FSU | Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
The official logo for the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at the FSU College of Medicine. The design features the classic "FSU" block lettering separated by a vertical line from the institute's name in garnet text.
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GENETIC COUNSELING EDUCATION

Our Master’s Program in Genetic Counseling will train and prepare genetic counselors who are skilled, compassionate, and committed to providing expert guidance to individuals and families navigating the complexities of genetic information regarding rare diseases. 

The need for expert genetic counselors is steadily increasing as more and more information becomes available about the genetic bases of a wide range of diseases because of the rapid pace of scientific advances in genetics and genomics. 

Precision medicine for genetic disorders relies on scientific advances in genomics, and patients and their families are increasingly called upon to navigate the complexities of genetic information to make informed decisions about treatment options. 

Genetic counselors play a key role in helping patients understand the genetic causes of their diseases and help patients and their families make informed decisions about genetic conditions and treatment options.

Our Master’s program has received approval from the Florida Board of Governors, the governing board for the State University System of Florida.

Under the leadership of the new Program Director Ashley Cannon, Ph.D., M.S., GCG, we will seek accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling.

We anticipate welcoming our inaugural class in the Fall of 2027.

Ashley Cannon, with dark curly hair and patterned glasses, smiles in a professional headshot against a light gray background.
Ashley Cannon, Ph.D., M.S., CGC

The Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD) at the FSU College of Medicine is pleased to welcome Ashley Cannon, Ph.D., M.S., CGC, as the inaugural Director of the IPRD Master’s Program in Genetic Counseling.

Cannon is a clinician–scientist and certified genetic counselor with more than two decades of experience in molecular genetics and over a decade of leadership in genetic counseling, clinical genomics programs, and precision medicine initiatives. Her work has spanned clinical care, translational research, and large-scale genomics programs, including roles at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and leadership in clinical program management at InformedDNA.

Learn more about Ashley Cannon


MORE DETAILS TO COME