Assuring the Delivery of Genetic Services Among People Who Are Medically Underserved in the United States

Clinical applications of human genomics have accelerated in the past decade, and many have reached health practice across the lifespan. Genomic testing for screening, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases encompasses newborn screening, childhood diseases, adult chronic disease such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes, mental health, as well drug safety and effectiveness. In the past decade, implementation of genomics in practice has been uneven and not reaching all segments of the population. There is evidence of access and uptake disparities by socioeconomic status, race or ethnicity, disabilities and rurality. In this seminar, we explore current public health approaches to assuring the delivery of genetic services in the context of maternal and child health in the United States.  The Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration (MCHB/HRSA) has established seven Regional Genetics Networks (RGNs), a National Coordinating Center (NCC), and the National Genetics Education and Family Support Center (NGEFSC) as part of on-going efforts to improve the health of medically underserved populations by promoting the translation of genetic medicine into public health and health care services.

Our speakers will discuss national, regional and state approaches to delivery of genomic medicine and explore future opportunities for collaborations between public health and healthcare systems in using genomic information across the lifespan for improving health and preventing disease.