Preparing health professionals for individualized medicine

Abstract

Genomic medicine holds the prospect of transforming clinical medicine and public health, but the current understanding of genetics and genomics among health professionals is a major impediment to the integration of genomic technologies into mainstream practice. Effective and consistent education is a central component of the translation of research into practical application. The National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics (MD, USA) has more than a decade of experience in the development of educational programs that help to incorporate genomic medicine into education and practice.