Finding reasons for being thankful is a powerful thing. Gratitude turns out to be the key to resilience. When we remain grateful, we are better able to stay focused on the positives when faced with challenges. And this positive mindset is essential to find the solutions we seek. Even though how we work, play and live has changed, the resilience and innovation of the human spirit in times of need are limitless. We saw this in the speed with which safe and effective COVID vaccines and treatments were developed, and we continue to see it in other areas of medicine.
As Thanksgiving approaches, here are some things we are grateful for in the Munroe-Meyer Institute Department of Genetic Medicine:
in the wake of the pandemic, many genetics laboratories across the country transitioned to accepting cheek swabs to conduct genetic testing. Providers now simply enter an order online, and a kit automatically ships to a family’s home. The kits are then mailed back to the lab, and in just a few weeks, a result is available. A follow-up telehealth visit with the family is scheduled to review the results. This new innovative workflow may mean frightened children will no longer need to have blood drawn for genetic tests, a major improvement, especially for those with various forms of neurodiversity.
Also, many states dropped their licensing requirements to allow for telehealth across state borders. Since our team cares for patients and their entire families with genetic conditions, we often are made aware of family members at risk of having a genetic condition who live in a different state. Historically, we would try to connect them with a center in their own state, but that was not always easy. The relaxation of telehealth requirements allowed our team to continue to provide this extended care, and often in group settings where multiple members could join via Zoom and ask various questions, enhancing their understanding as they learned from the providers and from each other.
Lastly, I am reminded of a quote from Louis Pasteur that "Opportunity favors the prepared mind." We have spent the last four years building our genetics workforce, developing new clinical services through various collaborations and adding to our educational programs. So when we were notified by the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD) of a new Center of Excellence program, we knew we were ready to apply and were successful in attaining this designation. It provides recognition of what we already do so well, but it is also a call for us to do more.
I am thankful for both the challenge and the opportunity. And I am thankful to be a part of MMI, an institute that embraces challenges and strives to provide opportunity for others. As the holiday nears, the MMI community can be thankful for the work we do and for the passion and commitment of the colleagues who help us reach our goals.
On behalf of MMI, happy Thanksgiving,
Omar Rahman, MD, director
MMI Department of Genetic Medicine