Efficacy of a medical genetics rotation during pediatric training.

PURPOSE

With the greater understanding that genetics underlies the basis of health and disease, the practice of medicine is changing such that we are now in an era of genomic medicine. However, there has been a deficiency of training in genetics and genomics among primary care residents.

METHODS

We describe the experience of our institution, which requires pediatric, child neurology, and medicine-pediatric residents to complete a subspecialty rotation in medical genetics. Standardized end-of-rotation evaluation results were analyzed and thematic analysis was performed.

RESULTS

The mean overall educational quality of the rotation rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) was 4.49. The participation in medical genetics had three main outcomes: (i) a variety of learning opportunities were presented such that it was one of the most educational rotations that trainees experienced; (ii) both trainee competence and confidence in clinical practice improved through knowledge gained; and (iii) an increased awareness and appreciation for interprofessional relationships, especially for the genetic counseling profession, was highly valued. In addition, some residents have gone on to choose medical genetics as a profession.

CONCLUSION

A rotation in medical genetics increases knowledge and awareness of the importance that medical genetics has in clinical practice.