Development, Implementation, and Assessment of a Genetics Curriculum Across Institutions

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Despite the frequency with which genetics is utilized in women's health, there is a paucity of data regarding genetics education, though a clear need has been demonstrated.

Genetics and genomics play a critical role in obstetrics and gynecology (Ob/Gyn). The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends that aneuploidy screening or diagnostic testing should be made available to every woman in early pregnancy.[1] An increasing number of genetic tests are also available for gynecologic malignancies associated with familial cancer syndromes such as Lynch syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer) or hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndromes (BRCA) genes. Decisions regarding how to screen for specific cancer syndromes and inherited disorders often fall to women's health care providers. Specific challenges related to genetic testing include providing adequate pre- and posttests counseling, interpreting variants of uncertain clinical significance, and making clinical decisions regarding management of care based on results of testing.

Note: ACGME milestones[a] [b] [c] [d] and CREOG genomics objectives[e] [f] [g] [h] were addressed by the curriculum.

^a Care of the patient with nonreproductive medical disorders—patient care.

^b Health care maintenance and disease prevention—medical knowledge.

^c Cost-effective care and patient advocacy—systems-based practice.

^d Antepartum care and complications of pregnancy—patient care.

^e Core competencies.

^f Primary and preventative ambulatory health.

^g Obstetrics.

^h Gynecology, gynecologic oncology.