Program overview

Program length: 1 year
Class size: Up to 4 students annually
Location: Rochester, Minnesota
Affiliated school: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

This unique year-long internship prepares you for a career in genetic counseling by allowing you to complete your required graduate clinical practicum at Mayo Clinic. The internship will include three core clinical rotations completed exclusively at Mayo Clinic and optional specialty clinics to be completed at Mayo Clinic or elsewhere. These rotations start in the summer following the first academic year and continue through the second academic year, spanning one calendar year. This option is open to a limited number of students enrolled in the University of Minnesota Genetic Counseling Graduate Program.

You will complete the first two semesters of study (classes, labs, and clinical observations) in the Twin Cities and greater metropolitan area. In the summer following the second semester of the first year, if you are following the Mayo clinical internship path, you will begin your clinical training exclusively at Mayo Clinic.

Mayo Clinic offers all of the same required core areas of focus and a variety of specialty clinics. You must commute to complete your requisite academic classes at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities one day each week during the final two semesters.

In addition, during the second year, you will work with a supervisor at Mayo Clinic and your adviser on your master's project.

You will be exposed to multiple genetic counseling and genomics specialties. You will have an opportunity to participate in education, research, and innovation.

Application process

Appointments to the Genetic Counseling Clinical Internship are made through faculty at the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic.

Prerequisites

You must be enrolled in the Genetic Counseling Training Program at the University of Minnesota and be in good academic standing.

Non-U.S. citizen applicants

Admission to Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences is open to U.S. workers in the four categories below. Therefore, visa sponsorship is not available.

1. U.S. citizens
2. U.S. nationals
3. Lawful permanent residents
4. Asylees and refugees

Applicants whose primary language is not English must submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test (TOEFL iBT). Scores from the speaking portion of the exam are given particular consideration in admission decisions. Learn more about the exam and register online at the Educational Testing Service.

The Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences code for the TOEFL iBT is 5784.

Educational transcripts from schools outside the U.S. must be translated (if they are not already in English) and evaluated for U.S. equivalence by an accredited credential evaluation service company prior to submission. Please refer to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services for a list of qualified companies. The applicant pays for the examination and credential-evaluation services.

How to apply

1. Apply and enroll at the University of Minnesota. You must first apply to the Genetic Counseling Training Program at the University of Minnesota. The University of Minnesota Genetic Counseling Training Program participates in the Admissions Match-National Matching Services.

As part of the match process through the University of Minnesota, you will have the opportunity to select all training to be completed through the University of Minnesota, or the paired opportunity with the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic. To learn more, please visit the University of Minnesota Genetic Counseling Training Program website.

Once enrolled at the University of Minnesota, complete step 2.

2. Complete the online application for Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Create an account and follow website instructions to complete the application.

To submit an application, please use the following details:

• Enter the following for Step 1: Program of the application:
  • School of Study - select School of Health Sciences
  • Location - select Rochester, MN
  • Area of Interest - Genetic Counseling Clinic Internship
  • Start Date - select May 1 of the year applying
• Review application for accuracy and completion
• Submit application

Tuition and financial aid

Tuition is paid to the University of Minnesota. Mayo Clinic charges no additional fees for the Genetic Counseling Clinical Internship at this time. You are responsible for your living accommodations and transportation.

Additional expectations

You will be required to travel every week between Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota. You will have one day of class per week on-site at the University of Minnesota and approximately three days per week on-site at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

You must have reliable transportation for this internship. Commuter bus services are available through Mayo Clinic for an additional cost. Parking is unavailable in employee lots downtown.

Rochester Public Transit Park and Ride lots to Mayo Clinic are available at no cost to employees and students. Non-Mayo Clinic parking and street parking may have limited availability for an additional cost.

Curriculum

During the Genetic Counseling Clinical Internship, you will have the opportunity to participate in multiple core and specialty rotations.

Rotations include:

• Cancer
• General genetics
• Prenatal/OB/reproductive endocrinology and infertility
• Laboratory genetics
• Individualized medicine

Additional specialty clinics may include:

• Angelman syndrome clinic
• Marfan/aortopathy clinic
• Pediatric metabolic bone clinic
• Craniofacial clinic
• Neurofibromatosis clinic
• Neurogenomics clinic
• Additional opportunities available

As part of the Genetic Counseling Clinical Internship, multiple supplemental educational and research opportunities will be available. Individuals will have access and participate in genetics-related activities including but not limited to clinical and laboratory case conferences, journal clubs, genomic odyssey board, tumor boards, fetal board, grand rounds, and educational seminars.

Schedule

You will be expected to spend 20-24 hours per week at Mayo Clinic. This time will be scheduled during routine outpatient hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Days and times may vary throughout each clinical rotation and typically amount to three days on-site per week.

Accreditation information

The University of Minnesota Genetic Counseling Training Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling. No additional accreditation is required for the clinical internship at Mayo Clinic.