Medical Genetics

The Harvard Medical School Medical Genetics training program is structured to include an initial year of intensive clinical training followed by two years of in-depth clinical and basic research training during which time an additional six months of clinical experience will be obtained. 

 

The first year of training in clinical medical genetics includes rotations at Children's Hospital (6 months), Massachusetts General Hospital (3 months) and Brigham and Women's Hospital (3 months).  While in the Brigham and Women's Hospital rotation, you will attend two half-day clinics per week at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. 

The second year of training includes research, laboratory rotations in cytogenetics, molecular genetics, and biochemical genetics, and 3 months of additional clinical training. 

The third year of the program includes research and 3 months of additional clinical training.

 

The research may be done at any of the Harvard affiliated institutions, with a continuity clinic at a site of the resident's choice and approved by Joan Stoler, MD, Program Director and Cynthia Morton, PhD, Training Program Education Director.  Residents are required to participate in a core didactic program during the entire period of training. 

 

The overall goals of the training program are to:

  • provide training in medical genetics including dysmorphology, inborn errors of metabolism, prenatal diagnosis, adult genetic disease, and cancer genetics;
  • help residents become familiar with the performance and interpretation of cytogenetic, biochemical genetic, and molecular genetic laboratory tests;
  • help residents become proficient in risk assessment based on family history and laboratory data;
  • allow residents to develop good communication skills with patients, families, and colleagues;
  • provide a knowledge base of the basic science of genetics and development;
  • allow residents to become sensitive to ethical issues in genetics and genetic counseling;
  • provide an opportunity to participate in a research project and develop clinical and laboratory research skills.
  • prepare the residents for a career in academic medicine.