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Genetics Track

Medical School Genetics Track

Advances in medical genetics, molecular biology, and biomedical technology have applications to the treatment of disease, determination of disease risk, use of pharmacologic agents, reproductive counseling and interpretation of clinical laboratory data. In addition, ethical and public policy concerns related to the application of these technologies to promote health and wellness have emerged.

The goals of the Genetics Track are to:

  • Build upon the foundation of basic genetic principles provided in the preclinical curriculum with additional educational experiences in medical genetics
  • Enhance the medical student experience to include a broad range of patients with genetic conditions
  • Develop the student's appreciation for the nuances inherent in performing and interpreting clinical diagnostic analyses in biochemical genetics, molecular genetics, and cytogenetics
  • Provide an interface with the community and patient advocacy organizations to enhance the student's awareness of the social concerns faced by patients and families affected with genetic disorders
  • Prepare students to author a scholarly publication and/or presentation
  • Provide students a means to network and discuss various topics and career paths in medical genetics

Schedule at a Glance

Content Activities Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4
Didactics Fall I Core Concepts (11 hours) X
Fall II Genetics Module (22 hours) X
Case-based conferences (1 hour/month; Sept-May) X X X
Topics in Genetics-Journal club (1 hour/month; Sept-May) X
Genes, Health and Society online course, “Medical Genetics and Genomics” module X
Clinical Experience Pediatric Genetics Elective (2 weeks) X X
Adult Genetics Elective (2 weeks) X X
Choice of Pediatric, Adult or Prenatal Genetics Elective (2 weeks) X X
Medical Genetics Laboratory Medical Genetics Laboratory Elective (2 weeks) X X
Community Interface Longitudinal patient experience X X X X
Evenings with Genetics seminars (3/year) X X X X
Scholarly Activities Faculty Mentor Meeting (Quarterly) X X X X
Track Director Portfolio Review Meeting
(Spring and Fall)		 X X X X
Human Subjects online training X X
Develop and implement scholarly project X X X X
American College of Medical Genetics or American Society of Human Genetics annual meeting, optional X X
Enrichment Mediaomics Book Club/ Genetics in Film, optional X X X X
*Grey denotes which activities occur in which year of the M.D. program

Required Elements

Year 1

  • Fall I Core Concepts
  • Topics in Genetics Journal Club (1 hour per month; September – May)
  • Begin longitudinal patient experience
  • Evenings with Genetics Seminar Series (1 hour per seminar; attend 3 seminars per year)
  • Quarterly meetings with Faculty Mentor
  • Semi-annual meetings with Track Director
  • Online Human Subjects Research Training through BCM Office of Research (complete once in Year 1 or Year 2)
  • Initiate scholarly project in basic, translational, clinical, genomic, ethics, or public policy research

Year 2

  • Fall II Genetics Module (Block 8)
  • Attend Department of MHG Case-based Conferences (1 hour per month; September – May; options include Monday Noon, Friday Noon, Thursday 4pm)
  • Continue longitudinal patient experience
  • Evenings with Genetics Seminar Series (1 hour per seminar; attend 3 seminars per year)
  • Quarterly meetings with Faculty Mentor
  • Semi-annual meetings with Track Director
  • Online Human Subjects Research Training through BCM Office of Research (complete once in Year 1 or Year 2)
  • Continue scholarly project in basic, translational, clinical, genomic, ethics, or public policy research

Year 3

  • Attend Department of MHG Case-based Conferences (1 hour per month; September – May; options include Monday Noon, Friday Noon, Thursday 4pm)
  • Complete the module entitled “Medical Genetics and Genomics” in the online course Genes, Health and Society of the BCM Center for Educational Outreach
  • Pediatric Genetics Elective* (2 weeks; to be completed in Year 3 or Year 4)
  • Adult Genetics Elective* (2 weeks; to be completed in Year 3 or Year 4)
  • Additional Genetics Elective* (Students may choose Pediatric, Adult or Prenatal Genetics Elective; 2 weeks; to be completed in Year 3 or Year 4)
  • Medical Genetics Laboratory Elective* (2 weeks; to be completed in Year 3 or Year 4)
  • Continue longitudinal patient experience
  • Evenings with Genetics Seminar Series (1 hour per seminar; attend 3 seminars per year)
  • Quarterly meetings with Faculty Mentor
  • Semi-annual meetings with Track Director
  • Continue scholarly project in basic, translational, clinical, genomic, ethics, or public policy research

Year 4

  • Attend Department of MHG Case-based Conferences (1 hour per month; September – May; options include Monday Noon, Friday Noon, Thursday 4pm)
  • Pediatric Genetics Elective* (2 weeks; to be completed in Year 3 or Year 4)
  • Adult Genetics Elective* (2 weeks; to be completed in Year 3 or Year 4)
  • Additional Genetics Elective* (Students may choose Pediatric, Adult or Prenatal Genetics Elective; 2 weeks; to be completed in Year 3 or Year 4)
  • Medical Genetics Laboratory Elective* (2 weeks; to be completed in Year 3 or Year 4)
  • Continue longitudinal patient experience
  • Evenings with Genetics Seminar Series (1 hour per seminar; attend 3 seminars per year)
  • Quarterly meetings with Faculty Mentor
  • Semi-annual meetings with Track Director
  • Continue scholarly project in basic, translational, clinical, genomic, ethics, or public policy research

Optional Elements

  • Submit results of scholarly project for presentation at the Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting of the American College of Medical Genetics or the annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics
  • Participate in Media-omics Book Club/Genetics in Film Group (2 hours, twice per year)

* Adult Genetics Elective includes experiences in General Adult and Cancer Genetics Clinics and participating with the Genetics Team on inpatient consults. Pediatric Genetics Elective includes experiences in General Pediatric, Metabolic and Skeletal Dysplasia Genetics Clinics and participating with the Genetics Team on inpatient consults. Prenatal Genetics Elective includes experiences in the Prenatal Genetics Clinic. All Clinical Electives include attending residency education conferences, case conferences, and post-clinic conference. Medical Genetics Laboratory Elective, exclusive to the Genetics Track, this elective includes experiences in the Biochemical, Cytogenetic and Molecular divisions of the Medical Genetics Laboratories, genetic counseling, and attending sign-out rounds, case discussion conferences, and the Thursday 4 p.m. post-clinic conference.

Track Directors

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