Program to increase genetic counseling

Stanislaus State part of effort to reduce counselor shortage

By MICHELLE HATFIELD
mhatfield@modbee.com

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TURLOCK -- Angela Michaelsen's 15-year-old son suffers from a genetic disease that few doctors understand. There is no cure or medicine for the ailment that led to the high school sophomore's mental retardation.

"It's heart-wrenching. We don't know where this came from," said Michaelsen, a Stockton resident. "As parents, we're just trying to deal with this by ourselves. You're left to your own de- vices. You feel so alone."

The only thing the Michaelsens can do is learn about the ailment, lean on other afflicted families for support, and share their case with the medical community so more can be studied about chromosome 8 deficiency.

The people who usually help families such as the Michael-sens get help are in short supply in the Northern San Joa-quin Valley. Called genetic counselors, they help patients research and cope with their diagnoses.

Genetic counselors are in demand across the nation, especially from Sacramento to Fresno. There are none from Modesto to Stockton except traveling doctors who come from Davis and Sacramento a few times a week, said Janey Youngblom, a biology pro- fessor at California State University, Stanislaus. To fill that gap, the university is starting up a Master of Science in genetic counseling next fall.

"These are individuals whose main area is medicine, genetics and counseling," Youngblom said. "They take the science side and they convey the information and talk about the options with the family."

The master's program will pair CSU Stanislaus with the University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco State University and Kaiser Permanente. About nine students will christen the two-year program for fall 2008, completing most of their classes and research in San Francisco, Youngblom said. Students usually come from biology, sociology or psychology backgrounds, she said.

CSU Stanislaus is the third university on the West Coast to earn accreditation from the American Board of Genetic Counseling.

Counselors study genetic disorders and inherited health conditions from cancer to heart disease to birth defects. Using ge- netic testing, they can identify diseases and refer patients to early medical treatment.

Several families, including the Michaelsens, will work with students and share their medical histories.

"We're open to getting support more than anything else," Michaelsen said. "It's nice to think there's some kind of information, support out there."

Little is known about chromosome 8 deficiency. It is one of 23 chromosomes; humans have two copies of each containing genes that combine to make up a person's DNA. As scientists continue mapping out the human genome, more is learned about each gene and chromosome.

"It's something he'll live with the rest of his life," Michaelsen said of her son, adding there is no prognosis for how long he'll live. "We don't know what to expect down the road."

To learn more about the master's in genetic counseling, go to www.extendeded.com/msgenetics or call 667-3487. The application deadline is Feb. 15.

Bee staff writer Michelle Hatfield can be reached at mhatfield@modbee.com or 578-2339.