Announced at the 2025 ACMG Annual Clinical
Genetics Meeting in Los Angeles,
CA
BETHESDA, Md., March 18,
2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American College of Medical
Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) welcomed six new directors, including
a new president-elect, to its Board of Directors at the 2025 ACMG
Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting in Los
Angeles, California. The new Board members will serve as
advocates for the organization and will assist in shaping and
implementing the mission, vision and direction of the College. The
six newly elected directors will serve six-year terms from
March 2025 to March 2031.
"Our six newly elected and enthusiastic board members will have
large shoes to fill as Marc
Williams, Heidi Rehm,
Karen Gripp, Dieter Matern, Michael
Murray and Cynthia Powell
complete their six years on the ACMG Board of Directors. It has
been a pleasure working with these geneticists 'retiring' from the
board and it has been a very productive six years! Thank you to all
who participated in the election process. Our new board members
have served the College in various roles and they each represent
different areas of our specialty. Board members serve as officers
of the College, liaisons to our committees, representatives of our
profession for many national organizations and much more. 2025 is
an historic milestone for the College – we welcome our first PhD
president-elect and, for the first time, the president, past
president and the president elect are all female! We look forward
to working with ACMG members to advance our new strategic plan as
well as expand our evidence-based guidelines program," said
Susan Klugman, MD, FACMG, FACOG,
President of the ACMG.
Christa L. Martin PhD, FACMG: President-Elect
President-Elect Christa L. Martin PhD, FACMG is currently the
Chief Scientific Officer at Geisinger and Vice Dean for Research at
Geisinger's School of Medicine. Dr. Martin's focus throughout her career has been on
integrating genomics into routine healthcare, particularly in the
areas of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders and
population health genomic screening. She brings more than two
decades of experience spanning clinical practice, research and
education.
Dr. Martin earned her PhD in human
genetics from the University of
Pittsburgh and completed postdoctoral training at the
University of Chicago, where she became
board-certified in clinical cytogenetics.
At Geisinger, she has pioneered initiatives like the MyCode
Community Health Initiative, one of the world's largest genomic
sequencing projects. She was also the founding Director of
Geisinger's Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute,
implementing a genetics-first approach to care for children with
developmental conditions.
Dr. Martin is author of more than
170 peer-reviewed publications and her work has been instrumental
in advancing genetic diagnoses for neurodevelopmental and
psychiatric disorders such as autism, intellectual disability, and
schizophrenia – conditions that share genetic etiologies across
pediatric and adult mental health. Recently, she has led efforts in
population health genomic screening to incorporate clinically
actionable genomic results into patient care.
With more than 25 years of continuous NIH funding, Dr.
Martin's research has also shaped
professional guidelines and consensus statements in genetic
testing. She has co-chaired the ACMG Secondary Findings Working
Group and contributed to numerous ACMG educational and policy
initiatives.
On becoming ACMG president-elect, Dr. Martin said, "It is a true honor to be elected as
the next president-elect for ACMG and to serve as the first PhD in
this role. My career path has always spanned both clinical and
research realms, focusing on translational approaches that have
created intersections among human genetics, diagnostic medicine and
patient care. I have extensively interacted with laboratory
professionals, medical geneticists, genetic counselors,
governmental and industry partners, payors and patient groups, all
of whom will crucially contribute to the College's future success.
As we navigate an ever-changing healthcare landscape and a critical
juncture in the history of our field, I am excited to help lead
ACMG to thrive as the leading voice for medical genomics."
Josh Deignan, PhD, FACMG:
Molecular Genetics Director
Josh Deignan, PhD, FACMG is board-certified in clinical
genetics. He has been at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the
University of California (UCLA) as a Clinical Professor in the Department of
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.
Dr. Deignan graduated from the University
of California, Davis with a degree in genetics. He received
his PhD in pathology and completed his ABMGG Clinical Molecular
Genetics and Genomics medical genetics fellowship training at
UCLA.
Dr. Deignan has served as a member and chair of the ACMG
Molecular Genetics subcommittee of the Laboratory Quality Assurance
Committee for five years, the last two as Chair. He has also been
serving on the CAP/ACMG Biochemical and Molecular Genetics
Committee for the past six years. Dr. Deignan has previously served
on the Program Committee and the Clinical Practice Committee for
the Association for Molecular Pathology. He was also a member of
the original ACGME Laboratory Genetics and Genomics Milestones Work
Group.
Dr. Deignan is a primary or co-author of more than 60
peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and reviews. His
peer-reviewed publications include nine ACMG clinical laboratory
statements or standards (including the first clinical laboratory
standard for next-generation sequencing), and he was the primary
author for five of them. He has also previously published
recommendations for the training of medical laboratory scientists
as well as Laboratory Genetics and Genomics fellows.
"I am honored to have been elected to the ACMG Board of
Directors, and I look forward to representing the laboratory
genetics community as the College implements its new strategic
plan," said Dr.
Deignan.
Lauren J. Massingham, MD,
FACMG: Clinical Genetics Director
Lauren J. Massingham, MD, FACMG
is a board-certified medical geneticist with 12 years of clinical
experience, specializing in the care of pediatric and adult
patients with diverse genetic conditions. She directs clinics for
hereditary cancer and cardiovascular genetic conditions, offering
comprehensive expertise across a range of clinical genetics fields.
She is currently at Hasbro Children's Hospital and Rhode Island
Hospital, where she directs the Cancer Genetics program. Beyond her
clinical and educator roles, she has conducted laboratory research
and participated in multiple clinical studies to further the
understanding of genetic conditions.
As an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown
University, she serves as Course Director for the genetics
segment of the Scientific Foundations in Medicine program. Her
innovative contributions to curriculum development have advanced
genetics education for undergraduates and non-geneticist
professionals alike.
Dr. Massingham graduated with a BA in chemistry from
Skidmore College. She then earned her
MD from the University of Vermont
Medical School. Afterwards, she completed a pediatrics residency at
the University of Massachusetts
Memorial Medical Center and then went on to complete a genetics
residency at Tufts Medical Center.
She has held leadership roles at ACMG and the Association of
Professors of Human and Medical Genetics (APHMG). She is vice chair
of the ACMG Professional Practice and Guidelines Committee and has
contributed extensively to ACMG workgroups, shaping key guidelines
and policies. Within APHMG, she has served on the Executive
Committee, as chair of the Course Directors Special Interest Group,
and as a Council member.
Dr. Massingham has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed
publications. Highlights include her work on the "Pediatric Exomes
and Genomes Evidence-Based Guideline" and updates to the APHMG's
"Core Competencies for Undergraduate Medical Education in Genetics
and Genomics."
Dr. Massingham said, "I am looking forward to this opportunity
to serve on the ACMG board. It will be an excellent way to serve
the genetics community as a whole and learn more about the options
and mechanisms to promote evidence-based and thoughtful advances in
the field of genetics."
David T. Miller, MD, PhD,
FACMG: Clinical Genetics Director
Dr. Miller is a board-certified clinical geneticist at Boston
Children's Hospital, where he directs the Neurofibromatosis
Research Initiative (NFRI), a translational research program
focusing on cell-free DNA testing for NF1-related tumor
surveillance. He is also an associate molecular pathologist at
Brigham and Women's Hospital. At Harvard
Medical School, Dr. Miller serves as an associate professor
of Pediatrics and co-director of the Advanced Integrated Science
Course in Human Genetics. His clinical and research focus includes
neurodevelopmental disorders, germline cancer predisposition
syndromes, and optimizing the utility of genetic testing in
clinical care.
Dr. Miller graduated from the University of
Kentucky with a BS. in biology and a BA in chemistry. He
received his MD and PhD in biology and biomedical
sciences/neurobiology from Washington
University School of Medicine. Dr. Miller completed a
pediatrics residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital and a clinical
genetics/clinical molecular genetics fellowship at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Miller has held numerous leadership roles with ACMG
including 11 years as co-chair of ACMG's Secondary Findings
Maintenance Working Group. Dr. Miller has also held positions on
ACMG's Professional Practice and Guidelines and Topic Selection
Committees. In addition, he served for three years on the first
Systematic Evidence Review Working Group and Evidence-Based
Medicine Working Group. He is also Clinical Genetics Section Editor
and deputy Editor-in-Chief for Genetics in Medicine, ACMG's
official journal.
Dr. Miller is a primary and co-author of more than 90
peer-reviewed publications, ACMG documents, and reviews. His
clinical and basic research covers a broad range of topics,
including pediatric and prenatal genetics, chromosomal disorders,
cancer predisposition syndromes including Neurofibromatosis, autism
genetics, cardiovascular genetics, genetic testing by microarray
and exome sequencing, and clinical utility of genetic testing. His
research emphasizes translating genetic discoveries into clinical
practice, with a focus on improving outcomes for patients and
families.
"I am honored to serve on the ACMG Board of Directors," said Dr.
Miller. "I look forward to working with an amazing team of ACMG
leaders to advance the mission of the College and ensure impactful
delivery of clinical genomic services."
Douglas R. Stewart, MD, FACMG:
Clinical Genetics Director
Douglas R. Stewart, MD, FACMG is
a board-certified medical geneticist and internist with more than
25 years of experience at the intersection of clinical genetics,
cancer risk assessment and genomics research. A senior Investigator
at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Adjunct Investigator at
the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), Dr. Stewart
focuses on the relationship between germline variants and cancer
risk in both pediatric and adult populations.
At the NCI, he leads natural history studies on
DICER1-related tumor predisposition and RASopathies, seeing
patients at the NIH Clinical Center and advancing clinical guidance
for monogenic tumor predisposition syndromes. His expertise extends
to the genomic ascertainment of cancer genetics, supported by a
multi-year NCI-funded collaboration with Geisinger. He also
practices clinical genetics with Genome Medical.
Dr. Stewart graduated with a BA in chemistry with honors from
Vassar College and conducted natural
products chemistry research at the University of Auckland on a Fulbright grant. He received his
MD from the University of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine, completed his residency in internal medicine at
the Hospital of the University of
Pennsylvania and trained in clinical genetics at the
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Dr. Stewart has served on numerous ACMG committees, including as
chair of the Professional Practice and Guidelines (PP&G)
Committee, where he expanded the Committee's capacity, integrated
evidence-based methodologies into document development, and
fostered opportunities for junior members. Since 2018, he has
contributed to the ACMG Secondary Findings Maintenance Workgroup
and serves as section editor for Genetics in Medicine,
ACMG's official flagship journal.
A founding member and co-chair of the ClinGen DICER1
Variant Curation Expert Panel and co-chair of the ClinGen
Hereditary Cancer Clinical Domain Working Group, Dr. Stewart has
driven progress in the evaluation of germline variants in cancer
genetics. He is also a peer-reviewer and contributor to numerous
committees across NCI and NHGRI. Dr. Stewart has authored more than
150 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and reviews. He is
recognized for his contributions to genomic medicine, including the
application of genome-first approaches to clinical practice.
"It is an honor to be elected to the ACMG Board of Directors by
my professional peers. I look forward to serving them and
representing their interests during my term. In addition, I look
forward to working with ACMG to unlock the potential of clinical
genetics to improve the health of all people," said Dr.
Stewart.
William R. Wilcox, MD, PhD,
FACMG: Clinical Biochemical Genetics Director
William R. Wilcox, MD, PhD, FACMG
is a board-certified clinical geneticist and biochemical geneticist
with more than 30 years of experience in clinical genetics,
biochemical genetics and molecular biology. He is the medical
director of the Emory Genetic Clinical Trials Center and the
founder of the Medical Biochemical Genetics Training Program at
Emory. Prior to his tenure at
Emory, he served as Professor of
Pediatrics in Residence at UCLA School of Medicine, where he
established the biochemical genetics service and launched a
combined Pediatrics-Medical Genetics Training Program based at
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Dr. Wilcox earned his BS in biochemistry and mathematics,
followed by a PhD in molecular biology and then an MD from
UCLA. He completed his pediatrics
residency and a fellowship in clinical genetics, clinical
biochemical genetics and clinical molecular genetics through the
UCLA Intercampus Medical Genetics Training Program. For more than
three decades, he has mentored clinical genetics residents, medical
biochemical genetics fellows and genetic counseling students,
shaping the next generation of geneticists. He is the author or
co-author of more than 160 peer-reviewed publications, focusing on
the treatment of genetic metabolic and skeletal disorders, the
advancement of newborn screening and the definition and
pathogenesis of skeletal disorders. He has led numerous clinical
trials, conducted longitudinal registry-based studies and played a
key role in developing practice guidelines for genetic
conditions.
Dr. Wilcox was the founding chair of the ACMG Therapeutics
Committee, served four years on the ACMG Professional Practice and
Guidelines Committee and spent five years on the ACMG Newborn
Screening Translational Research Network Steering Committee. In
addition, he has served on state-level advisory committees for
newborn screening in Georgia and
California.
"I look forward to representing biochemical geneticists and
improving the value of the ACMG for the membership," said Dr.
Wilcox.
ACMG also thanks the following Board members who are
completing their terms of service: Karen W. Gripp, MD,
FACMG; Dietrich Matern, MD, PhD,
FACMG; Michael F. Murray, MD, FACMG;
Cynthia M. Powell, MD, FACMG;
Heidi L. Rehm, PhD, FACMG; and
Marc S. Williams, MD, FACMG.
A complete list of the ACMG Board of Directors is available
at www.acmg.net.
About the American College of Medical Genetics and
Genomics
Founded in 1991, the American College of Medical Genetics and
Genomics (ACMG) is a prominent authority in the field of medical
genetics and genomics and the only nationally recognized medical
professional organization solely dedicated to improving health
through the practice of medical genetics and genomics. The only
medical specialty society in the US that represents the full
spectrum of medical genetics disciplines in a single organization,
the ACMG provides education, resources and a voice for more than
2,600 clinical and laboratory geneticists, genetic counselors and
other healthcare professionals. ACMG's mission is to improve health
through the clinical and laboratory practice of medical genetics as
well as through advocacy, education and clinical research, and to
guide the safe and effective integration of genetics and genomics
into all of medicine and healthcare, resulting in improved personal
and public health. Genetics in Medicine and the
new Genetics in Medicine Open, a gold open access
journal, are the official ACMG journals. ACMG's
website, www.acmg.net, offers resources including policy
statements, practice guidelines, and educational programs.
Barry Eisenberg, MS
Beisenberg@acmg.net
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