UT Southwestern Medical Center’s reproductive genetics service, now the largest of its kind in North Texas, connects patients with board-certified genetic counselors specializing in genetic testing and pregnancy. Our team helps patients understand information and make decisions about genetic testing that are right for their family. We are here to be a resource for you and your patients.
What makes our services unique?: 01:40Appointment logistics: 02:13Reasons for referral: 02:49Contact info: 04:18
If you have a patient who could benefit from genetic counseling services, please fax a clinical referral and medical records to 214-645-5494. Genetic counseling visits are available in personal or virtually, Monday through Friday.
In addition to genetic counselors who speak English and Spanish, we offer translation services in clinic for every spoken language.
Patients or providers can contact a genetic counselor directly at prenatalgenetics@utsouthwestern.edu .
Hello, I am Heather Fisher, and I manage the reproductive genetic counseling team at UT Southwestern. I'd like to spend a few minutes walking you through what differentiates the patient experience at UT Southwestern when you refer a patient for reproductive genetic counseling. We are the largest team of reproductive genetic counselors in North Texas and see patients from all over DFW and surrounding communities. UT Southwestern Reproductive Genetics is at the forefront of clinical advancements, and we are here to ensure your patients are offered the most up to-date tests and support patients and families with information needed to make genetic testing decisions. In addition, we counsel each patient to have a full understanding of the implications and limitations of their genetic testing results in the context of pregnancy. Referring to UT Southwestern reproductive Genetics is not the same as referring a patient for a genetic information session with a genetic counselor that works for a lab. My team provides comprehensive genetic counseling not solely focused on a particular test report and including a family history assessment for all patients. We can also directly coordinate a wide range of genetic tests for patients, partners, and family members and work with over 10 different genetic testing labs. We can answer questions about billing, provide a saliva kit for a partner who hates needles, and find solutions for all types of barriers related to genetic testing. Our patients have access to many resources available through UT Southwestern and Children's Medical Center. In addition to MFM services for diagnostic procedures, ultrasounds, pregnancy management, and transfer of care cases, our institution houses one of the nation's largest cancer genetics programs. The fetal Center at Children's connects families with pediatric specialists who can provide prenatal consults when a pregnancy has been diagnosed with a congenital anomaly or a known genetic condition. Referring and scheduling genetic counseling is quick and easy. Please do send genetic testing reports with your referral because it is essential that we have comprehensive information to review for most thorough counseling. Patients will be contacted within 24 hours of receiving a referral and are given the option of either a virtual visit or in-person visit at 4 sites around DFW. Cost is not a barrier for most patients, as we accept many insurance types, including both private and Medicaid plans, and self-pay costs range from $150 to $250. At UT Southwestern, we have experience with a wide range of indications. Preconception carrier screening is now available for over 800 conditions. One of our most common reasons for self-referrals is couples who are looking for this level of information prior to conceiving. For patients undergoing IVF and considering PGT, genetic counseling with my team complements and adds to the information they may receive from a lab genetic counselor. For couples who are both carriers for a recessive condition, we provide a detailed analysis of reproductive risks individualized to their specific genetic variants. As you may be aware, not every CFTR variant is associated with classic cystic fibrosis, and not every DMD variant may cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy. A deeper understanding of specific variants can impact PGT decisions. We have met with patients whose IVF process was stalled for months or even a year because their family members were unable to complete genetic testing that was required for establishing linkage and creating probes for the case. For family members who live in Texas, we can help. In the prenatal period, we see patients to discuss abnormal carrier screening and NIPT results, abnormal ultrasound findings, family or personal history of genetic conditions, and anyone considering CVS or amniocentesis for any reason. We are here to serve you and your patients and to deliver outstanding and personalized reproductive genetic counseling to patients across North Texas. To refer a patient or to request a consult with a member of my team, please call 214-645-1928. Thank you for your time today, and I hope to hear from you soon.
