#24-Clinical genetic services: Provider retention & telegenetics

Today’s episode is about clinical genetic services. In the first segment, Khalida talks to authors Courtney and Jade about retention of patient-facing genetic counselors and how generational age and work environment influence retention. For the second segment, Khalida chats with Dr. Ba-Jaj about telegenetics in India, reviewing data from 3 years and almost 1000 cases!  

 

Segment 1: Factors influencing retention of patient-facing genetic counselors: Role of generational age and work environment

Courtney Schroeder, MS, LCGC is an oncology genetic counselor at Indiana University Health. She received her BS in Psychology and Biology from the University of Dayton and her MS in Genetic Counseling from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Courtney primarily works with the Precision Genomics team at IU Health. She also manages the Hereditary Renal and Prostate Cancer Clinic, which she established through a grant-funded project.

 

Jade McIntyre, MS, LCGC is a 2025 graduate of Indiana University Genetic Counseling Program. She is currently working as a genetic counselor in the Medical and Molecular Genetics Department at Indiana University Health. Jade is grateful for the opportunity to share the findings from her graduate student research that was published in July 2025.

 

In this segment we discuss:

- This episode explores factors influencing retention of patient-facing genetic counselors.

- The study highlights flexibility, autonomy, and experience as key drivers of retention.

- Results show higher retention among older, more experienced counselors.

- The discussion emphasizes employer strategies to improve workforce retention.

 

Segment 2: Telegenetics in India: A 3-year review of 938 appointments and patient–clinician perspectives

 

Dr Shruti Bajaj completed her MBBS and MD Pediatrics from Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. She subsequently pursued a Fellowship in Clinical Genetics, accredited by Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, from Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.

Thereafter, Dr. Shruti Bajaj amassed vast clinical experience as an Assistant Professor in the busy Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Genetics at Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, for five years (2013- 2017).

She has to her credit a short observership and training in Clinical & Laboratory Genetics from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. She has additionally been trained through multiple short modules in different subspecialities of Clinical Genetics from prestigious centres across the country and the world. Some of these include the 'Cancer genetic counseling' course from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai and the challenging 'Skeletal dysplasia' course from Lausanne, Switzerland.

Dr Shruti Bajaj is the Founder and Director of The Purple Gene Clinic, which she established in 2017. The Purple Gene Clinic provides cares to patients across the country, and is one of the busiest and most trustworthy Genetic Clinics in India.

Despite a demanding and busy practice, Dr Shruti Bajaj obtained the prestigious International Masters Degree in Neurometabolism and Cell Biology, from SJD Barcelona's Children Hospital, University of Barcelona, in 2024. During this course, Dr. Bajaj was awarded the prestigious International Travel Scholarship for both 2023 and 2024, after her submitted clinical cases were selected as the best amongst all applications, highlighting her exceptional clinical acumen and dedication.

As a testimony to her passion for academics, Dr Bajaj has numerous national and international publications, as well as chapters in leading textbooks, to her credit.

Dr Bajaj's innate compassion and passion for social services led her to establish a support group for individuals with Down syndrome, called PEHEL, in Mumbai in 2018. She also runs a charitable OPD at The Purple Gene Clinic, called Shantidevi Gupta Charitable OPD, in the loving memory of her late grandmother.

Social media handles: Linkedin profile name: Dr Shruti Bajaj (Agarwal) 

In this segment we discuss:

- How tele-genetics improves access to genetic care across India.

- When pure vs hybrid telemedicine works best for diagnosis.

- Patient cost and time savings alongside clinician-reported challenges.

- Scalable lessons for implementing tele-genetics in resource-limited settings.

 

Would you like to nominate a JoGC article to be featured in the show? If so, please fill out this nomination submission form here. Multiple entries are encouraged including articles where you, your colleagues, or your friends are authors.

 

Stay tuned for the next new episode of DNA Dialogues! In the meantime, listen to all our episodes Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Dialogues”. 

 

For more information about this episode visit dnadialogues.podbean.com, where you can also stream all episodes of the show. Check out the Journal of Genetic Counseling here for articles featured in this episode and others. 

 

Any questions, episode ideas, guest pitches, or comments can be sent into [email protected]. 

 

DNA Dialogues’ team includes Jehannine Austin, Naomi Wagner, Khalida Liaquat, Kate Wilson and DNA Today’s Kira Dineen. Our logo was designed by Ashlyn Enokian. Our current intern is Stephanie Schofield.