Training in Clinical Genetics

Clinical Gen Training

The Program provides well-rounded clinical training leading to eligibility for certification in Clinical Genetics by the American Board of Medical Genetics. Training leading to eligibility for certification in Cytogenetics, Biochemical Genetics and Clinical Molecular Genetics is also available.

During the first year, fellows rotate among the Medical Genetics Clinic at the University Hospital, the Medical Genetics Clinic at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, and the Biochemical Genetics Clinic at University Hospital, all of which meet weekly. The Medical Genetics Clinic at the University has specialty clinics in neurological genetics, connective tissue genetics and cancer genetics, in addition to the all-inclusive clinics. Several hundred families with developmental genetic and dysmorphic phenotypes are seen, counseled and studied each year in the Medical Genetics Clinic at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center. The Biochemical Genetics Clinic is the major center in the states of Washington and Alaska for the study of patients with a wide range of metabolic genetic disorders, and has unique responsibility for the long-term supervision of medical care for these children and adults.

Specialty clinics in muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis and coagulation disorders are held at the Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center and are staffed, in part, by our clinical geneticists and genetic counselors.

Our program also provides genetic services to the state of Alaska. There are six visits yearly to Alaska. Each fellow can expect to make one trip to Alaska, usually during the second year of training.

Exposure to cytogenetic evaluations is an important part of the Medical Genetics Training Program. Cytogenetics facilities at the University Hospital and the Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center process more than 2000 samples each year as part of cytogenetic evaluation of children and adults with congenital anomalies and for prenatal studies.

Training in fetal genetics and prenatal diagnosis is available through the Prenatal Diagnosis Clinic of the Department of Obstetrics. In addition, the fellows attend in-patient and out-patient consultations and a weekly conference on fetal diagnosis and management.