The mission of the Master of Science in Genetic Counseling (MSGC) program at the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences (WCGS), in partnership with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), is to provide students with a strong foundation in the core competencies of genetic counseling. The curriculum emphasizes issues related to human disease, with clinical genetics serving as a primary focus.
We believe that genetics is truly “global medicine”: we cannot understand genetic influences in health and disease without considering many populations around the world. At Weill-Cornell, we are fortunate to have faculty and collaborators around the globe, including those at WCM-Qatar and Sidra Medicine-Qatar. Two of our program leaders, M. Betsy Ross, MD, PhD, FANA and Shenela Lakhani, MSc, CGC, CCGC have a wealth of experience in international settings that informs their teaching and clinical mentoring.
We have designed our program to emphasize translational learning models, providing multiple opportunities for students to directly apply theoretical knowledge they gain from didactic lectures to their clinical rotations at our world-renowned hospitals. The longstanding partnership between Weill Cornell and MSKCC ensures students have access to illustrious faculty, cutting-edge research, and unparalleled patient care resources, setting them up for success in both clinical and research settings.
One of the distinctive features of the program is its small cohort size: we will admit only five students each year. We are committed to a personalized, hands-on approach to training and a close-knit learning environment. We will encourage students to pursue research interests, with dedicated support from faculty mentors who are experts in their fields.
Ultimately, the MSGC program prepares students to become leaders in genetic counseling, combining rigorous academic training with practical experiences in a premier medical and research environment.
ACGC Accreditation
The M.S. Genetic Counseling program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) for new program status. The program's cumulative pass rate will become available in the next three years.
As the founding director of the new Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program at Weill Cornell Medicine, I look forward to welcoming students to the historic Upper East Side in Manhattan New York, home to the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences (WCGS). Founded in 1952, WCGS has partnered with neighboring institutions to provide specialized training opportunities by over 330 skilled faculty and staff.
The MS program in Genetic Counseling in partnership with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is designed to provide students with the necessary skills to become competent, skilled and ethically trained healthcare professionals who will become assets to the field of genetic counseling in clinical care, medical research, academia or industry.
Genetic counselors are lifelong learners and with the rapidly evolving world of genetics, I believe genetic counselors will play an important role in the future of medicine, research and education. I am eager to play a small part in each of our student’s journey to what I can only imagine will be fulfilling, successful and long careers.
Warmly,
Shenela Lakhani, CGC, CCGC
The WCGS in partnership with MSKCC is committed to:
Supporting the individual needs of genetic counseling students and encouraging the growth of the genetic counseling profession through the advancement of training in the areas of clinical care, research, and education.
At WCMC, we believe that our students serve as foundations for developing creative solutions to complex healthcare challenges, advancing pioneering biomedical research, and driving innovation in medical education. The program welcomes those who are the first in their family to attend college, have faced socioeconomic disadvantage, come from under-resourced educational backgrounds, live with disabilities, or bring lived or chosen experiences that reflect a strong commitment to marginalized and underserved communities. We also value the resilience of individuals who have overcome significant challenges in pursuit of graduate education. All candidates who identify with these experiences are encouraged to apply.
Program outcome data (cumulative board examination pass rates, attrition rates, and job placement rates) will become available in three years.
Visit our "Prospective Students" tab for important dates and informational events.
NYP/WCM/CUMC recently hosted a joint neurogenetics symposium at the New York Academy of Sciences titled Advances in Neurogenetics: Diagnostics, Therapeutics, and Clinical Applications.
Dr. Ross, Chair of the MSGC Program, and Shenela Lakhani, Program Director, served on the planning committee alongside faculty from both Weill Cornell and CUMC. The event also welcomed rising second-year genetic counseling students from five programs — Weill Cornell Medicine, Sarah Lawrence College, Long Island University Post, Rutgers, and UConn — providing a wonderful opportunity for future genetic counselors to connect and explore this rapidly evolving field.