New Genetic Counseling Master’s Program Set to Begin Fall 2025 

May 5, 2025

By Kennedy Wells, Staff Writer

Being a first or only for Xavier University is nothing new. It was not surprising when Xavier announced a new master’s program that would be the first master’s program in genetic counseling in Louisiana. 

This innovative program, created in partnership with Ochsner Health, is designed to prepare the next generation of genetic counselors who will combine scientific knowledge with compassionate patient care. 

“It took a lot of groundwork to get to the point where we could begin putting together a curriculum,” said Alix D’Angelo, a clinical assistant professor and assistant director of the genetic counseling program. “There were a lot of pieces that had to fall into place,” D’Angelo said. 

The development of the program has been a multi-year process that involved a collaborative effort between Xavier and Ochsner and establishing the program required significant coordination between the two entities. 

“It took a lot of groundwork to get to the point where we could begin putting together a curriculum,” D’Angelo said. “There were a lot of pieces that had to fall into place.” 

The program spans 21 months and includes a mix of coursework, clinical fieldwork rotations, and a research capstone project. For the rotations, students will spend a portion of their time in clinical rotations at Ochsner, gaining hands-on experience and gradually increasing their involvement in genetic counseling sessions. 

“In medicine today, we are developing precision medicine, or some people call it personalized medicine,” said Dr. Leonardo Seoane in a statement when Xavier announced the program. Seoane is the founding dean of Xavier’s Ochsner College of Medicine [XOCOM]. “What we were missing in Louisiana is that we do not have a genetic counseling program. The [Ochsner Health] partnership with Xavier to start the first genetic counseling program in Louisiana is very exciting.” 

The program focuses on both scientific knowledge and the human side of genetic counseling. D’Angelo emphasized that while genetic counseling is grounded in the latest medical and scientific developments, it is also essential to make complex information relatable to patients. 

“There are a couple of courses where the students overlap. There’s a counseling techniques course. They even have a research methodology course that’s very applicable to our students because there are like three majors, I guess, cores of our program,” D’Angelo said. 

 The program provides a pathway to working with the latest medical and scientific developments in genetics, while connecting these breakthroughs to helping people.  

“Genetics is super abstract. It’s not easy for every patient who walks in to know what a DNA mutation is. So, we’ve got to make things really relatable for people so that they can go home and communicate this to their family members and have a chance at understanding what’s really going on,” D’Angelo said. 

Hannah Meddaugh, who is currently a senior genetic counselor at Ochsner Health, echoed the growing need for professionals in this field, particularly in Louisiana. 

“We are continuing to experience these really, really dramatic changes in what genetic medicine can do for individual health and health management, and we just don’t have the workforce to meet and maximize what the technology can do,” Meddaugh said. “More people need to get into this field because there are so many more people out there in our communities who we can help.” 

With this new program, Xavier is positioning itself as a leader in the field of genetic counseling, providing students with the tools they need to make a real difference in the lives of patients. The first class is set to graduate in May 2027, and the program’s unique combination of scientific rigor and patient-centered care is sure to make it an attractive option for future healthcare professionals. 

 “I hope it becomes something that students really value and see as an opportunity to be both involved in science and healthcare while also interacting with people on a very personal level,” D’Angelo said.