October 07, 2025
A newly designed genomic education resource is poised to empower future nurse practitioners (NPs) in British Columbia to better deliver precision healthcare.
Precision healthcare uses genetic and genomic advancements to personalize diagnosis, care and treatment. It can help health professionals to create targeted treatment plans based on a person’s genetics. Genetic testing can also help to detect early health risks for proactive prevention, eventually decreasing potential treatment and care costs.
Because precision healthcare can be used throughout many stages of the care process, it can provide much-needed relief to the staffing pressures within Canadian healthcare system. However, providers need to understand how to use precision healthcare, and the current state of education and training in genomics is limited.
The Nurse Practitioner Education in Genomics (NP-EDGE) online resource directly responds to this need. Funded by Genome BC, this is the first initiative in Canada to weave genomics into NP practice and training.
The Genome BC funded project is led by an interdisciplinary team:
- Patricia Birch, a genetics nurse-educator from the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Department of Medical Genetics
- Sarah Dewell, a nurse-educator from Thompson Rivers University’s (TRU) School of Nursing
- Colleen Giumond, a genetic counsellor and instructor in UBC’s Department of Medical Genetics
- Carol Cremin, a genetic counsellor and Clinical Assistant Professor in UBC’s Department of Medical Genetics
- Leah Macfadyen, an online learning design expert in UBC’s Faculty of Education and Master of Education Technology program
- Jenny Morgan, an indigenous health expert from the University of Victoria’s (UVic) School of Social Work
- Lauren Irving, a NP and Senior Instructor at the University of Northern BC (UNBC) School of Nursing
The NP-EDGE resource
The NP-EDGE resource is designed to maximize flexibility for learners. Following a foundational Genetics 101 section, learners can choose to explore a variety of ‘scaffolding’ standalone modules at their own pace. Some of the detailed modules include hereditary cancer, Indigenous health, mental health and ethics.
The content is aimed at students, faculty and professionals, with a clinical focus on genetic services currently available in BC and how to support patients.
“Our goal is to enable NPs to see things through a genomic lens, which becomes another tool in their toolbox. It helps them to understand the benefits of personalized medicine across medical specialties and the patient’s lifespan,” Birch said.
NP-EDGE is hosted on TRU’s online learning platform and was pilot tested with their first class of NP students. Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many appreciating the breadth of topics and information accessibility. “We’re also seeing higher levels of confidence in applying genomics concepts to clinical practice,” Birch added.
The successful pilot project validated the team’s efforts and their advocacy for genomics presence within a health curriculum.
“It says in the textbook, ‘this gene or this ethnic group’, but there’s no explanation,” a student said about the pharmacogenomics module. “This resource gives those facts a why.”
Building towards the future of genomics education
“We are committed to enhancing genomics education for all British Columbians,” said Sally Greenwood, Vice President, Communications and Societal Engagement at Genome BC.
“There’s plenty of room for NP-EDGE to keep evolving. We’re looking forward to it becoming a part of more equitable, efficient health delivery for BC and hopefully, the rest of the country.”
While the initial project has officially ended, this is just the beginning of its ongoing impact. In addition to TRU, students at UNBC will have the NP-EDGE modules incorporated into their classes this fall. The project team will also be sharing the modules with Communities of Practice for current NPs across BC.
Ultimately, the main challenge is sustainability. Genomics and precision health are evolving rapidly and the NP-EDGE needs to reflect progress in the field. The team is actively looking for partners to maintain the resource and expand offerings to other primary care providers such as physicians and midwives.
“This project has resulted in several classes of TRU NP students being genomics informed. We can’t wait to see this momentum build throughout NP programs in BC and beyond,” Birch said.
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