Genetics

Forum Chair(s)

• 

  Melissa Russo, MD

  Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology
  Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Alpert Medical School of Brown University
  Providence, Rhode Island, United States
• 

  Asha Talati, MD, MSCR (she/her/hers)

  Assistant Professor
  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

Inequities in access to prenatal genetic screening and diagnostic testing are a critical issue in maternity care, particularly with advancing genomic technologies and the prospect of pre- and post-natal genetic therapies. The purpose of this forum is to highlight the multifactorial causes of inequities including laboratory diagnostic issues, variant calling, access to pre-conception and early prenatal care, adequate counseling especially to those with lower genetic health literacy and sometimes limited provider knowledge of novel genomic technologies. In addition, we will foster a solutions driven conversation featuring experts in the areas of genetic counseling, ethical, legal, social implications of genomics (ELSI-genomics), and MFM-Genetics.

Year 1 of the genetics forum will identify current barriers to achieving equitable care in prenatal genetics with discussions about how the current landscape can lead to inequities in care. There will be a discussion about the use of race, ethnicity and ancestry in reproductive genetics and limitations to genotyping based carrier panels for different ethnic groups. We will outline the roadmap working towards equitable care with community engagement, ongoing clinical initiatives supporting equitable care in genetics, and empathy and equity-based genetics training. We will also review the Post-Dobbs effect on equity in prenatal genetics.

Presentations:

• 3:00 PM - 3:05 PM  

  Current Landscape of Prenatal Genetics and Potential Areas for Improvement to Move Towards Equitable Care
  

  Forum Speaker: Melissa L. Russo, MD – Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Alpert Medical School of Brown University

  Forum Speaker: Asha N. Talati, MD, MSCR (she/her/hers) – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• 3:05 PM - 3:20 PM  

  Discussion of the use of race, ancestry and ethnicity in reproductive genetics and the limitations to genotyping based carrier panels for different ethnic groups
  

  Forum Speaker: Gabriel A. Lazarin, MS, CGC – Myriad Genetics
• 3:20 PM - 3:45 PM  

  Post-Dobbs Effect on Equity in Prenatal Genetics
  

  Forum Speaker: Asha N. Talati, MD, MSCR (she/her/hers) – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• 3:45 PM - 4:05 PM  

  The Equity and Ethics of Offering Reproductive Genetics Care Using a Disability Rights Framework
  

  Forum Speaker: Julia EH Brown, PhD (she/her/hers) – University of California San Francisco
• 4:05 PM - 4:25 PM  

  Roadmap to Delivering Equitable Care in Reproductive and Prenatal Genetics: Clinical initiatives to support equitable reproductive health, strategies for community engagement and empathy and equity-based genetics training
  

  Forum Speaker: April D. Adams, MD, MS (she/her/hers) – Baylor College of Medicine
• 4:25 PM - 4:50 PM  

  Panel Discussion of Road Map Speakers
• 4:50 PM - 5:00 PM  

  Highlight Potential Solutions to Bridge Gaps & Wrap Up
  

  Forum Speaker: Melissa L. Russo, MD – Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Alpert Medical School of Brown University

  Forum Speaker: Asha N. Talati, MD, MSCR (she/her/hers) – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill