Students

Residency Program Director – Elliot Stolerman, MD

The clinical genetics residency at the Greenwood Genetic Center is designed to provide intensive postgraduate clinical experience with heritable or potentially heritable conditions. Residents are required to have completed a primary care residency program (family practice, internal medicine, OB/GYN or pediatrics) in the United States. Clinical training includes exposure to prenatal, pediatric and adult genetics and counseling (2,500 new families per year). Specifically, the resident will see a wide range of heritable disorders, reviewing the evaluation and management of each patient with their preceptor. The student will learn principles of heredity through conferences, internal graduate courses and clinical experience. Moreover they will study the nature of genetic disorders and their impact on the individual, family, and society.

The writing of case reports and reviews, utilization of genetic literature and the preparation of lectures will be integral parts in the residency learning process. All residents are required to take a core course in Advanced Human Genetics through the Center.

While many heritable disorders have medical impact, the content and focus of the clinical residency at the Greenwood Genetic Center will be weighted toward birth defects and intellectual disability. Comprehensive prenatal, pediatric and adult patient genetic evaluations are provided to the upstate region of South Carolina through offices in Greenwood and Greenville. Experience with individuals and families having intellectual disability will be largely gained through patients of the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs in statewide outreach clinics. Experience in dysmorphology will be obtained in the multiple regional and statewide outreach clinics. Additionally, the resident will have in-patient consults through Self Regional Healthcare and prenatal experience through the Greenville Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program, Greenville and Greenwood Ob/Gyn, to gain experience in prenatal and neonatal diagnostics, and the care and management of genetic disease.

After successful completion of the residency program, the physician resident should be qualified for independent clinical practice in medical genetics or an academic position in clinical genetics. The resident will be prepared to sit for the examination given by the American Board of Medical Genetics for certification as a clinical geneticist.

Lab Rotations

Residents who will pursue the two-year genetic residency tract will arrange three 3-week rotations in each of our diagnostic laboratories: molecular, biochemical, and cytogenetics. The purpose of these rotations is to gain a more complete understanding of the diagnostic and research functions of these laboratories in relation to clinical practice. The student will be expected to meet specific goals and objectives for each laboratory rotation. For those residents choosing the three-year tract, the additional year can be spent as an elective in the research laboratories.

Didactic Teaching

Residents are required to participate in a regular set of conferences and lectures throughout the period of training. In addition, residents have the opportunity to attend other seminars and lectures given through the Center. Required conferences are:

• Weekly Case Conferences – 8:15-9:15 AM, Fridays – Clinical and research presentations
• Advanced Human Genetics Graduate Course
• Statewide Quarterly Genetics Case Review and Seminar – Review of patients seen on consultation; Seminar by faculty member or visiting faculty
• Statewide Genetic Conclaves – Annual scientific and patient presentations

Application Process

Prior to appointment in the program, residents are required to have completed a primary care residency program (family practice, internal medicine, OB/GYN or pediatrics) in the United States. The candidate must also be licensed to practice medicine in the United States. Applications are handled through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) site.

Application to the GGC residency program follows the deadlines of the ERAS site. Interviews are arranged and final decisions will be made as soon as possible.

Greenwood Genetic Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and interested minorities are encouraged to apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Director – Laura Pollard, PhD

Candidates with an M.D. or a Ph.D. degree in one of the basic sciences may enter this program. The Laboratory Genetics and Genomics (LGG) fellowship is a three-year program that allows the trainee to gain competence in performing and interpreting cytogenetic analysis relevant to the diagnosis and management of chromosome disorders, as well as in all molecular analyses relevant to the diagnosis of genetic disorders at the gene level. The trainee will also gain research experience by participating in ongoing research projects and by conducting independent research.

Training is conducted through both the Molecular Genetics and Cytogenetics Diagnostic Laboratories of the Greenwood Genetic Center.

The Molecular Genetics Diagnostic Laboratory uses blood, saliva, dried blood spots, amniocytes, and CVS tissue samples for molecular analysis. The trainee will gain expertise in DNA and RNA isolation, PCR, Southern blotting, RFLP analysis, Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA), Pyrosequencing, and DNA sequencing – both Sanger and NextGen (including Whole Exome and Whole Genome Sequencing).

The Cytogenetics Laboratory provides training in routine G-banded analysis, special staining such as C-banding, silver staining, R-banding, and Q-banding, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and array CGH for the diagnosis of microdeletion and microduplication syndromes, the detection of aneuploidy in uncultured cells, and the identification of marker chromosomes.

At the completion of the program, LGG Fellows will possess the skills required for certification by the ABMGG, including competence in:

• Supervising and directing the operations of a clinical cytogenetics and/or molecular genetics diagnostic laboratory, including technical experience and knowledge in quality control and quality assessment procedures.
• Performing a variety of cytogenetic and molecular diagnostic assays;
• Understanding of the heterogeneity, variability, and natural history of chromosome and molecular genetic disorders;
• Diagnostic and interpretive skills in a wide range of clinical molecular genetics and cytogenetics problems.
• Communicating molecular and cytogenetic diagnostic laboratory results in the capacity of a consultant to medical genetics professionals and other clinicians, and directly to patients in concert with other professional staff.

By attending weekly clinic conferences, weekly laboratory conferences, and monthly state-wide case review, the trainee will interact with clinical geneticists, genetic counselors, and others who refer patients for cytogenetic and/or molecular testing. This interaction will allow discussion of pertinent clinical features corresponding with laboratory findings and will permit the opportunity for discussion of counseling issues such as long-term prognosis, family studies, recurrence risks, and additional laboratory testing. In addition, the trainee is required to participate in a core course in Advanced Human Genetics by attending all lectures and by limited teaching responsibilities.

Application Process

Applications for the LGG Fellowship Program are due by August 1 of the year preceding the start date. Applications should include the application form, CV, statement of intent, and three letters of recommendation. Reach out via email to Leta Tribble, PhD for the application form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Program Director – Wesley G. Patterson, PhD, MSPA, PA-C, CAQ-Peds

The Greenwood Genetic Center Medical Genetics and Genomics Advanced Practice Provider (GGC MGGAPP) Fellowship is a 12-month training program designed to prepare an APP (Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner) to evaluate and treat genetic disorders in individuals of all ages. Applicants should have a degree from an accredited graduate program and either PA or FNP certification.

GGC currently provides clinical diagnostic evaluations across the state of South Carolina with 7 geneticists, 15 clinical genetic counselors, 3 metabolic dieticians, 2 physician assistants, 1 nurse practitioner, 1 developmental-behavioral pediatrician, and 1 neuropsychologist.

The MGGAPP Fellow will spend the majority of their time on the Greenwood campus but may participate in clinical visits at other GGC offices (Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, and Florence). In addition, the MGGAPP Fellow will attend various specialty, multidisciplinary, and enrichment clinics.

The academic training will build a broad base of knowledge in medical genetics and genomics coordinated with other clinical and laboratory trainees at GGC. The Fellow will attend the Advanced Human Genetics Graduate Course (a 19-week, 66.5-hour course), weekly conferences, monthly case reviews, and monthly seminars. They will present at these events regularly. Fellows will also complete a rotation in each GGC laboratory, gaining insight into the diagnostic studies used in the care of patients with genetic disorders.

The MGGAPP Fellow will be exposed to various topics and research in the field of medical genetics and genomics throughout their training at GGC and by attending the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting and/or the Clinical Genetics Advance Practice Provider Conference. An original research project is anticipated, with results to be presented at an annual meeting.

By the end of the program, the MGGAPP Fellow will be capable of performing a comprehensive genetics evaluation, ordering appropriate genetic testing, interpreting reports, and delivering results to patients and family members. Employment is not guaranteed upon successful completion of the program, but a position may be available on a case-by-case basis.

Application Process

Applicants must email Leta Tribble, PhD for the MGGAPP application. Materials, including the completed application, CV, statement of intent, and three letters of recommendation (one from a professor, one from a preceptor, and one from another MD/PA/NP familiar with your performance), will also be submitted via email to Leta Tribble.

Applications open on October 1 and are due by January 31 each year. Applicants will be notified in mid-February if they are selected for an interview, and interviews will be conducted in March. Candidates will be notified by April 30 if they are selected for the fellowship. The start date is June 30 each year.