Medical Genetics

The Division of Medical Genetics offers several types of training in medical and human genetics: residency in clinical medical genetics and fellowship training in clinical molecular genetics, clinical cytogenetics, and clinical biochemical genetics. The residency is open to individuals holding a U.S. or Canadian M.D. or D.O. degree and who have completed two years of residency in an ACGME-accredited program. In some instances, an M.D. from abroad and board certification in a specialty may be substituted if approved by the American Board of Medical Genetics prior to enrolling in the Residency. The fellowship (Clinical Molecular Genetics, Clinical Cytogenetics, or Clinical Biochemical Genetics) is open to individuals with an M.D., D.O., Ph.D., or equivalent degree and may be pursued following the Clinical Genetics residency or separately.  Enrollment is not predicated on completion of 2 years of training in an ACGME residency.  For individuals who have not completed a 2-year residency in medical genetics, the fellowship in medical genetics specialties (Clinical Molecular Genetics, Clinical Cytogenetics, or Clinical Biochemical Genetics) is a 2-year program. For individuals with an M.D. who have completed the clinical medical genetics residency, the training in each additional can be completed in a single year. Successful completion of the training is designed to provide fellows the ability to sit for the board examinations administered by the American Board of Medical Genetics.

The residency is a 2-year program designed to provide a high level of clinical competence in all areas of medical genetics, which will permit graduates to sit for the board examination in clinical genetics administered by the ABMG, and to train the next generation of academic medical geneticists. Most successful applicants stay in the program for 3-4 years to attain competency in an area of research that will allow them to compete for research funding and for academic positions in the U.S. The clinical training phase includes rotations through pediatric genetics, adult genetics, cancer genetics, biochemical genetics, and prenatal genetics clinics, as well as laboratory-based rotations in clinical cytogenetics and clinical molecular genetics.

The objective of this program is to provide the candidate with the ability to supervise and direct the operations of a clinical molecular genetics diagnostic laboratory, including technical experience and knowledge in quality control and quality assurance procedures; a broad knowledge of (1) basic molecular biology and genetics, (2) the application of recombinant DNA techniques and linkage analysis to the diagnosis of genetic diseases, and (3) the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and management of human genetic disorders; the ability to perform a variety of molecular diagnostic assays; an understanding of the heterogeneity, variability, and natural history of molecular genetic disorders; and diagnostic and interpretive skills in a wide range of clinical molecular genetics problems..

This fellowship is designed to provide the trainee with the ability to supervise and direct the operations of a clinical cytogenetic diagnostic laboratory, including technical expertise and knowledge in quality control and quality assurance procedures; broad knowledge in human cytogenetics, including prenatal and postnatal cytogenetic diagnosis, infertility and pregnancy loss, cancer, and leukemia; an understanding of the heterogeneity, variability, and natural history of cytogenetic disorders; diagnostic and interpretive skills in a wide range of cytogenetic problems; and the ability to communicate cytogenetic laboratory results, in the capacity of consultant to medical genetics professionals, to other clinicians and directly to patients in concert with other professional staff.

This fellowship is designed to provide the trainee with the ability to supervise and direct the operations of a clinical biochemical genetics diagnostic laboratory, including technical expertise and knowledge in quality control and quality assurance procedures; broad knowledge of (1) basic biochemistry and genetics, (2) the application of biochemical techniques to the diagnosis and management of genetic diseases, and (3) the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and management of human inherited biochemical disorders; an understanding of the heterogeneity, variability, and natural history of biochemical genetic disorders; diagnostic and interpretive skills in a wide range of biochemical genetic problems; and the ability to communicate biochemical laboratory results, in the capacity of a consultant to medical genetics professionals, to other clinicians and directly to patients in concert with other professional staff.

For additional information, visit the Medical Genetics web site.