Her Story
About Madi
Madison Burns is an oncology genetic counselor who has been actively practicing in Rhode Island since 2023. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biobehavioral Health from The Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA) in May 2020. While gaining more exposure to the field, she worked as a Cancer Genetic Counseling Assistant at UT Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas, TX) in 2021. She then successfully matched into the Genetic Counseling Master’s Program at Rutgers University and obtained her master's degree in May 2023. She earned her board certification in March 2024 and is actively licensed to practice in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. In her role, she conducts clinic four days a week, serving up to 22 patients per week, performing risk assessments for patients with cancer or family histories of cancer, consenting them for genetic testing, interpreting results, and participating in tumor boards. She has highlighted the Geisinger Health System (Central PA) and UT Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas, TX) as key medical systems that supported her entry into the field. One of her favorite aspects of being a genetic counselor is the opportunity to support patients through their journey and to be a positive, compassionate presence throughout the process. She also has a strong passion for mentorship and serves as a mentor for many current and prospective students.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Madi
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance, resilience, a strong support system, a willingness to learn and grow, and a genuine passion for the field.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Meet patients where they are. There is no one right way to counsel every patient, and taking the time to understand what matters most to each person is just as important as the genetics part. Give yourself grace and be kind to everyone. You don't know what someone's going through.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
While this is a very female dominated field, which is one of the things I love about the profession, there may still be people who don’t take you seriously simply because you’re a woman. Do not be afraid to advocate for yourself. You can be compassionate and collaborative while still being confident in your knowledge and boundaries. Ask questions, continue learning, and do not feel like you have to make yourself smaller to be taken seriously.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges is that genetic counseling and genomic medicine are still relatively new to many patients and healthcare providers. There is still a lot of misunderstanding about what genetic counselors do, as well as concerns about the cost, privacy, and use of genetic information. Another big challenge is that genetic counselors are not recognized as providers by many insurance companies, which can create barriers to accessing care. At the same time, I think this creates a huge opportunity for our field. As genetic testing becomes more integrated into healthcare, there is an increasing need for genetic counselors to educate patients and providers, advocate for appropriate use of testing, and help translate rapidly evolving genomic information into meaningful patient care.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Empathy, authenticity, advocacy, reliability, and continuous growth are some of the values that are most important to me. I value being someone others can depend on and taking initiative when something needs to be done, even when there isn’t always a clear path forward. I also value being a mentor and helping others find their way into the field, especially those who may not know where to start. I try to approach both my work and personal life with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to learn, while making sure the people around me feel heard, supported, and respected.
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