Medical Genetics Residency Program

Choosing a Medical Genetics and Genomics Residency at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) prepares physician scientists to work at the forefront of ground breaking research and personalized patient care. The Medical Genetics and Genomics Residency is a two-year clinical and research training experience for physicians with an interest in the diagnoses, counseling, and management of patients with inherited diagnoses. A broad range of diagnoses is encountered encompassing the prenatal, pediatric, and adult age groups in the prenatal, metabolic, pediatric, adult, cancer, and cardio genetics clinics.  Some of the diagnoses commonly seen by residents in the program include: Chromosome abnormalities, malformation syndromes, inborn errors of metabolism, single gene disorders, diagnoses with complex inheritance, cancer pre-dispositions, musculo-skeletal abnormalities, and people pre-symptomatic for neurological genetic conditions.

In addition, the resident will gain proficiency in the selection of genetic tests and the evaluation of laboratory data that are relevant to medical genetics diagnosis and management. This specifically includes the interpretation of results from the Cytogenetics Laboratory, the Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, and the Molecular Diagnostic Center.

Residents are required to participate in a basic science or clinical research project during the residency. The breadth and balance of exposure to diverse areas of medical genetics is a major strength of our OHSU program. The program's comprehensive treatment is designed to prepare the physician for the certification examination by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG).

The program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (AMBGG).

Program highlights

  • Trainees work with patients of all backgrounds with a wide range of genetic diagnoses.
  • Many opportunities to teach in both clinical and didactic settings to different specialties.
  • Onsite clinical genetics laboratories (biochemical, cytogenetics, molecular).

For more detailed information visit our training page.

Program leadership

Caleb Rogers 85x115

Program Director
Caleb Rogers

Tara Houston 85

Program Coordinator
Tara Houston

Mission Statement

The Medical Genetics and Genomics Residency is a two-year clinical and research training experience providing physicians with the knowledge and skills necessary for diagnosis, counseling, and management of patients with or at risk for genetic diagnosesThe Residency provides quality healthcare, aligning with OHSU's care model to ensure clinical quality improvement is the foundation of the program. The Residency strives to be an active contributor to translational and basic science and a leader and advocate for the specialty of medical genetics and the patients we serve. 

Program Aims

  1. Ensure competency in the clinical care of pediatric and adult patients with or at risk for genetic/metabolic diagnoses through rotations in appropriate clinics as well as inpatient consultations.
  2. Provide a curriculum to educate residents in current molecular genetics and genomics principles and testing analysis.
  3. Provide a foundation for clinical and/or basic science research in genetics to foster future interest in research and pursuit of an academic career.
  4. Educate tomorrow's clinical genetics professionals in an interdisciplinary environment, in order to meet the population's need for clinical genetics care.

Please refer to the OHSU GME website for employment and benefits information, including housing resources, liability insurance, transportation/parking, salary, medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, holidays and paid time off, and supporting diversity. OHSU residents and fellows are part of House Officers United, represented by AFSCME, which is a bargaining unit comprised of more than 850 clinicians completing their medical training at OHSU as residents, fellows and interns. In addition, our residents have access to a number of programs to support their well-being (wellness resources).

Additional benefits include:

  • Professional development funds to attend one national conference per year.
  • OHSU has a robust library with online and print materials.
  • ABMGG Annual In-training Examination 
  • White coats and scrubs
  • All-Fellows Retreat: Genetics Residents join the Pediatric All-Fellows Retreat annually to get together off campus for community building through meals, group work, and relaxation and professional development, including expert facilitator-led sessions.
  • All-Fellows Conference Series: Genetics Residents join the monthly professional development conference series organized by the Pediatric Fellowship Committee (PFC) for fellows that ranges on topics from job search and financial planning to teaching and feedback, among others. They utilize these opportunities to bring fellows together to help build a support community for each other while learning essential skills that are relevant across specialties. Conferences are held over the noon hour, and lunch is provided.

Please check out the resources below for more information on attractions, events, and resources in the Portland area:

Application requirements
  • Have a U.S. or Canadian M.D. or D.O. degree or international medical school graduates must have a valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
  • Have completed two or more years of clinical residency training in an ACGME/ACGME-I accredited residency program.
  • Must be legally able to work in the US or eligible to obtain work.
  • Application materials must include the following:
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • Personal Statement
    • Three Letters of Recommendation (one from Program Director required)
    • USMLE/COMLEX Scores
    • Medical Student Performance Evaluation (formerly known as the Dean's Letter)
Interviews

Upon receipt of an application, the selection committee will review and notify each applicant by email of the decision to interview. In compliance with national recommendations, all interviews will be conducted virtually. Interview dates typically range from August through September. The virtual interview day will be approximately five hours in length with opportunities to meet our program faculty and coordinator. 

Program status

We are currently not recruiting for our categorical genetics residency in 2024. We do not have a future start date. We are recruiting for a combined MFM/Genetics fellow with a start date of July 1, 2025. We will update this page with updates to the categorical program once they are available.

Contact us

For further information/inquiries regarding the OHSU Medical Genetics Residency Program please contact the Genetics Residency Program Coordinator or call us at 503 494-7703