POSITION AVAILABLE

Faculty Position in Clinical Genetics, Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School:

The Division of Genetics at Children’s Hospital Boston is seeking a clinical geneticist to join our growing clinical program in Genetics and Metabolism, which is currently composed of seven clinical and/or biochemical geneticists, two genetic counselors, and one nurse-practitioner. Applicant should be BC/BE in clinical genetics and pediatrics. Primary responsibilities will include clinical consultation of patients referred for evaluation and/or genetic counseling in our outpatient clinics, participation in the newly formed multidisciplinary Advanced Fetal Care Center, consultation on patients on the inpatient service, supervision of genetic counselors and fellows in the Harvard Medical School Fellowship Program, and teaching of students, residents, and fellows. Expertise in clinical molecular diagnostic testing is desirable. Opportunities exist for clinical research and teaching. Competitive salary, full benefits. Applicants should submit a letter of interest and curriculum vitae to Mira Irons, MD, Associate Chief, Division of Genetics, Fegan 5, The Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115; telephone: 617-355-3480, e-mail: mira.irons@tch.harvard.edu.

GENETICS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE: A TEAM APPROACH

This International EMMA Award winning CD-ROM program based on the “Virtual Clinic” model, developed by Dartmouth University’s Joseph V. Henderson, MD, with CDC funding and distributed by the American College of Medical Genetics, is now available for $25 plus shipping and handling.

Ideally, a continuing education experience would provide for effective, efficient, and enjoyable learning. It would probably involve a visit to a major medical center, with opportunities to counsel, evaluate, and manage a variety of patients, interact with renowned experts who act as mentors, and attend excellent lectures. Of course, it would all be scheduled around your busy clinical practice, available whenever you had the time, without travel.

“Virtual Mini-Fellowships™” aspire to meet these desirable qualities for continuing education with a “Virtual Clinic,” a highly detailed, computer-based environment that is intuitive and easy to use.

This genetics program, based on the “Virtual Practicum” model, is intended for primary care health care providers who have no formal training in genetics. It includes medical conditions seen today in which knowledge of clinical genetics can positively affect outcomes. It also provides case scenarios and case discussions by leading experts to be used in the training of students in these professions, genetic counselors, medical laboratory professionals, public health professionals, and others who may have a need to understand genetic testing. This program takes place in a “Virtual Genetics Clinic,” where the learner can participate in a “Virtual Mini-Fellowship™” with a master clinician/master teacher (Dr. Edward McCabe). The program’s flow and content center on simulated patients who have, or are at risk of developing, four different diseases in which current knowledge of clinical genetics can affect outcome. In some instances, patient outcomes will depend on the learner’s management decisions and actions. Users are able to visit the Learning Resource Room, in which they can attend lectures, listen to interviews, engage in activities, and search the World Wide Web for relevant information.

GENETICS REVIEW COURSE SYLLABUS

Every 3 years, the ACMG offers a review course for practitioners in the field of medical genetics. The course provides an overview of basic clinical genetics, with emphasis on current issues. The course syllabus and lectures were presented by recognized experts within their fields and are now available for ACMG in CD-ROM format.

Areas covered in the course include prenatal genetics, genetic screening, quantitative genetics, genetic syndromes and malformations, biochemical genetics, cancer genetics, basic cytogenetics, chromosomal syndromes, genetics of common disorders, and molecular genetics. The lectures are reinforced by a syllabus specifically designed to complement the material covered. In addition, participants take a pre-review examination composed of questions similar to those one might encounter in the certification examinations of the American Board of Medical Genetics.

In addition to slides used in the lectures, the program contains sample questions and answers from the last 10 years of AMBG examinations. The program should provide useful information for those who wish to refresh their overview of this rapidly evolving field, and also for those who are preparing for Maintenance of Certifications examinations.

The goal of the Genetics Review Course Syllabus is to help participants:

  • Identify common genetic syndromes and discuss their clinical features.

  • Interpret standard molecular data and explain how to communicate results to families.

  • Perform simple quantitative genetic calculations and solve related problems.

  • Understand basic cytogenetics and identify features of common chromosomal disorders.

  • Recognize clinical features of selected metabolic disorders, describe their molecular basis, and review how to provide counseling about them.

  • Appreciate the extent and limits of prenatal tests and explain how to perform routine prenatal counseling.

  • Understand clinical and molecular aspects of inherited cancer syndromes and know how to provide counseling for common human cancers.

ACMG members $125.00

List price $150.00

$9.00 US postage; $1.00 for each additional

MANUAL ON REIMBURSEMENT FOR MEDICAL GENETICS SERVICES

Marc S. Williams, MD

The American College of Medical Genetics and Kendall/Hunt Publishing announce the release of the Manual on Reimbursement for Medical Genetics Services, First Edition. It offers an overview of the basics of billing and reimbursement for health care services and addresses the economic issues of genetic practice in a rapidly changing health care environment. The Manual includes clinical genetics, laboratory genetics, and genetic counseling services. It is designed to help the medical geneticist understand the intricacies of billing and reimbursement, as well as some of the problems and solutions that genetic service providers face in obtaining appropriate reimbursement for their services. It is rich in resource material, important addresses, and Web sites.

The Manual features:

  • Numerous case-based examples of the billing of services for inpatients and outpatients at initial visit and follow-up visits plus other types of contacts.

  • A CD-ROM with blank forms that can be adapted to your clinical service needs.

  • An overview of how laboratories will have to interact with local coverage-decision policy makers for new tests and technologies to become recognized as appropriate for reimbursement.

  • Current interpretations of CMS policy with regard to billing of genetic counselor services.

To order today call 1-800-338-8290, fax 1-800-772-9165

ISBN# 0-7872-9848-4

ACMG members $100.00

List price $250.00

US postage $10.00 for the first item and $1.00 for each additional item. International shipping will be charged accordingly.

Position Available

Developmental Genome Anatomy Project (DGAP):

Patients with apparently balanced chromosomal rearrangements and multiple congenital anomalies are being sought for participation in a gene discovery research project (http://dgap.harvard.edu). Goals of DGAP include rapid mapping of chromosomal breakpoints, positional cloning of genes interrupted or dysregulated at the breakpoints, and validation of genes identified in specific anomalies through creation of animal models. Further description of DGAP, sample submission and patient consent forms, and contact information are all available on the Web site, or by contacting Azra Ligon (aligon@rics.bwh.harvard.edu; 617-732-7984) or Heather Ferguson (hferguson1@partners.org; 617-525-5769).

POSITION AVAILABLE

The Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Center for Medical Genetics at the University of Miami School of Medicine seeks an outstanding Cytogenetics Laboratory Director to join the faculty of the University of Miami and become a member of the “Miami Gene Team.” The University of Miami is developing a multidisplinary center for research, education, and service programs in medical genetics. The successful candidate for the Director of the Cytogenetics Laboratory must have a PhD or MD/PhD, board certification in Clinical Cytogenetics, and be eligible for a Florida Clinical Cytogenetics Director license. Responsibilities include the management of a full-service cytogenetics diagnostic laboratory, the development of emerging technologies in cytogenetics, and the supervision of ABMG postdoctoral trainees. The Cytogenetics Laboratory Director will have ample opportunity to collaborate in fundamental and clinical research projects. We serve an area that is culturally and ethnically diverse and service approximately one-third of South Florida. Salary and level of faculty appointment will be commensurate with background and experience. Interested candidates should submit a letter indicating interest and expectations, curriculum vitae, and three references to Dr. Louis J. Elsas or Dr. Herbert A. Lubs at the University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Center for Medical Genetics, P.O. Box 016820 (D820), Miami, FL 33101; or fax to 305-243-7254; or email to LElsas@med.miami.edu.