Cynthia M. Powell, MD, has been named to the board of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. The announcement was made April 1st at the 2019 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting in Seattle. Dr. Powell is a Professor of Pediatrics and Genetics at UNC Children’s.
“Every two years we have the opportunity to inject some new insights and enthusiasm into the Board with new incoming Board members and a new President Elect,” said Louanne Hudgins, MD, FACMG, president of the ACMG. “This year is no exception. I am very much looking forward to working with these talented, hardworking volunteers.”
Dr. Powell is director of the medical genetics residency program, medical director of the UNC Hospitals Cytogenetics Laboratory, and president of the Association of Professors of Human and Medical Genetics. Since 1993, she has been a professor of pediatrics and genetics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. She is board certified in genetic counseling, clinical genetics, clinical cytogenetics and pediatrics.
Dr. Powell served as a member of the ACMG Education & CME Committee from 1998-2006. She also served on the Professional Practice and Guidelines Committee from 2013-2017. Nationally, she is recognized for her service, from 2006-2013, on the board of directors of the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics, of which she was president in 2012. Dr. Powell was appointed to the ACHDNC in 2017. She serves on the North Carolina Newborn Screening Advisory Committee and is a member and former president of the North Carolina Medical Genetics Association. She was a member of the executive committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Genetics and Birth Defects from 2006-2013 and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Residency Review Committee for Medical Genetics from 2006-2013.
Dr. Powell received her undergraduate degree in biology from Cornell University, her master’s degree in human genetics from Sarah Lawrence College, and her MD degree from Virginia Commonwealth University (Medical College of Virginia). She completed her residency in pediatrics at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC and her fellowship in medical genetics and cytogenetics at Children’s National Medical Center and the NIH.
Dr. Powell’s clinical and research interests include dysmorphology, genetic syndromes and ethical issues of genetic testing and newborn screening. She is principal investigator for a project funded by NIH to examine the use of next generation sequencing for newborn screening and is co-principal investigator of NIH-funded projects in North Carolina examining consented expanded newborn screening and state pilot studies screening for conditions that
have recently been added to the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel. She is an author on more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters.
“As a member of the ACMG since its inception, I am extremely honored to have an opportunity to serve on its board of directors. This is such an exciting time to work in the field of clinical genetics, but also a time of many challenges including growing the numbers of genetic health care providers to ensure equitable and informed public access to advanced genomic technologies and treatments.” says Dr. Powell on becoming an ACMG Clinical Genetics Director.
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