Seasonal Hire - Pediatrics Medical Genetics

The goal of the program is to offer the student a well-rounded exposure to the medical specialty, Medical Genetics. All of the students will have the opportunity to shadow at clinic and in the hospital to learn about clinical practice of Medical Genetics. Each student will also undertake a project. The project will be decided upon and performed in collaboration with faculty members in the Division of Medical Genetics.

Clinical Exposure

The Scholars will shadow the three MD Medical Geneticists in the group (Drs. Laura Farach, Hope Northrup, and David Rodriguez-Buritica). The students will interact with all members of the Medical Genetics team including: nurses, genetic counselors (Myla Ashfaq, MS, CGC, Coordinator Texas TIPS [Teratogen Hotline Service and coordinator of Medical Genetics services at Shriners hospital for Children] ; Leslie Dunnington, MS, CGC, UTPB Clinic Coordinator; Kate Richardson, MS, CGC, TSC Clinic Coordinator. Nutritionists Heather Saavedra, MS, RD, LD, Metabolic Nutritionist; and Paige Roberts, MS, RD, LD. Additionally, the student will interact with the trainees on the Medical Biochemical Genetics service, Dr. Paul Hillman and Medical Genetics service including: Medical Genetics Residents (Drs. Jessica Bolen, MD, Suad Siuffi Campo, MD and Megan Wassef, DO), Pediatric Residents, Internal Medicine/Pediatric Residents and Genetic Counseling Masters Students. Interaction with the Medical Genetics residents will be especially important for the student who is interested in potentially pursuing a career in Medical Genetics.

The students will attend Medical Genetics Rounds (Memorial Hermann Hospital Medical Center Campus) and Medical Genetics Outpatient Clinics (UTPB clinic held three times per week; HCHD CEO Clinic one half day/month; Shriners Hospital for Children one half day/month; and Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic twice/month). Working with the Medical Genetics team in the clinical setting will afford the students the opportunity to learn firsthand about clinical Medical Genetics. The students will attend the weekly conferences of the Medical Genetics group. Medical Genetics Grand Rounds is held every Thursday morning 8-9 AM. At Medical Genetics Grand rounds, clinical topics are reviewed usually including two 30 -minute power point presentations by trainees on the service with the input and help of the faculty. Toward the end of the summer training period, the student will provide a presentation for GRs centering around their project. Every Friday morning from 8-9 AM is our Clinical Genetics Sign-Out conference. For this conference, 5-10 cases from the previous week assessed in either the in-patient or out-patient setting are selected for in-depth presentation and input from all members of the team. The cases are generally a mixture of definite diagnoses and "unknown" diagnoses. We show pictures of the patients at this conference to better allow participants to appreciate the dysmorphic features. The Pre-Clinic Conference is held from 9-10 AM every Friday morning. At this working conference all of the patients scheduled for our outpatient clinics in the coming week are reviewed with all of the trainees on the Medical Genetics service.

The Summer Scholars all receive payment for no more than 320 hours through the length of the program. Scholars will work 40 hours a week. The Scholar will be required to provide a presentation at the DSHS in Austin at the end of the program. The Scholar will receive help and coaching for the DSHS and grand rounds presentations from their mentors.

Students must apply through UTHealth for the position after acceptance to ensure all protocols are followed for payment. Scholars will be paid $25 an hour during the program completion. Students will be assigned a mentor and a project to complete for the duration.

• Attend Medical Genetics as outlined above
• Attend all Medical Genetics conferences
• Create presentation about project including outcomes and research methods
• Present to Department of State Health services upon completion.