263293 A model program for educating public health professionals and the public about genomics

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 : 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Monica McClain, PhD , Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
Beverly Burke, MSW , Genomics Office, Connecticut Department of Public Health, Hartford, CT
Cynthia Ingham, RN, BSN , Newborn Screening, Children with Special Health Needs, Vermont Department of Health, Burlington, VT
Mary-Frances Garber, MS, CGC , New England Regional Genetics Group, Inc., Needham, MA
Eleanor Mulcahy, RNC , Genetics and MFIMR, Maine CDC CSHN, Augusta, ME
Dale Lea, RN, MPH, CGC, FAAN , Genetics and MFIMR, Maine CDC CSHN, Augusta, ME
Marcia Lavochkin, RN, BSN , NH Newborn Screening, NH DHHS, Concord, NH
Holly Tutko, MS , NH Institute for Health Policy and Practice, University of New Hampshire, Bow, NH
Jacquelyn Halliday, CGC , Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI
Natalie Beck, MGC, CGC , Genetic Counseling Center, Hasbro Children's Hospital, Providence, RI
Cynthia Jackson, PhD , Clinical Molecular Biology Laboratory, Lifespan Academic Medical Center, Providence, RI
Caitlin Kreitman, MPH, CHES , Program in Genomics, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA
Public health genomics is the effective and responsible application of genome based knowledge and technologies to improve population health. To catalyze the integration of genomics throughout public health requires increasing the genomic literacy of the public health workforce and the public. To meet this challenge, the New England Regional Genetics Group (NERGG) Public Health Genomics Task Force is periodically developing and disseminating Genomics News Alerts (GNA) for use by chronic disease program managers and others to educate the public about chronic disease conditions that have a genetic component. Focusing on chronic disease creates the potential for significant public health impact, as these diseases cause the most morbidity and mortality across the nation. The Public Health Genomics Task Force is multidisciplinary in nature, with members from all six New England states, including public and private health professionals, academics/researchers, genetic counselors, laboratorians and educators. This Task Force selects relevant topic areas, develops the content, seeking external expertise when required, and disseminates the GNA via e-mail to selected recipients in various public health programs. The one to two page alerts describe what is currently known about the genetic aspects of a chronic condition, and existing tools/resources to promote public awareness about these genetic factors to facilitate opportunities for early diagnosis and intervention. GNA releases are timed to coincide with national health observance days/months. Previous GNA have addressed asthma, depression, newborn screening and heart disease, all of which are archived on the NERGG website.

Learning Areas:
Communication and informatics
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe an approach for integrating genomic information with chronic disease programs. 2. Identify communications methods for disseminating genomic information to public health programs. 3. Explain why integrating genomic information with other public health programs is important.

Keywords: Genetics, Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am and have been the principal or co-investigator of multiple federally funded grants focusing on screening, genetic testing, and genetic services. In addition, I have authored many peer-reviewed articles on these topics.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 5152.0: Genomics (Organized jointly with Genomics)