For the first time, twelve medical and graduate students were named ACMG Foundation Student Travel Scholarship recipients, presented by the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine during the 2019 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting in Seattle.
The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine (ACMGF) has established a student travel scholarship fund to support students so that they could attend the ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting on April 2-6, 2019 in Seattle, WA. The scholarship fund was established to address the deficit in the genetic workforce, and to support geographic areas where genetic professionals are in the greatest need to provide research and services. The fund will support medical and graduate students who: (1) are currently enrolled in medical or graduate school; (2) are actively pursuing a career in the genetics and genomics field of study and; (3) reside in the United States. Medical residents and fellows are ineligible to apply.
Student award recipients will benefit directly from their participation at the ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting through educational sessions, peer to peer engagement, and an invitation to attend a student lunch.
Illumina has provided a sponsorship to ACMGF to be utilized for the scholarship program.
Dr. Phillip G. Febbo, MD, Illumina's Chief Medical Officer said, "At Illumina, we believe in the ability of genomics to transform human health. We are excited to support students with an interest in genomics to attend the ACMG meeting to fuel their curiosity and ignite a passion to participate in and lead the future of genetic testing."
"The ACMG Foundation is delighted to announce the new Travel Award. By providing funds to support students to attend the ACMG meeting we are making an investment in the future of genomic medicine. Whatever area these students choose, they will always remember their experience at the meeting and be advocates for the integration of genetics and genomics into practice," said Bruce R. Korf, MD, PhD, FACMG, president of the ACMG Foundation.
For more information about ways to support the work of the ACMG Foundation, please visit http://www.acmgfoundation.org.
The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine (ACMGF) is a community of supporters and contributors who understand the importance of medical genetics and genomics in healthcare. A non-profit organization established in 1992, the Foundation supports the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) mission to "translate genes into health"; to foster charitable giving, promote training opportunities to attract future medical geneticist and genetic counselors, to share information about medical genetics, to sponsor important research and much more.
To learn more and support the ACMGF mission to create "Better Health through Genetics", please contact Nicole O. Bell, ACMG Foundation Manager, at nbell@acmg.net or (301) 718-9604 or visit acmgfoundation.org.
Note to editors: To arrange interviews with experts in medical genetics, contact Kathy Moran, MBA, ACMG Senior Director of Public Relations at kmoran@acmg.net.
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