In this special pilot episode of 'Gods and Genes,' host Amber Sher, MS, CGC, is turning the tables and being interviewed by Kira Dineen, MS, LCGC, CG(ASCP)CM, host of DNAToday. This conversation explores the intersection of healthcare, spirituality, and genetics. Interviewed by Kira Dineen, Amber shares her personal journey and the inspiration behind the podcast, discussing how her religious background influences her practice. The episode delves into the importance of understanding patients' beliefs in healthcare and the potential for science and spirituality to complement each other.
Amber shares her personal background growing up in a religiously mixed home (Christian/atheist), her journey through deconstruction and back to a post-deconstruction Christian identity, and why that lived experience drew her to study religion and spirituality in genetic counseling for her graduate capstone at Keck Graduate Institute (KGI). With training in genetic counseling and a background shaped by a religiously mixed upbringing, Amber brings a unique perspective on how to navigate questions of faith in medical settings.
In this episode, we covered how some patients raise spiritual or religious concerns in a way that can invite us to build rapport. When this does happen, we go through strategies on how to be ready and not reactive. We cover that personal religious or spiritual identity isn't necessary to navigate these conversations. Instead, skills and training can be adapted for the scenario with examples of validation, reflection, collaboration. We go into how chaplains, rabbis, clergy, etc. can be allies who understand medical contexts and patient values. And we cover tricky situations like navigating when religious beliefs go against evidence-based options.
Gods and Genes is a brand new podcast in the Gene Pool Media network. Gods and Genes is hosted and produced by Amber Sher, MS, CGC. Logo graphic designer is Safiah Peeran. Special thanks to Kira Dineen for all the contributions to this episode. Find us at godsandgenes.podbean.com and follow us on Instagram @GodsandGenes. Be sure to subscribe to Gods and Genes on your podcast app, here on Spotify and here on Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss future episodes exploring belief, meaning, and medicine. If you'd like to share your ideas for the podcast, reach out via email to [email protected] or [email protected].
Post-Show Corrections:
At (12:30) Amber shares that in every session religion/spirituality comes up, she meant to say every rotation she went through, not with every patient. Relevant Resources:
Religion On the Mind podcast hosted by Dan Koch (Spotify, Apple, and Substack) "Utterly Humbled by Mystery" by Father Richard RohrRob Bell on Spirituality and MysteryRicheimer N, Wilson K, Petrasek A, Weiner J. Emunas Chachamim (faith in the sages): A prenatal genetic counseling needs assessment of Orthodox Jewish clergy in Los Angeles. J Genet Couns. 2024 Oct;33(5):1045-1058. doi: 10.1002/jgc4.1816. Epub 2023 Oct 25. PMID: 37877233.Thompson AB, Cragun D, Sumerau JE, Cragun RT, De Gifis V, Trepanier A. "Be Prepared if I Bring It Up:" Patients' Perceptions of the Utility of Religious and Spiritual Discussion During Genetic Counseling. J Genet Couns. 2016 Oct;25(5):945-56. doi: 10.1007/s10897-015-9922-9. Epub 2016 Jan 13. PMID: 26758255. 
