Medical Geneticist All Things Genes & Inheritance

Medical Geneticist: a physician who is trained in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for patients with genetically-linked diseases. These physicians use modern technologies and laboratory tests ranging from cytogenic, radiologic, and biochemical to assist them in genetic counseling, implementing therapeutic interventions, and prenatal diagnosis.

Quick Facts

Competitiveness: Low

Length of training: 4 years

Number of residency programs: 48

Number of residents in training: 64

Number in U.S. currently Board Certified in specialty: 918

Mean number of hours per week in patient care activities: 48

Residency Information

Clinical Genetics: 2 years in a clinical residency program, followed by 2 years in a clinical genetics residency.

Clinical Biochemical Geneticist: must hold a doctoral degree (MD, DO, or PhD) and can correctly perform and interpret biochemical analyses relevant to human genetic diseases.

Clinical Cytogeneticist: must hold a doctoral degree (MD, DO, or PhD) and can correctly perform and interpret cytogenetic analyses relevant to human genetic diseases.

Clinical Molecular Geneticist: must hold a doctoral degree (MD, DO, or PhD) and can correctly perform and interpet molecular analyses relevant to human genetic diseases.

Why Choose

There are a number of reasons why physicians choose this specialty area. Some have had a personal family experience with an inherited disease, while others had an interest in the molecular basis of disease while in medical school. Many medical geneticists had considered internal medicine, pediatrics, or obstretics and gynecology but found these specialties to be too broad.

Typical Schedule

You will see many of your patients on an out-patient basis with over 75% of them being children. Generally you will find that your time is spent between clinical and research activities and the amount of time devoted to each activitiy depends on your personal interests.

If You're Interested

You will want to do a rotation to gain first-hand experience as to whether this is an area you will want to pursue. A good time to complete this rotation would be the summer between the first and second year of medical school.