The Human Genome Education Model (HuGEM) Project II Core Course: A Unique Genetics Education Experience for Health Professionals
JO Weiss1, JL Benkendorf2, EV Lapham2, C Kozma2, MA Wilson1
1Alliance of Genetic Support Groups, Washington, DC
2Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Increasing numbers of health professionals, most of whom have minimal education and training in genetics, are providing genetics services to individuals and families with, or at risk for, genetic disorders. HuGEM II, a collaborative education and research project of Georgetown University Child Development Center and the Alliance of Genetic Support Groups, recently held two, five-day core courses in genetics for health professionals. Five educators were chosen for each course by leaders of the following seven collaborating professional organizations: American Dietetic Association, American Occupational Therapy Association, American Physical Therapy Association, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, American Psychological Association, Council on Social Work Education and National Association of Social Workers. Participant selection was based on professional education, interest in genetics issues, teaching experience, and potential for dissemination of course content through degree-related courses, in service training, and/or continuing education programs. The HuGEM II core course is unique in its use of consumer co-educators, its faculty of genetics specialists and non-genetics health professionals working with genetics issues, and its opportunities for interdisciplinary and intra disciplinary interaction among participants. As a model for genetics education of health professionals, it will be described together with health professional survey data ranking genetics education priorities, the results of pre and post tests given to course participants, a summary of the course evaluations, and participants' projections of how they will use the course material to influence genetics education within their disciplines.
The Abstracts of the Second National Conference on Genetics and Disease Prevention, Baltimore, MD, December 6-8, 1999, will be published in COMMUNITY GENETICS. For more information please refer to the journal home page  . © 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Genetics and Complex Disease: A Framework for Education and Counseling
JD McInerney, B Childs, Foundation for Genetic Education and Counseling
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
The history of human genetics, and especially genetic medicine, is largely built on analysis of single-gene characters. This productive history has appropriately influenced our thinking about genetic and molecular mechanisms, about disease, and about education and counseling. Now, however, our increasing ability to identify genetic variations associated with common, complex disease challenges us to build on that history, to refine and extend our insights in ways that improve outcomes for patients and families, and to demonstrate the benefits of genetic perspectives for all of medicine, and especially for prevention. The framework we will present, a work in progress, is intended to provide guidance for genetics professionals, educators, and other interested parties as they think about challenges and opportunities attendant to the expansion of genetic medicine into the realm of common, complex diseases. Our evolving framework comprises answers to the following six questions:
- What do we mean by complex disease?
- How do common, complex diseases differ from single-gene disorders?
- What do we mean by genotype/environment interaction?
- What challenges do common, complex diseases present to those involved in genetic medicine?
- What opportunities do such diseases present, and how can an understanding of complex disease improve outcomes for individuals and families?
- What ethical, legal, and social issues arise from the elucidation of genetic contributions to complex disease?
During our session, we will review the proposed framework and solicit feedback from the participants.
The Abstracts of the Second National Conference on Genetics and Disease Prevention, Baltimore, MD, December 6-8, 1999, will be published in COMMUNITY GENETICS. For more information please refer to the journal home page . © 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Defining the Current Status of Medical Genetics in Continued Professional Development
SV Spilson, SA Goldberg, MP Short
American Medical Association, Chicago, IL
Attending annual meetings is a popular means for physicians to acquire continued medical education (CME) credits required for licensure following residency training. Given the many recent advances in genetics, it is in this venue that many physicians will be acquiring and/or updating their knowledge of genetics. We recently surveyed 96 medical specialty societies with regards to their current and planned CME activities in genetics. We compared these results to a review of the 1998-1999 annual meeting programs for the same societies. Specialty society survey results (92% response) reveal 64% currently have no CME genetics modules, but 67% are interested in their development. The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) indicated that it does not currently have and is not developing genetics programs. However, it believes genetics materials to be desirable for it's members and is interested in collaborating with the AMA to develop such modules. The specialty society annual meetings (86% response) reveal that only 37% have programs focused on clinical genetics issues of that specialty (testing, diagnosis, and/or available treatment for common genetic disorders). As reflected in the survey results, the ACPM's 1999 meeting had no specific sessions on genetics. The majority of medical societies recognize the need for collaborative educational efforts to integrate genetics into practice. The AMA, as co-chair with the National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics , a resource for this ongoing educational initiative, believes the latter will serve as one cornerstone to realizing the Human Genome Project's potential to improve the public's health.
The Abstracts of the Second National Conference on Genetics and Disease Prevention, Baltimore, MD, December 6-8, 1999, will be published in COMMUNITY GENETICS. For more information please refer to the journal home page . © 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Training Public Health Professionals in Medical Genetics
KB Harris1, KA Pass1, K Greendale1, L Fonseca1, M Durrane2
1Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY
2SUNY Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY
In 1988 the Laboratory of Newborn Screening and Genetic Services of the Wadsworth Center, NYS Department of Health, with administrative support from the State University of New York at Albany School of Public Health (SPH), developed a series of lectures about the impact of genetics on public health practice. These interactive sessions allowed public health professionals without background in genetics to gain an understanding of the role of genetics in health and disease. Public health professionals informed about genetics, genetic services and the ethical, legal and social implications can raise issues and questions in the formation of public health policy and can collaborate with health care providers, patients and families to make well-informed decisions about genetic issues. The four lecture modules covered emerging medical genetics science, delivery of genetic services, ensuring quality, and the potential ethical, legal and social implications of public health policies. The lectures were presented by NYS public health and clinical genetic professionals at the SUNY Albany SPH campus in Rensselaer, NY, teleconferenced to the Columbia University SPH in NYC and videotaped. Each participant received a binder with background material, relevant publications and references. A survey has been distributed among the participants to determine the value and use of the information presented in the sessions and included in the binders. The results of this survey will also be presented. (This project was supported by a grant from the Association of Schools of Public Health/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)
The Abstracts of the Second National Conference on Genetics and Disease Prevention, Baltimore, MD, December 6-8, 1999, will be published in COMMUNITY GENETICS. For more information please refer to the journal home page . © 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel.
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