NRI researcher, Dr. Christian Schaaf, to lead American College of Medical Genetics education committee
NRI researcher, Dr. Christian Schaaf, assistant professor of molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine and a geneticist at the Texas Children’s Genetics Clinic, has been appointed Chair of the Education Committee of the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG), an organization composed of health care professionals committed to the practice of medical genetics.
The Education and CME Committee of ACMG studies and evaluates various aspects of medical genetics education including recommending policies and procedures by which clinical and laboratory geneticists may be assisted in maintaining their professional competence, including continuing medical genetics education. Christian Schaaf, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, and Investigator at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children’s Hospital, has been named as the new Chair of the Education Committee of the ACMG (American College of Medical Genetics) as of April 1, 2015. He will be serving in this position for a two-year term. Dr. Schaaf assumes the responsibility from Amy Roberts, MD, FACMG, Harvard Medical School, under whom he served as Vice Chair for the past 2 years.
Dr. Schaaf has already made major contributions to the educational portfolio of the ACMG over the past years. He was instrumental in implementing the use of audience response systems at the ACMG annual meetings, which are used to assess knowledge gaps and the improvement of knowledge throughout the meeting. In addition, Schaaf has worked on increasing the number of activities offered to trainees and young professionals.
For his two year term as Chair of the Education and CME Committee, Schaaf envisions the development of an online genetics academy, which will offer new and interactive educational tools that can be accessed anywhere and anytime. In addition, he intends to reach out well beyond the actual membership of the American College of Medical Genetics. He plans to engage students early in their career, to get them fascinated and motivated to consider careers in the enthralling field of medical genetics.
About the ACMG
Founded in 1991, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics advances the practice of medical genetics and genomics by providing education, resources and a voice for more than 1750 biochemical, clinical, cytogenetic, medical and molecular geneticists, genetic counselors and other healthcare professionals, nearly 80% of whom are board certified in the medical genetics specialties. ACMG is the only nationally recognized medical organization dedicated to improving health through the practice of medical genetics and genomics. The College's mission includes the following goals: 1) to define and promote excellence in the practice of medical genetics and genomics and to facilitate the integration of new research discoveries into medical practice; 2) to provide medical genetics and genomics education to fellow professionals, other healthcare providers, and the public; 3) to improve access to medical genetics and genomics services and to promote their integration into all of medicine; and 4) to serve as advocates for providers of medical genetics and genomics services and their patients.