EPISODE 52 - Spotlight on Genetic Counselors
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ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Who is a genetic counselor, and who should see one? How do they fit into the neuroendocrine cancer care team? In this episode, Samantha Greenberg, PhD, MS, MPH, CGC, Director of the UT Southwestern Genetic Counseling Program, demystifies genetic counseling and testing for NET patients and their families. She explains what to expect before, during, and after a consultation—and how results can impact care, family members, and future planning.
TOP TEN QUESTIONS
Role & Training
1. What is a genetic counselor? What training is required? What’s your role in the care team?
Genetic Counseling & NETs
2. How are genetic counselors involved in NET care?
3. Who should get genetic testing? Do all NET patients need it?
What if more than one family member has NET?
Do you also see family members without a diagnosis?
4. How does one’s age play a role?
Testing Basics
5. Genetic vs. genomic vs. NGS—what are these terms?
How do patients know they’re getting the right test?
6. Walk us through a genetic counseling consultation—before, during, after.
Results & Implications
7. What if the results are positive? How do you guide patients and families?
What if the results are negative or inconclusive? How accurate are tests?
8. What is a “variant of unknown significance”?9. Can environment or toxins cause hereditary mutations?
Practical Guidance
10. How can patients find the right genetic counselor? Do they need to be someone who specializes in neuroendocrine cancer?
MEET SAMANTHA GREENBERG
Samantha Greenberg, PhD, MS, MPH, CGC
Pronouns: she/her
Director, UT Southwestern Genetic Counseling Program
Assistant Professor
School of Health Professions
Samantha Greenberg is the founding program director of the UT Southwestern Genetic Counseling Training Program. She received her Master of Science degree in genetic counseling and public health from the University of Michigan after teaching middle school science with Teach For America in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She recently completed her Ph.D. at the University of Utah. As a cancer genetic counselor, Greenberg has provided clinical care across a variety of indications and facilitated the development of multidisciplinary teams and genetics clinics for patients with prostate cancer, von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, and paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma. She is the co-director of the paraganglioma program at UT Southwestern, which recently received a Center of Excellence designation from Pheo Para Alliance. Her passion for raising awareness on the genetics of neuroendocrine tumors stems from working with patients and a curiosity for how to optimize identification of patients with hereditary risk.
RESOURCES
Watch
Genetics of NET: Do I Need Genetic Testing with Samantha Greenberg (Feb 2023)
Deciphering Genetics & Genomics in Neuroendocrine Cancers with Dr. Kimberly Perez (Feb 2025)
EXPLORE
DISCLAIMER
The Neuroendocrine Cancer Foundation Podcasts are created for educational purposes only and do not substitute for medical advice. The views shared in this Podcast are the personal opinions of the experts and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Neuroendocrine Cancer Foundation. Please contact your medical team with questions or concerns about your individual care or treatment.
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