Members

The Abstract Workgroup plays a vital role selecting the research presented at the Annual Conference. Workgroup members review abstracts submitted for presentation at the Annual Conference and have a front row seat to the amazing research that is being done to advance the field of genetic counseling.

Volunteer Responsibilities and Time Commitment:

• 3-year term (Jan. 2026 – Dec. 2028)
• Workgroup members are asked to review approximately 20-30 abstracts with a 2-week time frame in late Spring-Summer 2026. Workgroup members may also assist with moderating concurrent paper and/or poster sessions at the 2026 Annual Conference, if attending.
  • The majority of the Abstract Workgroup volunteer time takes place in the Spring and Summer 2026 preceding the Annual Conference to ensure research is selected and authors are notified in advance of the conference.
  • Time commitment depends on the number of abstracts received, however includes ~3-4 hours of training (including recordings which can be viewed independently, live group training, and practice abstracts) and dedicated independent time to review abstracts over a several week period as above.

Qualifications

• The Abstract Workgroup welcomes applications from NSGC members.  While having a background in research is helpful, it is certainly not required.  The workgroup trains all members to evaluate abstract submissions.  All are welcome to apply!
• The Abstract Workgroup especially welcomes new graduates and is a great way to become involved in NSGC.  Having a diverse pool of abstract reviewers ensures that the selected abstracts best represent the interests of our Society members.

Travel Requirement

• No travel required.

Please reach out to staff liaison Cara Trauscht with any questions.

The Access and Service Delivery (ASD) Committee is responsible for monitoring and addressing issues related to increasing access to genetic counselors and the delivery of genetic counseling services. The Committee is organized into working groups which are determined based upon the charges for the year. For example, to accomplish the 2024 charges the Committee was organized into the following working groups: Billing & CPT Education, Payer Engagement, and Environmental Scan. Examples of ASD projects can include, but are not limited to: the development and promotion of billing, coding, and credentialing resources; licensure grant application review; member education on ASD issues and resources (such as the new CPT code), including Advocate and Perspectives articles, webinars, courses, and more; and environmental scan of state laws impacting genetic counselor scope of practice.

Volunteer Expectations and Time Commitment:

• Three-year term.
• Available for semi-monthly all ASD member Committee calls.
• Available for monthly, or rarely more frequent, working group calls.
• There are no travel expectations associated with the ASD.
• Committee members are expected to spend 3-4 hours per month including meetings.

Please reach out to ASD Staff Liaison  Juliet Sullivan with any questions.

The Advocacy Committee collaborates with staff in coordinating outreach, communication, and education for NSGC membership focused on building support for the Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act and other legislation that NSGC asks members to act on to support the goal of advancing the practice of genetic counseling. To learn more about NSGC’s federal advocacy effort, visit the Federal Advocacy webpage. 

Time Commitment:

• Member responsibilities may evolve depending on the status of the Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act. Because of this, there are no set term limits for the Advocacy Committee.
• Participate in monthly committee calls (1 hour long).
• Average work of 1-2 hours/month, outside of committee calls and meetings.

Travel Requirement

• There are also no travel requirements, but volunteers local to the Washington, D.C. area may be invited to events on Capitol Hill.

Volunteer Qualifications/responsibilities

• Attend and actively participate in monthly meetings.
• Review committee email updates.
• Collaborate with staff on outreach to the membership, constituents, and organizations focused on NSGC’s advocacy efforts.
• Provide regular updates on outreach activity.
• Communicate the value of participating as an advocate for the federal bill through member education.

Please reach out to Advocacy Committee Staff Liaison, Juliet Sullivan, with any questions.

Throughout the year, NSGC identifies various opportunities to engage volunteers in short-term projects such as document review, subject matter commentary or resource development.  Additionally, we may have the opportunity to engage members to serve as liaisons to specific projects or organizations, or to engage members in other ways.  Members who are willing to be contacted as opportunities arise in 2026 should submit their application via the Call for Volunteers process (select the Ad Hoc Projects option under interested committees). Please reach out to the NSGC Executive Office with any questions about ad hoc opportunities. 

The Annual Conference Program Committee (ACPC) works year-round to plan and develop the educational content for NSGC’s Annual Conference. Committee members review and score session proposal submissions and engage in collaborative and strategic discussions to determine the final slate of sessions at the conference, as well as develop content for the late-breaking session. Leading up to the conference, committee members communicate regularly with accepted sessions to provide support as needed with content development and ensure session content is addressing the core skills and emerging and specialized needs of genetic counselors.

Time Commitment 

• 3-year term (Jan. 2026 – Dec. 2028)
• Additional time spent in January – March preparing for and reviewing submitted session proposals to prepare for an in-person planning meeting in early spring
• Participate in monthly or bi-monthly one-hour committee calls
• Average work of two hours per month meeting and coordinating with sessions that committee members are assigned to as liaisons leading up to the Annual Conference

Travel Requirement

• Attend a two- to three-day in-person session selection meeting in Chicago or Washington, D.C. in the spring (late March 2026)
• Attend the NSGC Annual Conference in the fall (Nov. 2026); registration fees are covered for ACPC members

Volunteer Qualifications/Responsibilities

• Enthusiasm for collaborating with genetic counselors and subject matter experts to bring and create innovative and cutting-edge educational content to the NSGC membership
• Proactive leadership mindset and willingness to volunteer input and provide support to conference participants preparing for sessions
• Collaborative and inclusive mindset when engaging in the decision-making process

Please reach out to NSGC Education Manager, Kimberly Garber, with any questions.

The Audrey Heimler Special Project Award (AHSPA) provides an annual award of $10,000 to one or more genetic counselors for a project that focuses on the future of the genetic counseling profession and/or the provision of genetic services. Past projects have included resources for genetic counselors to use with patients, research to help advance the profession and innovative continuing education resources for genetic counselors in current practice. The AHSPA Committee reviews project proposals and selects the winner(s) of the award.

Time Commitment: 

• Three-year term (January 2026 - December 2028)
• Participate in 3 – 5 calls annually (30 – 60 minutes)
• Time spent outside of meetings reviewing AHSPA proposals

Travel Requirement: 

• No travel is required for this position

The NSGC Awards Committee oversees the nominations and selection process for the NSGC Leadership Awards and several organizational scholarships, including the Lauren Ryan Genetic Counselor Access Memorial Scholarship, the Student Research Scholarship, Annual Conference Scholarship, and the Full Member/New Genetic Counselor Membership Scholarship.

Time Commitment

• 1-year term (January 2026 – December 2026), with the option to serve one (1) additional year; maximum two (2) years total.
• Participate in five 1-2 hour selection call meetings a year.
• Average of 1-2 hours/month outside of meetings for application review, outreach, and other tasks.

Travel Requirement

• No travel required. All work is conducted virtually.

Please reach out to Awards Committee Staff Liaison, Izzy Thomases, at with any questions.

Interested in getting involved with NSGC but have limited time? The NSGC CEU Review Subcommittee offers a flexible opportunity for you to get involved around your schedule. The CEU Review Subcommittee provides a service which impacts the entire genetic counseling field, by approving continuing education activities for all certified genetic counselors. 

Time Commitment 

• 1-year term (Jan. 2026 – Dec. 2026)
• Attend an hour-long onboarding session in the first quarter of the year.
• Familiarity with the NSGC CEU Standards and Guidelines will also be a requirement.
• Average work of 1-2 hours of work a week. You will be assigned to a three-person Reviewer team, who will receive an average of either one Category 1 or six Category 2 activities per month.

Travel Requirement

• No travel is required for this position

Please reach out to Senior Continuing Education Associate, Grant Whittaker, with any questions.

The Disciplinary Procedures Committee reviews complaints submitted in accordance with NSGC’s Disciplinary Procedures Process. If a complaint meets the requirements, criteria, and scope of the Disciplinary Procedures,  committee members will review all materials to determine whether it warrants a full investigation, and if so, conduct an investigation and notify the relevant parties of the result. Currently, NSGC is recruiting new members to be considered for the Vice Chair role and up to three open committee member positions in 2026. 

Time Commitment 

• Two-year term (Jan. 2026 – Dec. 2027)
• New members will participate in monthly meetings during the first quarter to complete the established training and ensure familiarity with the Disciplinary Procedures Process
• Time commitment will vary each month and depends on whether the committee is reviewing or investigating a complaint submitted
• If investigating a complaint, the committee will meet more frequently to complete the review process and full investigation as needed
• In the absence of a complaint, the committee may check in quarterly

Travel Requirement

• No travel is required for this position

Volunteer Qualifications/Responsibilities

• Members of the committee must agree to maintain the confidentiality of all meetings, proceedings, and discussions and perform their work in alignment with NSGC’s policies and processes

Please reach out to NSGC Executive Director, Meghan Carey, with any questions.

The Education Committee is responsible for oversight and development of NSGC educational products and services to ensure NSGC’s education programs grow and support both the core skills and specialized needs of our members. The Education Committee also ensures that diverse content is covered across different educational modalities and integrated any identified gaps or novel needs across NSGC platforms. 

The following is a description of the Vice Chair position of the Education Committee. If you are interested in this position, please ensure that you indicate this in the leadership section of the application. 

Volunteer Responsibilities and Time Commitment 

• Work with the Education Committee Chair, NSGC Education Manager and NSGC Board Liaison to execute on the Education Committee charges, which can include working on projects independently and/or coordinating efforts across multiple stakeholders.  
• Support the Subcommittees within the Education Committee by providing them with insight and guidance, as needed.  
• Attend monthly Education Committee leadership calls and meetings, NSGC quarterly committee calls, as well as other calls representing the Education Committee leadership as needed.  

Qualifications 

• Passion for education 
• Previous experience in one (or more) of the NSGC committees, subcommittees or workgroups. Experience within the Education committee is recommended 
• Must have good communication and organizational skills. 

Travel Requirement  

• No travel is required for this position 

Contact Info:  

Interested applicants are welcome to contact the current Education chairs for more information, although please note that the Vice-Chair selection is conducted through the NSGC Board’s Vice-Chair selection process.” 

• Brad Rolf, barolf@uw.edu  
• Laura Hendon, lhendon@umc.edu  

NSGC’s Ethics Advisory Group (EAG) is calling for applications for three (3) new members to serve from January 2026 through December 2028. The EAG’s purpose is to serve as an education resource to the membership and Board on matters involving ethical concerns. Applications from GCs working in any specialty are welcome. Formal experience or training in ethics may be helpful but is not required. Please address the following in your application; why you are interested in joining the EAG, your relevant experience, an example of your work within a team to resolve an ethical conflict related to genetic counseling, and how you believe the NSGC Code of Ethics can facilitate the resolution of ethical conflicts in the field.

For questions, please reach out to the Co-Chairs of the EAG, Colleen Wherley  or Rikki Caffrey. 

The JEMF provides support for research by genetic counselors, promotes individual professional development, and drives innovation in the field of genetic counseling. The JEMF Advisory Group strives to reflect the diversity within our genetic counseling community.  An Advisory Group member is not eligible to apply for or serve in any role for any JEMF Full Member award or grant submitted during their tenure or in the year following the ending of their term. For additional information please visit our JEMF website.

Time Commitment: 

• Five-year term (January 2026 - December 2030)
• Participate in quarterly advisory group calls (~1/1.5 hours)
• Time spent outside of meetings reviewing Full Member & Student research proposals

Travel Requirement: 

• Two-day in person Summer Business Meeting (typically occurs in late July – August)

Volunteer Qualifications/Responsibilities

• Experience serving as a co-investigator or lead investigator in research studies
• Experience providing research mentorship
• Experience reviewing/submitting grant proposals

Please reach out to JEMF Staff Liaison Sydney Von Holten with any questions. 

The J.E.D.I. (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) Stewardship Committee promotes and advances NSGC’s J.E.D.I. strategies and initiatives. The committee keeps a pulse on NSGC’s organizational culture and members’ priorities by collecting feedback, and provides recommendations for additional programming or strategies that foster a culture of belonging for the Board and other committees to consider. Additionally, the committee supports educational programming and training related to J.E.D.I., including Community Conversations, leadership trainings, and networking events. The committee leads NSGC’ s student outreach strategy, partnering with external organizations and educational institutions at events to further promote genetic counseling as a career path amongst diverse and underrepresented groups in the profession.

Time Commitment 

• Two-year term (Jan. 2026 – Dec. 2027)
• Participate in monthly, one-hour committee calls
• Participate in monthly or bi-monthly working group calls focused on specific projects related to committee charges
• Average work of 1-2 hours/month, outside of committee calls and meetings

Travel Requirement

• Travel to at least one student outreach event organized by NSGC

Volunteer Qualifications/Responsibilities

• Prior experience volunteering on or leading an organizational or regional DEI Committee, Advisory Group, or Affinity Group preferred
• Prior training or education around unconscious bias, inclusive leadership, and/or participation in other DEI trainings/workshops 
• Passion for engaging with prospective genetic counselors and students with an interest in attending at least one outreach event during the year 
• Experience reviewing sensitive, confidential data while mitigating bias 
• Interest in reviewing and assessing member feedback and other data to provide informed recommendations to the NSGC Board of Directors for furthering J.E.D.I. within NSGC 
• Familiarity with NSGC programming and membership benefits, or an interest in familiarizing yourself with these, to participate in visionary, strategic discussions around fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging within NSGC 

Please reach out to NSGC Operations Manager, Madeline Stanke, and NSGC Membership Sr. Associate, Isabella Thomases, with any questions.

Dedicated to recruitment and retention, the Membership Committee plays a vital role in strengthening and growing our genetic counseling community. This includes fostering professional growth through NSGConnect mentorship, supporting leadership development, funding innovative projects, and ensuring inclusive representation on the Nominating Committee. Join the Membership Committee for a unique look into NSGC while supporting the growth of our profession!

Time Commitment: 

• Two-year term (January 2026 - December 2027)
• Participate in monthly committee calls (1 hour long)
• Average work of 1 hour/month outside of committee calls and meetings 

Travel Requirement: 

• No travel is required for this position

The Nominating Committee is responsible for assembling a slate of candidates for the open positions on the Board of Directors who are best positioned to lead the organization into the future. In fulfilling this role, the Nominating Committee seeks to reflect NSGC’s commitment to diversity of all kinds including skills, specialty, experience, identities, and other diversity dimensions from the pool of eligible nominees. Committee responsibilities include reviewing candidate applications, conducting interviews with selected candidates, and developing the final slate for the individuals on the 2027 Board of Directors who will join the Board members continuing their terms. 

Time Commitment: 

• One-year term (January 2026 - December 2026)
• Typical time commitment for this committee is ~30 hours between January – April, including  2-3 calls per month (1-2 hours per call)
• An additional 4-5 hours is required from June – October to develop the final report

Travel Requirement:

• No travel is required for this position

Volunteer Qualifications/Responsibilities: 

• Previous leadership experience in a professional setting
• Responsiveness to communications and active engagement in committee discussions and review processes
• Active members of NSGC with previous NSGC volunteer experience are welcome to apply
• Employment as a genetic counselor for at least two (2) years 
• Genetic counselors with diverse perspectives and experiences are strongly encouraged to apply!

The Perspectives Editorial Committee is responsible for supporting Perspectives and article development by identifying authors, soliciting articles and/or writing articles. Committee members assist in identifying key topics of interest and themes including those that are appropriate to identified interests and needs of the profession, and are responsible for providing a minimum of two articles per calendar year.

Time Commitment 

• 2-year term (Jan. 2026 – Dec. 2027)
• Participate in quarterly committee calls (1-hour long)
• Average work of 1-2 hours/month, outside of committee calls and meetings

Travel Requirement

• No travel is required for this position

Please reach out to Juliana Ludema McPherron, NSGC Content Manager, with any questions.

Perspectives Associate Editor

The Perspectives Associate is responsible for collaborating with the NSGC Executive Editor and NSGC Managing Editor staff partner to assist in identifying key topics of interest and themes for Perspectives articles. They are responsible for identifying, soliciting, and articles on topics that are pertinent and relevant to NSGC. At the conclusion of their Associate Editor term they are expected to step into the Executive Editor Role. 

Time Commitment 

• Total of four-year term (Associate Editor from Jan. 1, 2026 - Dec. 31, 2027; Executive Editor from Jan. 1, 2028 - Dec. 31, 2029)
• Participate in quarterly committee calls (1-hour long)
• Particpate in bi-weekly calls with Executive Editor and Staff (1-2 hours/month) 
• Average work of 1-2 hours/month, outside of committee calls and meetings

Travel Requirement

• No travel is required for this position

Please reach out to Juliana Ludema McPherron, NSGC Content Manager, with any questions.

The NSGC Practice Guidance Committee (PGC) facilitates the development of new NSGC evidence-based practice guidelines (PGs), practice resources (PRs), and clinical practice position statements from conception to completion. The committee maintains existing PGs, PRs, and clinical practice position statements. The PGC does not author documents or statements but plays key roles in development such as prioritizing potential topics, assembling author groups, reviewing manuscript drafts, and seeking approvals and endorsements.  Experience in clinical research, evidence reviews, guideline development, and project management is appreciated, but not required. 

Time Commitment 

• Three-year term (Jan. 2026 – Dec. 2028)
• Participate in monthly committee calls (1.5 hours long)
• Participate in 1-2 monthly subcommittee or author group meetings per month
  (1 hour long each)
• Average work of 1-2 hours/month, outside of committee calls and meetings

Travel Requirement

• No travel is required for this position

Please reach out to PGC Staff Liaison, Juliet Sullivan, with any questions.

The Professional Status Survey (PSS) Committee develops and produces NSGC’s annual Professional Status Survey and resulting report, approves requests for use of PSS data by researchers, and monitors the genetic counselor professional landscape to ensure the survey maintains relevance in the current practice environment and aligns with NSGC’s strategic priorities. In 2026, the PSS Committee will be responsible for implementing the recommendations put forward by the PSS Task Force and approved by the Board of Directors in 2025.

Time Commitment 

• 2-year term (Jan. 2026 – Dec. 2027)
• Typical time commitment for a committee member is roughly 30 hours per year, including participation in monthly committee calls (1 hour long)
• Typical busy times include March-April and July-October.

Travel Requirement

• No travel is required for this position

Volunteer Qualifications/Responsibilities

• Genetic counselors with diverse perspectives and experiences are welcome to apply!
• Comfort discussing data at a high level and contributing insights on broader trends and implications for the genetic counseling profession and NSGC.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with related organizations in the profession to enhance the survey and impact of reports.
• Previous experience with surveys, research, or report writing preferred, but not required.

Please reach out to Madeline Stanke, Professional Status Survey Committee Liaison, with any questions.

The NSGC Research, Quality, and Outcomes (RQO) Committee stewards NSGC’s research strategy and serves as a resource for the NSGC research community. Committee work typically includes developing, reviewing, and disseminating NSGC’s annual Research Initiative and reviewing and disseminating SIG Research Grants. Experience in research, study design, measure development, and/or patient-reported outcomes are valuable skills, but not necessary for Committee membership. The RQO Committee ultimately seeks candidates who are eager to learn about, and improve, NSGC’s ability to support research that promotes NSGC’s strategic initiatives.

Time Commitment 

• Three-year term (Jan. 2026 – Dec. 2028)
• Participate in monthly committee calls (1 hour long)
• Participate on either Research Initiative or SIG Research Grant subcommittee (1 hour long monthly meeting)
• Average work of 0-3 hours/month, outside of committee calls and meetings

Travel Requirement

• No travel is required for this position

Please reach out to the RQO Committee Staff Liaison, Juliet Sullivan, with any questions.