Genetic Medicine
Mission
Our mission is to advocate for patients and their families seeking care from the genetic and genomic healthcare communities by increasing patient access to genetic services and promoting the responsible application of genomics in medicine by developing relationships with patients, families, colleagues, and society.
Vision
Our vision is to establish innovative and collaborative approaches to empower genetic medicine patients and their families in achieving wholeness.
History
- 1974 – Medical genetics evaluations are provided by PhD geneticists, including Dr. Warren Sanger.
- 1981 – First MD clinical geneticist at UNMC, Dr. Bruce Buehler, arrives and begins working with one genetic counselor in close cooperation with Dr. Sanger and the Human Genetics Laboratory.
- 1984 – Clinical genetics moves to the Meyer Children’s Rehabilitation Institute.
- 1984-present – rapid expansion of inpatient and outpatient services, including other Omaha hospitals and outreach clinics throughout the state.
- 1986 – First Genetics Medicine fellow completes training.
- 2010 – ACMGE accredits new fellowship training program and two fellows begin training.
- 2019 – ACGC accredits new genetic counselor training program in collaboration with the College of Allied Health Professions and 8 students begin training.
- By 2021 – The department has grown to 6 clinical geneticists, 20 genetic counselors, 2 genetics fellows, and 16 genetic counseling interns.
Organization
- 5 board-certified clinical geneticists at MMI, also faculty members in the Department of Pediatrics.
- 20 board-certified/eligible genetic counselors.
- 1 administrative business associate.
- 7 support staff.
- 1 laboratory geneticist and 1 laboratory genetic counselor of the Human Genetics Laboratory have their academic homes within the Department of Genetic Medicine.
Clinical services
- Inpatient genetics and metabolism consultations at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, The Nebraska Medical Center, Bergan Mercy Hospital, and Methodist Women's Hospital.
- Outpatient General Genetics Clinics at MMI and Children’s Hospital & Medical Center.
- Genetic Counseling only clinics at MMI and Children’s.
- Outreach Genetics Clinics both in-person and via telehealth in the Nebraska Panhandle, North Platte, Kearney, Gordon, and Norfolk.
- Complex Care Clinic at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center.
- Prenatal Clinics at Nebraska Medicine and Methodist Women’s Hospital.
- Hereditary Cancer Clinics at Buffet Cancer Center, Village Pointe, Bellevue Medical Center, and Nebraska Methodist Hospital along with telemedicine cancer clinics at the Callahan Cancer Center in North Platte and the June E Nylen Cancer Center in Sioux City, IA.
- Huntington Disease Clinic at Nebraska Medicine.
- Ataxia Clinic at Nebraska Medicine.
- Cardiovascular Genetics Clinic at Nebraska Medicine.
- Cystic Fibrosis Clinic at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center.
- Craniofacial Clinics at Boys Town National Research Hospital; outreach via telemedicine in North Platte.
- Autism Diagnostic Clinic at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center.
- Cardiovascular genetics/Aortopathy Clinic at Nebraska Medicine and Children’s Hospital & Medical Center.
- Skeletal Dysplasia, Bone Metabolism, and Osteogenesis Imperfecta clinics at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center.
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Clinic at MMI.
- Down Syndrome Clinic at MMI.
- Pharmacogenetics Clinic at MMI.
Educational and research activities
Weekly case conference, monthly journal club, M1 curriculum and lectures, M4 elective, resident elective, fellow bedside and didactic teaching, and genetic counseling masters students based in the College of Allied Health at UNMC in collaboration with MMI. Areas of research interest: gene discovery, syndrome delineation, syndromic aortopathies, inborn errors of metabolism, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Contact
Craig Baker, MD, FACMG – Director, Genetic Medicine Department
402-559-6328 | Email Dr. Baker
Terri Blase, MS, CGC – Director, Genetic Counseling Services
402-559-4164 | Email Terri Blase