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Welcome to the Montreal Summit on Genetic Counseling in Canada.

Media coverage of scientific advances and financial investment by federal and provincial agencies has resulted in terms like “genomics” and “precision medicine" becoming increasingly familiar in the public lexicon; and has fueled societal expectations of medicine. Indeed, genomic advances do have the potential to profoundly modify healthcare. But, we are now at a critical juncture. There is a well recognized emerging potential gap in terms of our ability to translate ever-evolving amassed genomic findings into better health for the public. The gap is multifaceted. First, there are insufficient numbers of healthcare providers with appropriate skills and training to understand and interpret genomic test results to meet impending patient demand. Second, though the idea of using genetic information to provoke behavior change is compelling, given that common diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes exert an enormous burden on both affected individuals and their families and on healthcare systems, research shows that genetic information alone is largely ineffectual at provoking behaviour modifications (like increased screening, smoking cessation, exercise, and proper nutrition) to lower risk or allow early intervention for common diseases.

Genetic counsellors are a group of healthcare providers who have the potential to bridge both gaps, but numbers of these professionals remain small in Canada. This one day summit will bring leaders in genetic counseling training, accreditation, and certification, together with policy makers and funders to participate in large and small group discussion activities and networking to explore possibilities for effective delivery of genomic healthcare in Canada, and the possible role of genetic counsellors in this effort. Media coverage of scientific advances and financial investment by federal agencies has resulted in terms like “genomics” and “precision medicine" becoming increasingly familiar in the public lexicon; and has fueled societal expectations of medicine. Indeed, genomic advances do have the potential to revolutionize healthcare. But, we are now at a critical juncture. There is a well recognized emerging potential gap in terms of our ability to translate ever-evolving amassed genomic findings into better health for the public. The gap is multifaceted. First, there are insufficient numbers of healthcare providers with appropriate skills and training to understand and interpret genomic test results to meet impending patient demand. Second, though the idea of using genetic information to provoke behavior change is compelling, given that common diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes exert an enormous burden on both affected individuals and their families and on healthcare systems, research shows that information alone is largely ineffectual at provoking behaviour modifications (like increased screening, smoking cessation, exercise, and proper nutrition) to lower risk or allow early intervention for common diseases.