National Human Genome Research Institute | National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
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Metropolitan Washington D.C. Medical Genetics Residency Program
OverviewThe National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) offers a three-year residency program in medical genetics that trains physicians to diagnose, manage and counsel patients with genetic disorders. Participants gain broad experience in clinical and molecular genetics, metabolic diseases and cytogenetics. The NHGRI program exposes students to rare genetic disorders that might not be seen in a more typical medical genetics program; emphasizes clinical research, one of the few programs to do so; and grants access to the vast resources at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and at other highly ranked medical institutions in the nation's capital.
EligibilityM.D. candidates must have completed training in a primary US ACGME accredited residency and be board eligible or board certified in that speciality. Training is usually in pediatrics, internal medicine or obstetrics and gynecology, but M.D. candidates with other training may be accepted as well. M.D.'s must have a valid United States medical license from any state.
CurriculumDuring the first 18 months of training, residents spend most of their time seeing patients at various NIH centers and in hospitals and outpatient clinics throughout metropolitan Washington, D.C. Clinical training highlights the role of genetics in general medicine, pediatrics, oncology, ophthalmology, dermatology and perinatal medicine. During the second year, residents continue their patient responsibilities while performing laboratory research in any one of the nearly 4,000 participating facilities in the Washington, D.C. area. They begin to devise their own basic or clinical research projects. Third-year residents spend most of their time conducting research and have minimal clinical responsibilities. Throughout the program, trainees attend a number of lecture courses, including: Introduction to Medical Genetics; Developmental Biology and Human Malformations; Inborn Errors of Metabolism; and Current Concepts in Clinical Molecular Genetics and Molecular Diagnostics. Attendance is also required at the weekly Clinical Genetics Case Conference and at the bi-weekly Cytogenetics/Molecular Genetics Sign-Out Conference. Many students choose to attend the Short Course in Medical and Experimental Mammalian Genetics at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine during the month of July.
Training SitesNational Institutes of Health Clinical Center [cc.nih.gov]
Childcare and Loan Repayment ProgramNIH will reimburse the expenses of a tax preparer to complete the Loan Repayment Program (LRP) tax documents. NIH will also reimburse the cost of one state license renewal per year.
CertificationUpon completion of the program trainees will qualify for board certification by the American Board of Medical Genetics (ABMG) in one or more areas of expertise:
ApplicationOn-line ApplicationAn online application form is available at: NIH genetics residency program information page. Scroll to bottom for electronic application information. Application by U.S. MailThe genetics residency program is highly competitive, with only four positions available per year. Most residents start their training in July, but there is some flexibility, and some trainees may be able to start at other times of the year. Interested individuals should send:
DeadlineApplicants should submit materials 12 to 18 months prior to the proposed start date. Competitive candidates will be invited to interview at NIH. Successful applicants will be notified within six weeks of their interview.
ContactApplications and questions regarding the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Medical Genetics Residency Program should be addressed to: Maximilian Muenke, M.D. Phone: (301) 402-8167 or (301) 594-7487 (secretary)
Last Reviewed: January 28, 2009 |
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