Soon, doctors will be able to learn about genetic testing – and get professional credits for their efforts.
In a major advancement for the burgeoning genetic testing industry, the American College of Preventive Medicine has announced it is creating a medical education program on the use of genomic tools in medicine.
Called “Genetic Risk, Screening and Intervention,” the course is aimed at improving physicians’ understanding of the use of genetic testing in disease prevention. Available in early 2009, the class will discuss the genetic risk factors for disease, as well as the current evidence about the ability of genetic tests to assess risk.
This is an exciting time for the field of medicine.
“We are beginning to see healthcare’s evolvement from a discipline focused primarily on treating existing diseases and conditions to one that gives equal credence to preventing those diseases in the first place,” said Michael Barry, executive director of the American College of Preventive Medicine.
“We are excited to be helping physicians on the frontline of care become more familiar with multiple risk assessment strategies and the evidence behind new technologies—including genomic applications—that can help patients better understand their risk for disease and take appropriate actions to mitigate that risk,” he said.
To that end, national experts in genomics, prevention and epidemiology are designing the course to explore many issues related to genetic testing and disease prevention, including: