The increasing number of genetic counselors participating directly in clinical pharmacogenomic post-test counseling prompted our evaluation of pharmacogenomic education across genetic counseling training programs in North America. Thirtyone program leadership participants from both the United States (U.S.) and Canada responded to a survey assessing pharmacogenomics education and the role of genetic counselors. Eighty-five percent of respondents agreed pharmacogenomics is currently within the scope of genetic counseling practice, and 96.3% indicated their training programs currently provide education on pharmacogenomics, with the majority reporting < 7 hr of education. Lectures on pharmacogenomics were the most common method for didactics; however, some programs also included practical modalities (e.g., case studies, clinical rotations) and online resources. Barriers to expanding pharmacogenomic education included the constrained timeline of training, and lack of resources and local expertise. Moreover, participants suggested that genetic counselors ideally should be able to order pharmacogenomic tests and counsel patients on pharmacogenomics, including result interpretation, as they believe pharmacogenomics does fall within the scope of practice of genetic counseling. Our novel results also confirm that training program leadership support a pharmacogenomic service delivery model that includes a combined effort between genetic counselors and pharmacists to utilize their synergistic expertise. However, this model likely still necessitates expanding pharmacogenomic didactics in genetic counseling training programs through more practical training and/or by leveraging online pharmacogenomic courses dedicated to supporting clinical implementation.

Clinical genetic testing for Mendelian conditions is typically coupled with pretest and posttest genetic counseling to support both patients and providers; however, clinical pharmacogenetic testing poses unique characteristics that challenge the traditional role of a genetic counseling service. Given the paucity of professional guidelines on posttest pharmacogenetic counseling, this Perspective highlights key issues currently related to delivering a posttest pharmacogenetic counseling service, including professional competencies, service access, scope of effort, and an evolving regulatory landscape.

Aminoglycoside antibiotic exposure can result in ototoxicity and irreversible hearing loss among individuals that harbor the m.1555A>G variant in the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene, MT-RNR1. Importantly, pre-emptive m.1555A>G screening has been shown to reduce the prevalence of pediatric aminoglycosideinduced ototoxicity; however, professional guidelines to support and guide post-test pharmacogenomic counseling in this context are not currently available. This Perspective highlights key issues with delivering MT-RNR1 results, including longitudinal familial care considerations and communicating m.1555A>G heteroplasmy.