12th ANNUAL WORKSHOP
MARCO ISLAND, FLORIDA
April 26-28, 2006
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Business Meeting
Secretary-Treasurer's Report: Mira Irons reported this year's financial information. On April 23, 2006, the account balance was $97,114.53. This includes registration fees from this year's workshop; no payments to the hotel for the current meeting have been made.
Membership: There are currently 37 paid institutions for 2006. There were 89 paid members in 2005. This year the invoices were sent to the Medical School Deans and a copy was mailed to each representative. A second dues invoice will be sent to the representatives whose institutions have not paid their 2000 dues.
Liason reports:
ACMG: Mike Watson updated the group on recent ACMG activities, including:
- Newborn screening ACT sheets: These are currently being distributed through public health agencies, the AAP, and the AAFP and are available on the ACMG website
- Maintenance of Certification: ACMG continues to plan for expanded Maintenance of Certification, and there is a joint ACMG/ABMG committee that has been formed to help implement the new changes.
- Information on the new ACMG website was provided
ASHG: Joanne Boughman updated the group on the following items:
- GenEdNet: A Director of Education has been hired. This website provides state/province-specific information/teaching modules for genetic education of use to teachers and other individuals involved in genetics education. In addition, ASHG can help supply resources to help faculty members who are interested in becoming involved in science education in their communities.
- ASHG Annual meeting update for New Orleans: 250 students and teachers will attend a high school workshop in conjunction with this year’s meeting. In addition, the ASHG is participating in a school supplies and book drive for New Orleans schools. The ASHG Board will match up to $2500 in individual or group donations. This money will be used to sponsor a teacher or classroom in New Orleans.
- Public policy: An update on ASHG’s recent activitiy on Capitol Hill was provided.
NCHPEG AND ABMG: Mimi Blitzer provided updates on both groups.
ABMG:
-The ABMG continues to work on expanded maintenance of certification that will begin in 2007. Information on the new requirements is available on the ABMG website and through the office.
- The certification examination will now be given on a q. 2 year schedule with the next examination scheduled for August, 2007. The examination will be computer-based and given at Prometrix sites locally. The Board is reviewing the examination in an attempt to make it more relevant to current trainees and a Board retreat this summer is planned to address this and other ABMG issues.
- The new MD Biochemical Genetics subspecialty proposal has been written and approved by the Medical Genetics RRC. It has been submitted to the ABMG for approval.
AAMC/CAS: Bronya Keats updated the group on recent activities of these groups.
Organization of Program Directors: Mira Irons discussed the following items:
- Reminder to all program directors to make certain that health insurance is activated the first day of the residency so that new residents do not have a period of time that they are not insured before insurance benefits begin.
- The ACGME is currently investigating the use of learning portfolios for use in residency education. These computer-based portfolios can be used to track conference attendance, resident and faculty evaluations, and logbooks.
- All programs are reminded of the requirement to present information on recognition of resident fatigue yearly as part of educational programming.
Nominations Committee: Jerry Feldman reported on the Nominations Committee. The Committee was composed of: Tom Gelehrter (chair), Skip Elsas, and Jerry Feldman. The following slate of new candidates was put forward to the assembly.
Tony Wynshaw-Boris: President-Elect
Alan Hogge: Council
A motion was made and seconded to approve the above recommendations and the assembly voted unanimous approval.
2007 workshop: Preliminary discussions regarding next year’s workshop were led by Jerry Feldman. Possible venues include Tucson and Del Mar, CA. There has been decreasing attendance over the last few years at the meetings, although it is unclear why this is the case. The current plan is to alternate meeting sites between the two coasts and there will be attempt to keep room prices moderate.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Residency Programs and Medical Genetics
Dr. Steve Nestler, ACGME Executive Director for the medical Genetics Residency Review Committee discussed the following:
- Update on recent RRC and ACGME activities
- Preparing for an ACGME Site Visit
Following Dr. Nestler’s presentation, questions were taken from the audience. A discussion ensued regarding establishment of a test question bank that might be used for an Inservice Examination. Dr. Cindy Powell indicated that she would contact program directors and form a committee to discuss the logistics of creating a bank of examination questions that could be used by program directors.
Banbury Meeting on The Evolving Role of the Medical Geneticist
Dr. Bruce Korf reported on the Banbury Conference that was held in February, 2006. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the role of the medical geneticist as part of the patient care team in the “genomics era”. Topics discussed included a set of key principles that were developed at the meeting, alternative training pathways for medical genetics residents, defining the scope of practice of a medical geneticist, and development of a curriculum. The latter would guide training, define the scope of practice, and be useful in the accreditation and maintenance of certification processes.
Friday, April 28, 2006
AAMC Perspective on Medical Research Funding and Other Issues Affecting Faculty.
Tony Mazzaschi, AAMC Director of CAS Affairs and Senior Associate Vice President for Biomedical and Health Sciences Research, discussed the NIH funding crisis and its impact on faculty. Other items discussed included research policy issues affecting faculty and a discussion of how genetics chairs can access AAMC products and services. He concluded by highlighting some of the key presentations from the AAMC’s Basic Science Department Chairs National Meeting in October, 2005.
The HapMap Project
Dr. Lisa Brooks, NHGRI, began the session with an introduction and overview of the HapMap Project. Dr. Richard Gibbs and Dr. John Belmont from Baylor College of Medicine discussed their involvement in the HapMap project and new studies that were now feasible as a result.
Organization of Core Genomic Facilities
Peter O'Connell, Diane Cox, Tony Wynshaw-Boris, and Bruce Korf discussed the development and organization of core genomic facilities at their institutions and effective ways they have developed to provide these services for faculty.