Genetics in Practice

On September 18 and 19, 2014, the Department of Pediatrics, along with American Family Children’s Hospital, held two back-to-back events focusing on clinical genetics: Seminars in Pediatrics and the Midwest Clinical Genetics Conference.

Both events featured national speaker Marc Williams, MD, FAAP, FACMG, director of the Genomic Medicine Institute at Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pennsylvania.

Marc Williams, MD, FAAP, FACMG, director of the Genomic Medicine Institute at Geisinger Health System, talks with David Wargowski, MD, at Seminars in Pediatrics.
Marc Williams, MD, FAAP, FACMG, director of the Genomic Medicine Institute at Geisinger Health System, talks with David Wargowski, MD, at Seminars in Pediatrics.

Seminars in Pediatrics

Approximately 155 primary care physicians, nurses, and physician assistants attended Seminars in Pediatrics, an annual two-day event that highlights trends in pediatric research and clinical practice.

This year, many faculty speakers shared insights on the care of children with genetic disorders. Other topics included pediatric urology issues, gender identity, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and complex congenital heart disease.

During his keynote, Dr. Williams presented an overview of genome sequencing, and outlined how this knowledge might be applied in pediatric clinical practice. He explained how genome sequencing can potentially help better characterize known genetic disorders, detect the genetic causes of undiagnosed disorders, and lead to more effective therapies.

“We hear a lot about advances in genomics,” explained Professor and pediatric geneticist David Wargowski, MD, “but we need to relate that to how it can be beneficial in the care of patients.”

Division of Neurodevelopmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Chair and Waisman Center Medical Director Maria Stanley, MD, with Janet Legare, MD.
Division of Neurodevelopmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Chair and Waisman Center Medical Director Maria Stanley, MD, with Janet Legare, MD.

Midwest Clinical Genetics Conference

In tandem with Seminars in Pediatrics, the Department of Pediatrics also hosted the Midwest Clinical Genetics Conference, which is a forum for geneticists and genetic counselors to discuss current research and clinical practice issues.

In his second keynote, Dr. Williams talked about the implications of changes in the U.S. health care system on genetics services. Other keynote speakers included Waisman Center Director Marsha R. Mailick, PhD, who presented new information on the effects of variants in the FMR1 gene associated with fragile X syndrome, and pediatric geneticist and UW School of Medicine and Public Health Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Elizabeth Petty, MD, who addressed the importance of addressing sexuality with patients who have genetic disorders.

Rounding out the event were sessions focused on newborn screening issues and management of specific disorders, including phenylketonuria, adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome.


Save the Date: The 2015 Seminars in Pediatrics will be held October 1-2, 2015, at Monona Terrace.

Seminars in Pediatrics was sponsored by the UW School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Pediatrics and Office of Continuing Professional Development, and the American Family Children’s Hospital.