ACMG Education Workgroups-Achieving Health Equity in Genomic Medicine Research and Practice

Achieving Health Equity in Genomic Medicine Research and Practice

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The document summarizes feedback from participants of a course on achieving health equity in genomic medicine research and practice. Participants showed strong agreement on the importance of the course, with high ratings for the speakers' knowledge and presentation effectiveness. Key areas highlighted include the increased appreciation for implementation science (IS) and its role in advancing health equity, particularly in genomics.<br /><br />The responses underscore the importance of community outreach and engagement when reaching underserved populations. Attendees expressed gaining practical insights and new tools for promoting health equity within genomics, indicating the educational objectives of the course were met. Participants noted learning about frameworks, including community-based participatory research (CBPR), for integrating equity into research and enhancing the representation and access to genetic testing.<br /><br />There is a call for better workforce capacity given the mentioned challenges in implementing population genomic screening due to a shortage of qualified genomics professionals. Another noted area was ways to improve public health access and approaches to integrate learnings into teaching, policy, research, and clinical practice. Suggestions for application include implementing CDC Tier 1 programs, exploring regulatory contexts, and enhancing material representation.<br /><br />Overall, the course was well-received, with particular praise for the coordination and expertise of the speakers. Suggestions for future courses include addressing practical implementation issues and potentially expanding focus on workforce development in genomics.

Keywords

health equity

genomic medicine

implementation science

community outreach

genetic testing

workforce capacity

public health access

community-based participatory research

population genomic screening

CDC Tier 1 programs