Shweta U. Dhar, MD, MS, FACMG, FACP

Medical Director-Adult Genetics/ Professor

Request Clinical Appointment

Email

dhar@bcm.edu

Positions

Medical Director-Adult Genetics/ Professor: Mol. & Human Gen./Clinic. Prgm
Adult Genetics
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX, US

Section Chief: Internal Medicine
Genetics
Michael E. DeBakey VAMC
Houston, Texas, United States

Member: Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas, United States

Addresses

Adult Genetics Clinic (Clinic): Baylor College of Medicine Medical Center - McNair Campus
7200 Cambridge St.
Houston, TX, 77030
United States
Phone: (713) 798-7820
Adult Genetics Clinic

Education

MBBS from NHL Municipal Medical College: 01/1997 - Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Residency at The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute: 06/1999 - Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India; Pathology & Microbiology

MS from Stephen F Austin State University: 06/2001 - Nacogdoches, Texas, United States; Biotechnology

Residency at New York INF Beekman Downtown Hospital: 06/2006 - New York City, New York, United States; Internal Medicine

Fellowship at Baylor College Of Medicine: 08/2008 - Houston, Texas, United States; Medical Genetics

Certifications

American Board of Internal Medicine

American Board of Medical Genetics

Honors & Awards

Fulbright & Jaworski Teaching & Evaluation Award: Baylor College of Medicine (03/2013)

Rising Star Clinician Award: Baylor College of Medicine (05/2014)

Fulbright & Jaworski Educational Leadership Award: BCM

Clark Faculty Service Award: Baylor College of Medicine (05/2018 - 05/2018)

Women of Excellence Award: Baylor College of Medicine (03/2020 - 03/2020)

Professional Interests

Diagnosis and management of adults with genetic conditions

Professional Statement

As the Medical Director for the Adult Genetics Clinics at BCM, I am proud to say that this is one of the largest Adult Genetics Divisions in the country. My primary clinical focus lies in diagnosis and management of adults with genetic conditions, known or suspected. These include diagnosis and management of single gene disorders, chromosomal disorders and familial cancer syndromes, risk assessment for cancer and reproductive planning as well as testing for known genetic disorders in the family.

I am also involved in the education of medical students at BCM, particularly in the field of adult genetics. I direct the Genetics course for MS2 and am always looking for opportunities to enhance the genetic education of our medical students and residents through various electives. The Genetics & Genomics Pathway at BCM was established in 2011 and is one of the first such medical pathways in the nation. Through this pathway, students get an unparalleled experience in genetics through their medical school career at BCM. On the national front, I was recently elected to the Board of Directors as a clinical director for the American College of Medical Genetics & Genomics (ACMG). Finally, through my position as chair of the Adult Genetics Special Interest Group (SIG) at ACMG, I was able to launch the Adult & Cancer Diagnostic Dilemmas session at the annual meeting in 2016 which has continued to remain a standing feature every year since.

Websites

VIICTR Publications List

Baylor Medicine Genetics Clinic

Adult Genetics Clinic at VA Medical Center

Harris Health System Adult Genetics Clinic

Department of Molecular and Human Genetics

Medical School Genetics & Genomics Pathway

Videos

Shweta U. Dhar, M.D. - Giving Life to Possible

Dr. Dhar is board certified in medical genetics, clinical genetics. She specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of adults with genetic disorders.

Selected Publications

Machol K, Jankovic J, Vijayakumar D, Burrage LC, Jain M, (...); Undiagnosed Diseases Network, Dhar SU. " Atypical Alexander disease with dystonia, retinopathy, and a brain mass mimicking astrocytoma.. " Neurol Genet. 2018 ; 4 : e248.
Zhao S, Chen WJ, Dhar SU, Eble TN, Kwok OM, Chen LS. " Needs assessment in genetic testing education: A survey of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder in the united states.. " Autism Res.. 2019 ; 12 : 1162-1170.
Assia Batzir N, Bhagwat PK, Eble TN, Liu P, Eng CM, Elsea SH, Robak LA, Scaglia F, Goldman AM, Dhar SU, Wangler MF. " De novo missense variant in the GTPase effector domain (GED) of DNM1L leads to static encephalopathy and seizures.. " Cold Spring Harb Mol Case Stud.. 2019 ; 5 (3) : pii: a003673.
Prakash P, Eble TN, Dhar SU. " Quality improvement of clinic flow for complex genetic conditions: Using Ehlers-Danlos syndrome as a model.. " Mol Genet Genomic Med. 2018 ; 6 : 993-1000.
Posey JE, Rosenfeld JA, James RA, Bainbridge M, Niu Z, Wang X, Dhar S, (...), Plon SE. " Molecular diagnostic experience of whole-exome sequencing in adult patients.. " Genet Med. 2016 ; 18 : 678-85.
Eble TN, Nagamani SC, Franco LM, Plon SE, Blazo M, Dhar SU. " The practice of adult genetics: A 7-year experience from a single center. " Am. J. Med. Genet. A. 2013 Jan ; 161 (1) : 89-93.
Pubmed PMID: 23239603.
Chen LS, Xu L, Huang TY, Dhar SU. " Autism genetic testing: a qualitative study of awareness, attitudes, and experiences among parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. " Genet. Med.. 2013 Apr ; 15 (4) : 274-81.
Pubmed PMID: 23288207.
Dhar SU, Alford RL, Nelson EA, Potocki L. " Enhancing exposure to genetics and genomics through an innovative medical school curriculum. " Genet. Med.. 2012 Jan ; 14 (1) : 163-7.
Pubmed PMID: 22237446.
Bekheirnia MR, Zhang W, Eble T, Willis A, Shaibani A, Wong LJ, Scaglia F, Dhar SU. " POLG mutation in a patient with cataracts, early-onset distal muscle weakness and atrophy, ovarian dysgenesis and 3-methylglutaconic aciduria. " Gene. 2012 May 10; 499 (1) : 209-12.
Pubmed PMID: 22405928.
Bacino CA, Dhar SU, Brunetti-Pierri N, Lee B, Bonnen PE. " WDR35 mutation in siblings with Sensenbrenner syndrome: A ciliopathy with variable phenotype. " Am. J. Med. Genet. A. 2012 Nov ; 158 (11) : 2917-24.
Pubmed PMID: 22987818.
Plon SE, Cooper HP, Parks B, Dhar SU, Kelly PA, Weinberg AD, Staggs S, Wang T, Hilsenbeck S. " Genetic testing and cancer risk management recommendations by physicians for at-risk relatives. " Genet. Med.. 2011 Feb ; 13 (2) : 148-54.
Pubmed PMID: 21224735.
Liu P1, Erez A, Nagamani SC, Dhar SU, (...), Cheung SW, Hastings PJ, Stankiewicz P, Lupski JR, Bi W. " Chromosome catastrophes involve replication mechanisms generating complex genomic rearrangements. " Cell. 2011 Sep 16; 146 (6) : 889-903.
Pubmed PMID: 21925314.
Dhar SU, Chintagumpala M, Noll C, Chévez-Barrios P, Paysse EA, Plon SE. " Outcomes of integrating genetics in management of patients with retinoblastoma. " Arch. Ophthalmol.. 2011 Nov ; 129 (11) : 1428-34.
Pubmed PMID: 22084214.
Dhar SU, Cooper HP, Wang T, Parks B, Staggs SA, Hilsenbeck S, Plon SE. " Significant differences among physician specialties in management recommendations of BRCA1 mutation carriers. " Breast Cancer Res. Treat.. 2011 Aug ; 129 (1) : 221-7.
Pubmed PMID: 21465171.
Dhar SU, Del Gaudio D, German JR, Peters SU, Ou Z, Bader PI, Berg JS, Blazo M, Brown CW, Graham BH, Grebe TA, Lalani S, Irons M, Sparagana S, Williams M, Phillips JA, Beaudet AL, Stankiewicz P, Patel A, Cheung SW, Sahoo T. " 22q13.3 deletion syndrome: Clinical and molecular analysis using array CGH. " Am. J. Med. Genet. A. 2010 Mar ; 152 (3) : 573-81.
Pubmed PMID: 20186804.
Dhar SU, Taylor T, Trinh C, Sutton VR. " Cranio-meta-diaphyseal dysplasia: 25 year follow-up and review of literature. " Am. J. Med. Genet. A. 2010 Sep ; 152 (9) : 2335-8.
Pubmed PMID: 20684007.
Dhar SU, Scaglia F, Li FY, Smith L, Barshop BA, Eng CM, Haas RH, Hunter JV, Lotze T, Maranda B, Willis M, Abdenur JE, Chen E, O'Brien W, Wong LJ. " Expanded clinical and molecular spectrum of guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT) deficiency. " Mol. Genet. Metab.. 2009 Jan ; 96 (1) : 38-43.
Pubmed PMID: 19027335.
Dhar SU, Robbins-Furman P, Levy ML, Patel A, Scaglia F. " Tetrasomy 13q mosaicism associated with phylloid hypomelanosis and precocious puberty. " Am. J. Med. Genet. A. 2009 May ; 149 (5) : 993-6.
Pubmed PMID: 19334087.

Memberships

American College of Medical Genetics & Genomics: Fellow Member

American Medical Association: Member

American Society of Human Genetics: Member

American College of Physicians: Member

Languages

Gujarati, Hindi