International Psychiatric Genetic Counseling Clinical Rotation

Claire Daniel, a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling (MSGC) student at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), recently completed a two-month psychiatric genetic counseling rotation at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia—an elective made possible by the MSGC program’s commitment to personalized clinical pathways.

Blending her passion for mental health advocacy with a drive for cross-cultural learning, Claire gained hands-on experience in this emerging specialty while contributing to a national mental health resource for the Centre for Genetics Education.

Upon her return, Claire shared how this unique international experience expanded her clinical expertise, strengthened her advocacy for mental health, and inspired her vision for the future of genetic counseling.

Why did you choose to pursue an international rotation, and how did you end up selecting this specific opportunity in Australia?

When I was applying to genetic counseling programs, I knew I wanted to step outside my comfort zone by immersing myself in new cultures, operating within a different health care system, and engaging with a globally diverse patient population. I am also a huge mental health advocate and have a passion for psychiatric genetic counseling. The MSGC program allows for two elective rotations, and I hoped that at least one of them could be in either of these two areas of interest. When the opportunity arose to do a clinical rotation that included both? It was like the stars had aligned.

What did your day-to-day look like during the rotation?

On days that I had clinic at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, I took the tram that passed by Queen Victoria Market and got to the hospital around 8:45 a.m. In the mornings, I would prepare patient cases and attend pre-clinic meetings. In addition to psychiatric genetic counseling cases, I also got to take part in the breast cancer, bowel cancer, and rare genetics clinics. In the afternoons, I would see patients with my supervisors.

On days when I didn’t have clinic, I traveled as much as I could. I was in Australia for two months, and in that time, I traveled all over the East Coast, snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, saw a ballet in the Sydney Opera House, rode ferries in Brisbane, got up close and personal with saltwater crocodiles in Port Douglas, visited the most eastern point of Australia, saw wild kangaroos in Byron Bay, and watched penguins nesting in St. Kilda!

You worked on a special project with the Center for Genetics Education. What was the focus and your role?

For my special project, I was entrusted with helping create a fact sheet on mental health conditions for the Centre of Genetics Education, an informational resource serving all of Australia. My specific focus was on pharmacogenomic testing and explaining how our DNA can impact our bodies’ responses to certain medications. There is a lot of stigma surrounding mental health, and my role was to help present all the necessary information in a way that was educational and comprehensive, while still being inclusive and affirming, language conscientious, and respectful of lived experiences. One of my supervisors, Jo Isbister, oversaw my work on this project, and together we’ve been creating something that has the potential to help so many people. I am very passionate about this project and the positive impact it can have on people affected by mental health conditions and their loved ones, and I decided to stay on and continue my work after I returned to the States.

What was it like completing psychiatric rotations abroad, and how did it align with your career interests or goals?

Completing a psychiatric rotation abroad was an invaluable learning experience. In the States, it is typically limited to prenatal and pediatric settings. My rotation in Australia allowed me to learn in a setting where psychiatric genetic counseling was the primary focus, allowing me to gain experience with adult psychiatric genetic counseling cases. As psychiatric genomics is advancing, the need for trained genetic counselors who can translate complex polygenic and multifactorial risk information in a way that is clear, compassionate, and destigmatizing is increasing. My goal is to be at the forefront of this emerging field. With the experience I gained during this rotation, I feel more passionate than ever about contributing to a field that has the potential to profoundly reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and significantly improve patient care.

Any advice for future students who might be considering an international clinical rotation?

My first piece of advice is to start looking early. I told my clinical director about my goal to complete an international or psychiatric rotation in my very first week of graduate school. I lucked out and was able to do both, and I think part of the reason we were able to find such an amazing opportunity is because we started our search early. My second piece of advice is to be resilient. My clinical director and I spent six months trying to find the right opportunity. I reached out to so many people and received many rejections, but all it takes is one yes. My third piece of advice is to enjoy every moment. One of the things I miss most is looking up at the moon through the intersecting tram lines while waiting at a crosswalk after a long day at the hospital. An international rotation is an amazing experience, and one you’ll likely only get to have once.

How do you think this experience will shape your future as a genetic counselor?

This experience fundamentally shaped not only the kind of genetic counselor I want to be, but also the kind of person I want to be. Clinically, it deepened my passion for psychiatric genetic counseling and gave me rare, hands-on experience in a specialty that is still emerging in the U.S. Personally, this rotation taught me how to trust myself, to take risks, to make mistakes, and to grow from those mistakes. It reminded me of the value of curiosity, the power of resilience, and the importance of stepping outside of your comfort zone. As I move forward in my career, I’ll carry with me not only the clinical skills I gained, but also the belief that vulnerability, open-mindedness, and cross-cultural collaboration are essential to truly patient-centered care.