Training

During the Medical Genetics Residency two-year training, two months are spent in clinical genetics laboratories, four months are spent in a protected research rotation, and eighteen months are spent on outpatient general adult, pediatric, and subspecialty clinics as follows:

  • Adult Clinics: 5 months
    • General Adult Genetics
    • Cancer Genetics
    • Predictive Neuro Genetics
    • Neuro Genetics
    • Neuro Oncology Genetics
    • Cardio Genetics
  • Clinical Elective: 1 month
    • Adult Genetics
    • Pediatric Genetics
    • Prenatal Genetics
    • Metabolic Genetics
  • Pediatric Clinics: 10 months
    • General Pediatric Genetics
    • Pediatric Oncology
    • Metabolic Genetics
    • Neuromuscular Clinic (Shriners)
    • Skeletal Dysplasia Clinic (Shriners)

  • Prenatal Clinics: 2 months
    • General Prenatal Genetics
    • Fetal Therapy Clinic
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In addition, there are 12 months of inpatient Pediatric and Metabolic consultation divided between year one and year two of training.

Our metabolic consult service is active with multiple consults a week both from our hospital as well other facilities throughout Oregon. We also provide consultation services for the Oregon Newborn Screening Program with several positive screens called out weekly that require further work-up and evaluation. OHSU is the only hospital in Oregon with complete care for inherited metabolic disorders and has outreach clinics that improve access to care. Outpatient care is provided in clinics by telemedicine (video visits) and at the following sites:

Molecular and Medical Genetics Grand Rounds

Molecular and Medical Genetics Grand Rounds are designed to present and discuss topics related to genetic disorders, genomics, and clinical medicine. Our department is a composed of individuals working in clinical medicine and basic science; as such, both clinical and translational research topics are presented. During this series we hear presentations from clinical faculty, research faculty, clinical case presentations, and invited OHSU and outside speakers.

Molecular and Medical Genetics | Genome Science Seminar Series

The Genome Sciences Hub integrates basic science and clinical faculty across OHSU who work in disciplines of genetics and genomics, epigenetics, rare disease genetics, genome technologies and computational biology, stem cell and developmental biology, cancer genetics, and gene therapy. Faculty within the Hub apply multidisciplinary approaches, including single gene and single cell technologies, gene therapies, transcriptional pathway and whole genome analyses, and animal models of disease.

The interdisciplinary nature of this Hub is based on the combined basic science and clinical composition of the Department of Molecular & Medical Genetics that will cultivate interactions between the basic sciences and the clinical researchers and practitioners. The goals of the Genome Sciences Seminar Series are to facilitate interactions among faculty and trainees and to provide an opportunity to expand breadth and depth of knowledge in a variety of Genetic research areas that both complement and expand attendees’ areas of research focus.

Pediatric Grand Rounds

Pediatric faculty, community pediatricians, residents, and students attend this weekly session. Various pediatric topics, including research advances, translational medicine, and challenging clinical cases are presented, usually in a lecture format. Guest presentations are common, and there are several endowed lectureships throughout the year that attract acclaimed physician-scientists.

SIMD North American Metabolic Academy

An opportunity for trainees in Medical Genetics to be introduced to the field of metabolic disorders and to meet and learn from leading figures in the field.

ACMG Annual Meeting

A comprehensive and exciting variety of topics are presented for all learning levels.

Genodermatosis Conference Series

Initiated as a way to bring together scientists and clinicians in both dermatology and genetics to discuss shared topics.

Advanced Topics in Genome Sciences, MGEN 622 | 3 credits

Course Directors: Anupriya Agarwal, Ph.D. and Shawn Chavez, Ph.D.

This course is designed to provide in-depth coverage of topics in Genome Sciences such as the use of genetic systems to probe complex problems, genetic approaches to identify novel genotype-phenotype associations, molecular genetics, single-cell profiling, CRISPR/cas9 editing, and quantitative genetics. Focus areas may include gene regulatory mechanisms and genome regulation underlying development, regeneration, degeneration, stem cell fitness, cancer evolution, and cancer predisposition syndromes. Emphasis will be on recent insights and emerging technologies. Readings will be based on selected reviews and articles from the current literature. Interactive discussions will involve critical analyses of recent research papers.

Genetic Basis of Human Disease MGEN 623 | 3 credits

Course Directors: Amy Yang, M.D., and Brian O’Roak, Ph.D.

A team of faculty experts discusses topics including chromosomal basis of disease, cancer genetics, disorders of energy metabolism, amino acid disorders, blood coagulation disorders, congenital heart defects, disorders of extracellular matrix, platelet disorders, endocrine disorders, and stem cell/gene therapy. Format is reading, journal club, and conference style.

Molecular/Medical Genetics J.C., MGEN 605E | 1 credit

Course Director: Amanda McCullough, Ph.D., and Joshua Saldivar, Ph.D.

The overarching intent of this journal club is to foster critical evaluation of recent articles in the Molecular and Medical Genetics (MMG) literature in a safe, inclusive, and emboldening forum. It is a participatory class where involvement is mandatory. The MMG journal club comprises a range of topics relating to genetics and human health, including all aspects of human development, prenatal/postnatal testing and screening for abnormal phenotypes and genotypes, cancer biology and testing/screening, and others. Generally, students select a topic that interests them; in this way, and with a diversity of students, an organic cross-pollination of molecular and medical genetics knowledge occurs.