OMPRN is delighted to welcome Brittany Gillies, a Genetic Counsellor at the Bhalwani Familial Cancer Clinic at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. With a strong foundation in both science and patient care, Brittany’s journey began at Queen’s University with an undergraduate degree in Life Sciences, followed by two Master’s degrees, one in Cancer in Medicine from Memorial University of Newfoundland and another in Genetic Counselling from the University of British Columbia. Since graduating, she has spent over five years supporting individuals and families navigating hereditary cancer risk. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, Brittany plays a vital role in ensuring patients receive comprehensive, personalised genetic information which can help them make empowered decisions about their cancer care.
Interview conducted by Karen Haas over phone on May 14, 2025.
What motivated you to become a genetic counsellor?
I was interested in science and in helping people and I looked for a career to balance the two. My first masters degree was in science research and I loved it, but I missed the connection with people. Then I learned about genetic counselling. I appreciate the balance of the career and the lifestyle that it offers.
“I love the family aspect – once a mutation is found there can be a big impact on families. Even when we have to deliver difficult news to a patient that a gene mutation was identified, there is hope that we can provide.”
What is it that you enjoy about genetic counselling?
I love the family aspect – once a mutation is found there can be a big impact on families. Even when we have to deliver difficult news to a patient that a gene mutation was identified, there is hope that we can provide. I hold onto the positive impacts there are, such as targeted therapies, screening to detect cancer earlier, or risk reduction to lower the chances of developing cancer. These options can be extremely helpful, and even life-saving, for patients and their family members. I appreciate being able to develop relationships with families as a whole and seeing first hand the impact of genetic testing.
Walk me through a typical day as a genetic counsellor.
One thing I love about being a genetic counsellor is the breadth of our role and the opportunities to get involved in various areas depending on your interest. For me, I typically see between 2-5 patients a day. Most are over the phone but can also done by video if the patient requests. Then a portion of time is spent doing paperwork such as consent forms and requisitions, and medical writing including chart notes, letters to patients and physicians, referrals, and educational materials for patients. As we often see people with rare cancers or syndromes, we also spend a lot of time preparing for cases including reviewing literature and medical records. Some of my more specific areas of interest include spending time on research, supervision of genetic counselling students, and my involvement with Cancer Care Ontario to update the genetic testing eligibility criteria.
Are there important questions you get asked as a genetic counsellor?
Patients might wonder if they have to pay for genetic testing. If individuals meet certain eligibility criteria, then testing is funded under OHIP.
Patients often ask if there could be insurance or employment discrimination. “There is a law – the Genetic Non-discrimination Act, GNA for short – that makes it illegal for third parties, such as employers and insurance companies, to ask for your genetic test results.”
Patients might ask about how to share the information with family members about a mutation. We provide patients with a family letter and our clinic referral form to help arrange genetic counselling for relatives.
What part does molecular pathology play in genetic counselling?
Pathology has a big impact on our work through tumour testing and immunohistochemistry protein expression (IHC). Molecular pathology aids in accurate diagnoses and may point to treatment options, such as targeted therapies in oncology. Genetic counsellors communicate with pathologists to request that certain tests be performed or to ask for expertise in reviewing complicated pathology reports.
Find out more about molecular pathology as well as the techniques mentioned above in our ‘what is molecular pathology?’ infographic.
How are patient advocates involved in project work with genetic counsellors?
Patient advocates are often involved at conferences or meetings through sharing their lived experience, suggesting things to be improved, and indicating what was done well. This helps to improve communication and trust between patients and providers and leading to better outcomes. When introducing new projects or policies, having a diverse array of perspectives, including patient advocates, helps to ensure positive change and effective delivery of care.
It is also beneficial when patients are able to communicate with each other, as through the communication they both give and receive psychosocial support. We do our best to provide patients with resources for psychosocial support.
What research are you involved in, Brittany?
Princess Margaret is a research hospital so my colleagues and I are often working on various research projects. I recently published a study investigating oncologist-ordered genetic testing for patients with melanoma of the eye. Some of my other research interests include genetic testing on tumour samples, genetic testing for rare tumour types such as pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas, and innovative models of genetics service delivery. Because we are working in a university environment, research is embraced.
With whom are genetic counsellors most commonly connected?
Within the team, genetic counsellors work with medical geneticists, medical oncologists, pathologists, physicians assistants, nurses, and clinical research coordinators.
Look at our ‘support professionals in cancer care’ infographic for common questions you can ask each healthcare professional involved in cancer treatment and care.
What is the role of biomarkers in genetic counselling?
Well, biomarkers is a very general term. Our role is often focused on genetic variants or mutations. These specific biomarkers flag possible hereditary cancer conditions. Other biomarkers we might assess related to interpretation of genetic testing results include DNA methylation, telomere length, or immunohistochemistry. We also use personal biomarkers for risk assessment and screening recommendations such as height, weight, age of menarche, or age of menopause. Otherwise, we rely on a multitude of factors for our assessments such as age of diagnosis, type of cancer, or family history of cancer.
Learn more about biomarkers in our ‘understanding biomarkers’ infographic and our biomarkers storybook.
How long is the wait time to see a genetic counsellor in Canada?
The wait time to see a genetic counsellor may vary depending on the indication or the provincial location. In our clinic, the routine wait list is 18 months. However, for priority patients who currently have an active cancer diagnosis or have a known mutation in the family, there is a wait time of three to six months.
Urgent patients are seen within one or two days. When a mutation can impact the treatment plan, these patients must be seen as soon as possible. We recognise that our wait times are significant and are working on efficiencies and different models of care to improve access to our services.
What would a perfect world look like for genetic counsellors?
Genetic testing for everyone! Everyone with cancer would be seen by genetic counsellors and be offered comprehensive panel genetic testing. In a perfect world, all adults in the general population could access genetic testing (rather than only being eligible based on cancer history), so that people can take preventative actions if they carry a mutation. There would be more genetic counsellors, more support staff, and more communication between multidisciplinary groups to accomplish this goal.
How do you stay updated with the latest research and treatment options in oncology?
One of the things I love about my role is how fast things change and that there is always more to learn. There are many ways to stay up to date on recent research with various webinars or meetings that we attend, cancer site rounds on a weekly basis, attending conferences and reviewing literature). I am hoping to attend the CAGC-CCMG joint genetics conference in Banff this October. I have the privilege of working in a large team at Princess Margaret and am constantly learning from my colleagues as well.
Conclusion
As the role of genetics in cancer care continues to grow, genetic counsellors like Brittany Gillies are at the forefront of delivering personalised, compassionate support to patients and their families. Her work at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre highlights the real-world impact of genetic testing, not just in guiding treatment, but in empowering individuals to take proactive steps for their health.
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