Fieldwork Training

The breadth and depth of fieldwork training opportunities is a strength of the University of Minnesota Genetic Counseling Training Program. While fieldwork preparation is woven throughout the program, formal fieldwork training is the primary training focus beginning in the summer between the first and second year. Students complete three 10-week core rotations (one each in prenatal/MFM, cancer, and pediatric/general genetics) as well as two five-week specialty rotations. Our program has three tracks for fieldwork training: 1) The Twin Cities Track, where students have the options to rotate in a wide range of sites throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs; 2) Mayo Clinic, where students train primarily at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota; and 3) CentraCare, where students train exclusively at CentraCare in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The fieldwork track only impacts education once fieldwork begins in the summer between the first and second year.

In the second year, students are at their fieldwork rotations for 20-24 hours per week and only have classes on Mondays. Students on the Mayo or CentraCare tracks often choose to live in Rochester or St. Cloud, respectively, and commute to Minneapolis for class to reduce commute costs and time, but this is not required. Some important considerations for the Mayo and CentraCare tracks:

  • Students are required to have a reliable car to travel back and forth to Rochester/St. Cloud and Minneapolis. The drive is around 1.5 hours for both locations.
  • Costs associated with commuting may increase the overall costs of the program. Housing costs may be less expensive in Rochester/St. Cloud compared to the Twin Cities, which may help offset the budget impact.
  • The Mayo track typically takes two students, and CentraCare takes one or two.
  • There is a possibility that unforeseen circumstances may require a change to the rotation schedule at either site. If this were to occur, adjustments would be discussed by the site director, the director of fieldwork, and the student.

Twin Cities Track Fieldwork Training Overview

The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as surrounding suburbs and cities, have a wealth of medical centers where students receive training. In addition, we have partnered with several telehealth sites that provide genetic counseling throughout the United States.

Here are examples of participating medical centers where students in the Twin Cities rotate:

Cancer (core)

  • Allina Health Cancer Institute
  • CentraCare Health, St Cloud
  • Minnesota Oncology
  • North Memorial Health Cancer Center
  • Park Nicollet Cancer Clinic
  • Health Partners/Regions Hospital
  • M Health Fairview Cancer

General Genetics/Pediatrics (core)

  • Children's Minnesota
  • M Health Fairview Pediatrics
  • Southern Illinois School of Medicine (remote)

Prenatal (core)

  • Allina Minnesota Perinatal Physicians
  • Hennepin Healthcare
  • Health Partners
  • M Health Fairview MFM Center
  • North Memorial Perinatal Center
  • Park Nicollet Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic

Laboratory (specialty)

  • Color Health
  • GeneDx
  • Prevention Genetics
  • M Health Fairview Molecular Lab

Specialty Clinics (specialty)

  • Genome Medical - Research Rotation
  • Gillette Children’s Specialty Neurology
  • M Health Fairview Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinic
  • M Health Fairview Cardiology Clinic
  • M Health Fairview Neurology Clinic
  • MN Children’s Hospital Hematology/Oncology
  • MN Children’s Pulmonary/Critical Care
  • Minnesota Department of Health
  • Minnesota Oncology Hematology Extended Cancer
  • Sanofi Genzyme
  • University of Minnesota Molecular Laboratory
  • XCures

Mayo Clinic Track Fieldwork Training Overview

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota has a reputation for distinguished medical care.  Students are exposed to a range of genetic services provided at Mayo Clinic in an in-depth yearlong experience. 

For students chosen for the Mayo rotation track:

Core rotations

  • Cancer
  • General Genetics
  • Prenatal

Specialty rotations

Mayo website for the second-year clinical internship (includes video)

Video: Mayo Clinic - Rochester Experience

CentraCare Track Fieldwork Training Overview

CentraCare in St. Cloud, Minnesota, is growing rapidly and provides students the opportunity to see patients at St. Cloud Hospital in addition to CentraCare Plaza. Students also participate in weekly tumor board meetings and high-risk patient reviews, depending on rotation.

For students chosen for the CentraCare rotation track:

  • Cancer
  • General Genetics
  • Maternal Fetal Medicine
  • Specialties:
    • Cardiovascular Clinic
    • Cleft Clinic
    • Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Clinic
    • Inpatient Genetics
    • General Genetic Counseling Consults (e.g., renal, neuromuscular)
    • Unique “generalist” rotation as final extended specialty rotation

Comparison of Fieldwork Tracks

  • Core rotations: All tracks have the same core rotations in prenatal, cancer, and general genetics/pediatrics
  • Specialty rotations: The Twin Cities track has a greater number and variability in specialty options, but there is also more competition for those rotations we do not guarantee that students will get all of their top choices. Mayo and CentraCare have pre-determined specialty rotations that are specifically designed for their locations' unique opportunities. For example, Mayo has a large commercial laboratory and a personalized medicine rotation, which are highly unique to the Mayo Clinic. CentraCare’s generalist rotation gives you the unique training experience of working across a variety of specialties simultaneously.
  • Health system exposure: The Twin Cities track provides opportunities to rotate in several different healthcare organizations, giving more context for systems-level differences. Mayo and CentraCare provide a more in-depth experience in a single system that gives students a chance to gain better command of the logistical side of practice. Because Mayo and CentraCare students stay in the same system, there may also be opportunities to follow up with patients from previous rotations.
  • Commuting: Mayo and CentraCare require students to have a reliable car and commute ~1.5 hours at least one day per week. Twin Cities students are strongly encouraged to have a car and must have access to transportation for all possible rotations placed throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs. There is public transportation, but getting to clinics may require significant time and multiple transfers (all students are eligible for a Student Transit Pass) and/or taking transportation after dark. Rotation assignments will not take car access into account. If students do not bring a car, they will need to budget for transportation costs, such as taxi or rideshare apps, for at least some rotation days.
  • Practice modalities: All tracks will include exposure to in-person, phone, and telehealth practice, so no meaningful differences.
  • Patient populations: All tracks see significant patient diversity across a range of identity facets. Students will work with interpreters at least occasionally in all tracks. Mayo and CentraCare will include more patients from rural communities due to their catchment areas.
  • Opportunities for external rotations: For Twin Cities track students only, it is possible to use the summer specialty rotation window to complete a 5-week rotation outside Minnesota. Typically, external rotations are pursued either to get access to a specialty we do not have in the Twin Cities or for networking opportunities in an area where students want to work after graduation. These rotations are difficult to arrange due to legal agreements required between institutions and the needs of local genetic counseling programs, but we will work with you to explore options.
  • Overall: No track is better than the others. Students will have strong supervisors, a wide variety of patient encounters, and excellent preparation for the Board Exam and their future career, regardless of the fieldwork track. Consider your training goals and see which opportunities seem like a good fit. 

Recent Supervisor of the Year Awards

  • Laura Rust (Mayo Clinic) has been awarded the 2025 Outstanding Clinical Supervisor Award for the University of Minnesota by the Genetic Counseling Educators Association.
  • Megan Hanson (Park Nicollet) has been awarded the 2024 Outstanding Clinical Supervisor Award for the University of Minnesota by the Genetic Counseling Educators Association.
  • Anna Shelley (MHealth/Fairview) has been awarded the 2023 Outstanding Clinical Supervisor Award for the University of Minnesota by the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors.
  • Dana Miller (MHealth/Fairview) has been awarded the 2022 Outstanding Clinical Supervisor Award for the University of Minnesota by the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors.
  • MaryAnn Fox (Allina Health) has been awarded the 2021 Outstanding Clinical Supervisor Award for the University of Minnesota by the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors.
  • Marie Kennelly (Hennepin Health) has been awarded the 2020 Outstanding Clinical Supervisor Award for the University of Minnesota by the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors.