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Dr Powell and patient

UNC Hospitals offers a two-year ACGME-accredited categorical Medical Genetics Residency program to prepare physicians for Board Certification in Medical Genetics by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics. The program is designed to train physicians to be independent clinical geneticists, proficient in providing comprehensive medical genetics services, capable of initiating and collaborating in basic and applied research activities, and effective in teaching and communicating their expertise to others. These goals are achieved through in-depth clinical experience with adult and pediatric patients with cytogenetic, biochemical, single-gene and complex multifactorial genetic conditions.  Work in multispecialty teams that include genetic counselors, metabolic dietitians, and numerous other specialists is emphasized.  The program is administered and housed in the Department of Pediatrics Division of Genetics and Metabolism; all training is based at UNC Hospitals although rotations include clinics and faculty from several other Departments within UNC including the Departments of Genetics, Pathology and Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The program consists of 18 months of broad-based, clinically-oriented medical genetics rotations including Pediatric General Genetics and Metabolism Clinics, the Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism Division Consult Service, Adult Cancer and Adult Genetics Clinics, and the Reproductive Genetics Services clinics. Included also are laboratory rotations in the UNC Hospitals Clinical Cytogenetics Laboratory, the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory and the Biochemical Genetics and Metabolism Laboratory. Six months of elective time are available for research, manuscript preparation, or rotation on another service to obtain more in-depth training or experience in a particular organ system or subspecialty area of medicine.  An individualized curriculum with rotations emphasizing the interests and backgrounds of trainees while still meeting all requirements is a unique aspect of our Program.

A third year, primarily devoted to research, is strongly recommended although not required for Medical Genetics Residents who will receive assistance in identifying potential funding during the first year of their residency experience.

Candidates may apply for the Medical Genetics Residency after completing two or more years of primary specialty training. Most successful applicants will have completed an ACGME-accredited residency in Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, or Obstetrics-Gynecology.

The Medical Genetics and Genomics Residency Program participates in the NRMP Fellowship Match (usually in October) and applications are accepted through ERAS.  Additional information including salaries and benefits is available at the UNC Hospitals Office of Graduate Medical Education website.

Cynthia M. Powell, MD
Director, Medical Genetics Residency Program
Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB #7487
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
(919) 966-1595  (Phone)
(919) 966-1411  (Fax)
powellcm@med.unc.edu