2. Describe the regulatory framework, minimum practice requirements, and certification barriers affecting genetic counselors in the Dominican Republic, including challenges related to international credentialing systems (ABGC, EBMG).
3. Analyze structural and systemic barriers to genetic testing access in both Hong Kong and the Dominican Republic, including cost, insurance coverage, infrastructure limitations, and disparities compared to higher-resource settings.
4. Evaluate how cultural, religious, and socioeconomic factors influence the delivery of genetic counseling and clinical practice adaptations in resource-limited settings.