Jan Hodgson

Professor Jan Hodgson is a Professor in Genetics in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne, part of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. She has been the Program Director for the Master of Genetic Counselling and the Master of Genomics and Health since 2017, leading a team of ten academic and professional staff focused on genetics, counselling, and research. Hodgson was promoted to the position of full professor in 2022, recognizing her visionary, dedicated, thoughtful, collaborative, and respectful leadership. She holds a PhD, Graduate Diploma, and Bachelor's degree from the University of Melbourne, as well as a BSc with Honours. Her doctoral research examined women's experiences of prenatal testing and decision-making, forming the basis of her extensive work in this area.

Hodgson's research specializations include genetic counselling, public health, and medical communication, with a focus on prenatal diagnosis, family communication about inherited conditions, and reproductive autonomy. Key projects encompass the PeTALS longitudinal study exploring women's experiences following a prenatal diagnosis of fetal abnormality and interventions to improve family discussions of genetic risks. Her influential publications include 'Outcomes of a randomised controlled trial of a complex genetic counselling intervention to improve family communication' (2016, European Journal of Human Genetics), 'Experiences of prenatal diagnosis and decision-making about termination of pregnancy: a qualitative study' (2016, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology), 'Parental experiences after prenatal diagnosis of fetal abnormality' (2018, Seminars in Fetal and Neonatal Medicine), 'A practical account of autonomy: why genetic counseling is especially well suited to the facilitation of informed autonomous decision making' (2005, Journal of Genetic Counseling), and 'Is my mum going to hear this? Methodological and ethical challenges in qualitative health research with young people' (2009, Social Science & Medicine). In 2021, she received the MDHS Staff Excellence Award for Excellence in Staff Supervision, particularly for supporting her team's transition to online learning during COVID-19 while maintaining high teaching quality. Her contributions have shaped education and practice in genetic counselling in Australia.

Professional Email: jan.hodgson@unimelb.edu.au