David Walker

Principal Genetic Counsellor and STP Training Officer at Birmingham Women's and Children's, specialising in Inherited Cardiac Conditions. 🏳️‍🌈 he/him

[David Walker @DaveWalkerGen]

It's my partner and I's fourth anniversary today and he's somehow managed to find me the most incredibly niche but appropriate present I've ever seen.

feat. cats ❤️

#GCChat #HealthcareScienceWeek #PrideinSTEM 🏳️‍🌈

[Dr Ali Kay 🧬📚🌳 @AliMakesHay]

What’s it like to be told your child has a genetic condition caused by a de novo (new) genetic change? Did it impact how you felt about having more children? Our NIHR-funded interview study at the University of Oxford is now open to participants. #genetics #diagnosis #DeNovo

[David Walker @DaveWalkerGen]

I think that's all the STP offers out for this year - huge congratulations to all who were successful. If you weren't, dust yourself off and try again next year - it really is very competitive, and another year of work experience might just help you sell yourself better!

[David Walker @DaveWalkerGen]

In other news I was excited to see mention of the Unified Genomics Record, which I've helped scope/shape in a pilot test context for inherited cardiac conditions. I remain optimistic this is doable and will completely remove immense barriers we have with data siloing and sharing!

[David Walker @DaveWalkerGen]

I am very open to hearing the moral argument for delivering PRS for obesity, where Genomics Counsellors will help patients "adapt and adjust" to lifestyle changes...

...not one week after national comms about having to justify clinical utility of rare disease test requests. 🧐

[David Walker @DaveWalkerGen]

Pleased to see so much Genomics in the new Ten Year Plan (even if we're already going almost everything they mention).

*Particularly* pleased to see the importance of Genomic Counselling mentioned! 😇

*Less* excited at the prospect of population-level polygenic risk scores...

[David Walker @DaveWalkerGen]

Can be found at: https://t.co/XvamWwjKrz (under 'Reports & Statements')

[David Walker @DaveWalkerGen]

Pleased to see the British Society for Genetic Medicine publish a response to the Supreme Court ruling on trans people. While it stops short of speaking up *for* trans people, @BSGM at least make helpful clarifications about the science of "biological sex".

[David Walker @DaveWalkerGen]

Final tweet: if you weren't successful this year, don't be disheartened - it is genuinely super competitive, and you are likely doing the right things, and either just need another year to cook, or to rework how you're presenting yourself in the application.😅

[David Walker @DaveWalkerGen]

Another year, another round of Scientist Training Programme applications scored. Some really exceptional candidates but also lots of really common 'mistakes' I see in most applications - short 🧵 on tips for a better application to Genomic Counselling:

[David Walker @DaveWalkerGen]

Okay this thread wasn't as short as I thought, but these would be my top tips for Genomic Counselling in particular!

I don't think I saw any applications this year that were outright bad, but this is, for me, what sets apart the ones that get invited to interview from rejections