Saturday, December 31, 2011

Farewell 2011…Welcome 2012!

What a wonderful, crazy busy, and exciting year we have had! To name only a few of our accomplishments, we’ve met with payers to discuss recognition of genetic counselors and reimbursement for our services, we’ve developed and published practice guidelines establishing ourselves as experts in providing optimal care, and we have 31 states in varied positions of pursuing or issuing state licenses! We have conducted several meetings on Capitol Hill with key members of Congress and congressional committees in an effort to garner support and provide education in pursuit of our legislation recognizing genetic counselors as independent healthcare providers. We’ve created position statements on important issues about which NSGC must have a position or take a stand. We’ve launched tool kits to aid genetic counselors in our self-marketing efforts and continued efforts to promote NSGC’s brand. Our education efforts have been extraordinary, cutting edge and technologically advanced; offering opportunities for all members and resulting in the largest, most successful AEC we’ve ever held!

So what’s in store for 2012? Our new rolling strategic plan, focusing on Access, promoting our Value, and addressing Workforce issues, will be put into action this year. We will continue in our efforts to achieve payer recognition at the state and national levels while demonstrating that genetic counselors are cost effective and efficient patient care providers. We will also demonstrate and promote the value of genetic counseling performed by genetic counselors. And as the demand for genetic counseling services by genetic counselors increases, we will develop workforce recommendations allowing us to meet these demands.

As you can see, we have accomplished so much, but have more to do! “Thank you” to all of you for your hard work on behalf of your organization, profession, and colleagues. You are incredibly talented, creative, and tireless and have brought us to where we are today. Keep up the good work!

It has been a privilege and honor for me to be our organization’s spokesperson in 2011. I have truly loved being involved in every aspect of our organization’s goals and initiatives and representing our incredible profession. It has been wonderful meeting and getting to know so many of you, our outstanding dynamic volunteers, who inspired me every step along the way. Thank you for the opportunity and making this a memorable experience.

Now it is time to turn the reins over to our 2012 president, Brenda Finucane. She will have her hands full with leading us in our 2012 initiatives and is well equipped to take on these charges. Brenda is inspiring, energetic, and charismatic and will lead us gracefully and boldly into the New Year!
Happy new year to all, and please join me in welcoming Brenda!