EBMG Genetic counsellors and genetic nurses branch board
Branch structure
The Genetic counsellors and genetic nurses branch board (GCGN board) is a 10-member voluntary board representing professional certification of genetic nurses and genetic counsellors in Europe. The GCGN was formed in 2013 to set in place unified professional standards for genetic counsellors and genetic nurses across Europe. Members of the board are all EBMG-registered genetic counsellors and nurses and are drawn from a wide variety of countries and professional backgrounds. Each board member serves a 4-year term, renewable once for 4 more years. Upon vacancies in the board, candidates for new member are nominated by, and voted on, by the board members.
A separate Appeals committee, made up of 3 EBMG-registered genetic counsellors does not form part of the main branch board, but acts as a review committee if a candidate appeals their registration result.
Officers
Officers serving of the GCGN Branch Board are a president and two vice-presidents. At the annual board meeting a vote is held to determine the next vice-president elect from within the board members. Officer positions are for 3 years, through a rotation of co-chair, chair and past-chair of the Branch Board.
Additionally, a Branch Board member serves in the rotation of officers (president-elect; president and past-president) of the EBMG executive. The candidate for the EBMG executive is not required to be the GCGN Branch Board president, but is any member of the Branch Board.
Main activities
There are 3 main activities of the GCGN Branch Board:
- Assessment of MSc in Genetic Counselling curricula;
- Registration of genetic counsellors via an assessment of a body of work (portfolio)
- 5-yearly assessment of renewal of registration via CPD log for registered genetic counsellors
The procedures on submission, evaluation, notification, appeal for each of these three activities is standardized and available on the GCGN pages of the EBMG website.
The GCGN maintains its own webpages within the EBMG website and officers maintain an email account accessible to both registered genetic counsellors and the general public.
Meetings
All members of the GCGN Branch Board meet annually in February for a 2-day meeting to review registration portfolios of new applicants and discuss branch business. Other meetings are held via Skype conferences throughout the year, as business arises. Officers of the Branch Board participate in monthly EBMG executive conference calls.
The GCGN Branch Board holds an Open meeting for genetic counsellors at the annual ESHG conference to present professional topics for genetic counsellors and genetic nurses. The GCGN Branch Board also holds a brief, closed business meeting at the annual ESHG.All Branch Board members in attendance at the ESHG annual meeeting attend the EBMG general assembly, and those unable to attend offer proxy votes at the meeting as necessary.
Courses
The GCGN Branch Board does not run further education training or courses for genetic counsellors, nor does it provide an evaluation for genetic counselling professional activities other than MSc curricula. The GCGN Branch is pleased to publicise any recognized courses and events that would be of interest to genetic counsellors on their website.
The GCGN may from time to time publish guidelines on aspects of GCGN professional training (such as genomics training, or counselling supervision) via the EBMG website; or participate in publication of peer-reviewed articles in the genetics literature.
Finances
All members of the board work in a voluntary capacity. Monies are generated from fees for evaluation of new MSc programs; assessment of individual registration portfolios; and registration renewal. Monies are disbursed for the work of the Board: Board members are reimbursed reasonable costs to attend a 2-day annual business meeting for application reviews. A percentage of monies generated by the Branch are contributed to the overall funding of the EBMG.