Professor Marion McAllister

Publication

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Research

The Genetic Counselling Outcome Scale (GCOS-24), the novel Patient Reported Outcome Measure that I developed and validated during my MRC Fellowship (2007-10), is being used to evaluate clinical genetics and genetic counselling services in the UK and internationally, and is also used in research. GCOS-24 has been translated into Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Japanese. My current research focuses on improving how cliical genetics services respond to the needs of patients and families affected by genetic conditions.

Teaching

Cardiff University MSc in Genetic (and Genomic) Counselling:

Since joining Cardiff University in 2011, I have provided leadership to a team of academics, clinicians and administrative staff to successfully deliver the MSc in Genetic (and Genomic) Counselling. This includes ensuring that the MSc course meets the (often competing) demands of a wide range of different stakeholders, both internal (course lecturers & tutors, dissertation supervisors, Graduate Studies Office, University Registry) and external (placement providers, Genetic Counsellor Registration Board (GCRB), external examiner, NHS clinical colleagues at the All Wales Medical Genetics Service.

In 2016-17, I designed the curriculum for a new MSc Genetic and Genomic Counselling, the first largely distance learning training programme for genetic counsellors in the world. This opens genetic counsellor training to students whose personal circumstances prevent them from moving to Cardiff, including international students, supporting an inclusive learning environment. My leadership style promotes a student-centred approach, recognising different learning styles. This ethos is reflected in the wide range of different teaching modes (face-to-face and recorded lectures, interactive learning objects, synchronous and asynchronous online group discussions) and assessments (essays, videos, case studies). We welcomed our first cohort of 19 students into the new programme in September 2017.

I led on achievement of accreditation of the new MSc in Genetic and Genomic Counselling by both the GCRB (Genetic Counsellor Registration Board) and the EBMG (European Board of Medical Genetics) in 2017.

External teaching contribution:

In August 2019, I was 'Genetic Counsellor in Residence' at the University of Melbourne MSc in Genetic Counselling, where I delivered a series of lectures and contributed to student teaching. In January 2019, I provided 3 days teaching for the MSc in Genetic Counselling at the University of Siena in Italy. In March 2011, I was invited to deliver a two-week Visiting Lectureship in South Africa. I visited the Universities of Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Witwatersrand MSc in Genetic Counselling courses and gave a series of lectures and workshops.

Topic areas I would like to supervise in:

• Patient empowerment and patient-centred care
• Qualitative research in healthcare
• Patient-reported outcome measures

Biography

Education and qualifications:

• 2000: PhD (Social Science), University of Cambridge
• 1994: MSc (Genetic Counselling), University of Manchester
• 1989: MSc (Industrial Microbiology), University College Dublin
• 1985: BA (Mod) Natural Science: Genetics, Trinity College Dublin

Career Overview:

• 2011: Cardiff University School of Medicine: Senior Lecturer in Genetic Counselling & Course Director, MSc in Genetic (and Genomic) Counselling.
• 2011-2016: Cardiff & Vale University Health Board (0.4WTE) Registered Genetic Counsellor.
• 2010 – 2011: Wellcome Trust Research Fellow, Medical Genetics Research Group, School of Biomedicine, The University of Manchester, Fixed-term.
• 2007 - 2010: MRC Research Fellow, Medical Genetics Research Group, School of Biomedicine, The University of Manchester, Fixed-term.
• 2007 – 2011: Honorary Registered Genetic Counsellor, Genetic Medicine, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT).
• 2003 – 2007 (0.5WTE): Research fellow (Genetic Counselling), Nowgen (North West Genetics Knowledge Park). Fixed-term.
• 1999 – 2003 (1.0WTE); 2003 – 2007 (0.5WTE): Macmillan Genetic Counsellor, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Substantive.
• Apr – Jun 1999: Cancer Genetics Course Co-Ordinator, Central Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust. Fixed term (0.6WTE).
• 1996 – 1999: PhD studentship (Cancer Research UK), University of Cambridge Centre for Family Research, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences.
• Jun – Oct 1996: Genetic Associate. Central Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust. Fixed term contract.
• 1990–1994: Change Management Consultant. Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) London

Honours and awards

• 2019: 'Genetic Counsellor in Residence', MSc in Genetic Counselling programme, University of Melbourne, Australia.
• 2019: Visiting Lecturer, MSc in Genetic Counselling programme, University of Siena, Italy.
• 2017: Recipient of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) International Leader Award. NSGC is the professional body representing genetic counsellors in North America.
• 2011: Visiting Lecturer, South Africa, Universities of Witwasersrand, Cape Town and Stellenbosch MSc in Genetic Counselling courses.
• 2011: National Institute for Social Care & Health Research / Academic Health Science Centre Clinical Research Time Fellowship (Cardiff & Vale University Health Board). Value: ~£68,000
• 2010: Wellcome Trust VIP Bridging Funding awarded by The University of Manchester Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences in internal competition. Value: £9,480
• 2007: MRC Post-Doctoral Special Training Fellowship in Health Services Research. Value: £318,770
• 2007: Health R&D North West Training and Mentoring (TRAM) scheme to support Health Services Research training and mentoring. Value: £4,500
• 2006: UK Resource Centre for Women in SET travel bursary to present at the International Congress of Human Genetics, Brisbane, Australia. Value: £990
• 1984: Irish-American Foundation undergraduate travel award to work in a research laboratory at University of Michigan, USA investigating cell division cycle genes in S cerevisiae. Value: £1,000

Professional memberships

• 2016: Genetic Counsellor Registration, European Board of Medical Genetics
• 2005: Genetic Counsellor Registration, UK Genetic Counsellor Registration Board (no. 153)
• Member of Association of Genetic Nurses & Counsellors (http://www.agnc.org.uk/), the UK professional body for genetic counsellors
• Member of National Society for Genetic Counsellors (http://www.nsgc.org/), the US professional body for genetic counsellors
• Member of British Society for Genetic Medicine (http://www.bsgm.org.uk/), an independent body representing UK human genetics professionals

Academic positions

• 2010 – 2011: Wellcome Trust Research Fellow, Medical Genetics Research Group, School of Biomedicine, The University of Manchester, Fixed-term.
• 2007 - 2010: MRC Research Fellow, Medical Genetics Research Group, School of Biomedicine, The University of Manchester
• 2003 – 2007: Post-doctoral Research fellow (Genetic Counselling), Nowgen (North West Genetics Knowledge Park).

Committees and reviewing

Internal:

• 2017-ongoing: Member of the Admissions Group for the Medical School, which sets and implements the policy for admission to the Cardiff University Medical School

External:

• 2017-ongoing: Member of the European Board of Medical Genetics (Genetic Nurses and Counsellors Division). (See https://www.eshg.org/408.0.html )
• 2013-ongoing: Member of editorial board for Journal of Genetic Counseling (Springer, IF 2014: 2.243)
• January 2012-January 2018: Education Adviser, Genetic Counsellor Registration Board (GCRB). See www.gcrb.org.uk/

Supervisions

• Evaluation of genetic counselling interventions
• Patient experiences of genetic counselling and/or genetic testing
• Patient experiences of living with genetic risk

Engagement

I am a regular contributor to the Wales Gene Park Schools Genetics Roadshow. Since 2018, I have contributed as invited member of Genomics Partnership Wales Workforce and Training Implementation Group, which includes representation from Welsh Government, NHS All Wales Medical Genetics Service (AWMGS), Wales Gene Park, Public Health Wales, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and HEIs. The group’s aim is to ensure that the Welsh NHS workforce is enthused and empowered to use genomics for the benefit of the people of Wales.