Enhancing exposure to genetics and genomics through an innovative medical school curriculum

Abstract

education reportPurpose: Physicians entering medical practice in the 21st century will require more than a basic understanding of human genetics because of rapid progress in the field of genetics and genomics. The current undergraduate medical curriculum at most institutions is not adequate to prepare medical students for these challenges. Enhancing exposure to genetics throughout the medical school curriculum should help prepare the next generation of physicians to use genetic and genomic information for optimal patient care. methods:We have introduced a Genetics Track Curriculum to the undergraduate medical curriculum at Baylor College of Medicine.Results: This track runs in parallel to the existing 4-year curriculum and includes didactic sessions, small group discussions, longitudinal clinical experiences, clinical and laboratory rotations, community outreach, and scholarly projects related to genetics. It also provides the students a means to network and discuss topics and career paths in medical genetics. conclusion:We have developed a novel curriculum that enhances genomic education for medical students with the ultimate goal of enabling our graduates to deliver more effective and personalized medical care. We believe that the Genetics Track Curriculum at Baylor College of Medicine can serve as a prototype for other medical schools across the country and abroad. Genet Med imPORtAnce OF Genetic And GenOmic FLUencY FOR tHe PRActicinG PHYsiciAnOver the past several decades, there have been countless discoveries in medical genetics and molecular biology. There has also been rapid progress in biotechnology. These advances have practical applications for the determination of disease risk, the interpretation of clinical laboratory data, the treatment of disease, the use of pharmacologic agents, and reproductive counseling.1-4 Concomitant with the advancement of genetic knowledge and technologies is the emergence of ethical and public policy concerns related to their application to medical practice. 5,6 It is widely recognized that physicians entering medical practice in the 21st century will require more than a basic understanding of human genetics.Historically, genetic testing has been used selectively to diagnose monogenic or chromosomal disorders or to evaluate the risk of developing or transmitting single-gene disorders. However, genetic testing is increasingly being used to modify therapeutics, to determine prognosis, and even to provide probabilistic risk assessment for common/complex disorders. Because of advances in technology and the availability of highthroughput sequencing and high-density microarrays, it is now possible to interrogate thousands of loci in an individual's genome at a relatively low cost and in a timely manner. 4,[6][7][8][9] In the future, practicing physicians will need to appraise these technologies and make critical judgments and decisions regarding the results they generate for their patients. Several studies have shown that most physicians are unable to interpret even simple gene...

Training future physicians in the era of genomic medicine: trends in undergraduate medical genetics education

“…On a larger scale, a select number of institutions have been able to implement specialized tracks of study in the area of genomic medicine. 23,38 Many approaches can be taken to increase student exposure to clinical genetics and genomic medicine during their medical training, and these various approaches can be tailored to fit in an institutionspecific context.…”

“…While a number of studies report particular curricular innovations, [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] there are few studies describing overall trends in genetics curricula. In 1981 (ref.…”

Resources available for informed prenatal decisions

“…These curricula complement the Genetics Track Curriculum for medical students that was described by Dhar et al in their article "Enhancing Exposure to Genetics and Genomics Through an Innovative Medical School Curriculum." 1 A medical genetics internship was developed to introduce medical genetics as a career path and define the work environments and training requirements associated with medical genetics. The internship consists of some components of the Genetics Track Curriculum, including an online human subjects research training course, case-based genetics conferences, journal clubs, and mentorship meetings.…”

“…3,4,5 New studies of parents, siblings, and individuals with Down syndrome by Skotko, Levine, and Goldstein are also available to inform physicians and patients about the Down syndrome experience. 6,7,8 As Palomaki et al 1 recognize, educational materials are needed to ensure that informed decisions are made following a prenatal testing result. This year, the NSGC and the American College of Medical Genetics provided a copy of "Understanding a Down Syndrome Diagnosis" to each of its members, and thousands more copies were distributed to practicing obstetricians.…”

Design of a Genomics Curriculum: Competencies for Practicing Pathologists

“…16 To address this educational gap, genomic curricula have been developed for pathology trainees and medical students at the institutional level and by a working group of the Program Directors Section of the Association of Pathology Chairs. 1,[16][17][18] A need remains to educate practicing pathologists. An effective genomic curriculum must take into account the variable pathologist knowledge base, practice setting, experience, and choices for continuing medical education.…”