Fall 2023

As the leaves display their glorious colors and the crisp autumn winds set in I cannot help but to reflect on the many blessings that surround me.  I am thankful to all of those who volunteer their time and energy to foster medical genetics and genomics programming in Canada, who push our field forward and who provide care for individuals and families living with genetic conditions.  As we enter the last couple of months in 2023 I am grateful for all that we have accomplished throughout the year and all that we continue to achieve.

The CCMG community continues to be active and to flourish.  The number and quality of new guidelines in development are impressive.  In addition to ongoing revision of the existing clinical and biochemical genetic training guidelines, groups are exploring development of guidance documents that address genomic data sharing, sponsored genetic testing, atypical noninvasive prenatal test results, involvement of human participants in genetic research, reproductive carrier screening, cytogenetic reporting of cancer specimens and many other timely topics.   Other committees also remain busy. In addition to routine committee work there are tremendous efforts ongoing to plan a mock oral structured laboratory exam (OSLE), prepare for the 2024 exam cycle, survey workforce strengths and barriers, explore alternative training funding and review training center accreditation applications (including new applications and renewals).  There is also an ongoing commitment to continued professional development including evaluation of new programming, completion of an online molecular pathology education module and coordination of the 2024 annual scientific meeting (St. John’s, Newfoundland, June 16-19,2024).  Healthy growth of our community is also apparent by an exceptional number of training credentialing applications submitted for review this past summer.  A special thank you is extended to the Credentials committee for all of the hard work that goes into the credentialing review process, and to the training programs for their commitment to education and mentorship of the next generation of Medical Geneticists.

If you are looking for opportunities to engage in the genetics community and contribute to ongoing CCMG projects, I hope that you will consider one of the open positions on our committees. Please take the time to review the ‘Call for Volunteers’ posted in this newsletter.  There are several openings for positions starting January 1, 2024. We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming new committee members.

As this year winds down, I also look forward to 2024.  Save the date and join us for our annual scientific meeting in St. John’s, Newfoundland.  There is an exciting list of innovative educational sessions, engaging workshops and fun social gathering being planned.  I cannot wait to see you there!

Thank you to all of the CCMG community for your continued commitment to Medical Genetics in Canada.

With best wishes,
Elizabeth (Liz) McCready, PhD, FCCMG

Details on requirements and submission can be found under the Training and Examinations tab on the CCMG Website.

Timeline and Process for Credentialling and Examination Applications Submission and Review

For positions starting January 1, 2024, we have the following open positions:
Accreditation of Centres: 4 volunteers
Clinical Practice: 3 volunteers
Credentials: 2 volunteers
E2P2: 4 volunteers
Examinations: 1 volunteer (specifically for cytogenetics)
Exam Advisory: 1 volunteer
Lab Practice: 1 volunteer
Training: 1 volunteer

If you are interested in joining a committee, please be sure to fill out the volunteer form HERE.

Submissions will be open until November 15th.

Names will be submitted to the Awards & Nominations committee for review and placement. New committee members will be notified by the end of the year.

Training Committee

1. Completion of laboratory biochemical training guidelines following the GGD model with the document being submitted to BoD for approval.
2. The training committee is working on providing by the deadline requested (Nov 8) very valuable feedback for the proposed RCPSC AFC on Molecular Pathology.
3. Dr. Ryan Lamont is stepping down as the co-Chair of the Training committee, and the group is looking for a second co-Chair.

Credentials Committee

The Credentials committee has been extremely busy and just completed their initial review of 33 applications to write the exam in 2024, 12% more applications than in the last exam cycle!  Of these, there are:  1 clinical, 2 lab biochemistry, 14 clinical biochemistry, 4 molecular, 8 GGD, 3 second specialty molecular, 1 second specialty cytogenetics.

Review of applications is a very time-consuming, meticulous process as committee members have to review documentation to ensure that all of the training criteria are being met, with regards to program components, training logs, time spent in each rotation, etc.  Program directors and trainees are encouraged to meet together to review information about the credentialing process early in their program.

CCMG training is alive and well.   Kudos to Michelle Axford, chair, and her Credentials Committee members (Majid Alfadhel, Raveen Basran, Fariborz Rashid-Kolvear, Gany Tchakarska, Hong Wang, Melanie Beaulieu Bergeron, Katherine Blood, Melanie Bedford, Libin Yuan, Joyce So, Afia Hasnain) for their tireless dedication to the College and our future members!

Cancer Genetics CoP
To facilitate knowledge exchange on the topic of cancer genetics across the continuum of prevention, treatment, education and advocacy between service providers from the CCMG medical and laboratory geneticists community, the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors (CAGC), the Canadian Association of Pathologists (CAP) and the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada (GOC). The CoP in Cancer Genetics can also include members of other stakeholder societies upon review and invitation.

The Cancer Genetics CoP is under review at the moment and not accepting new members. An update on the status of the CoP will come shortly.

Optical Genome Mapping

To facilitate knowledge exchange on the topic of optical genome mapping across the continuum of validation and use of the technology for the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment prediction; to educate genetic professionals, including service providers from the CCMG medical and laboratory geneticists’ community, about this technology; and advocate for it as necessary.

Interested in joining? Please send a request to Dr. Eric McGinnis

Fellow in Training CoP – NOTICE – due to inactivity of this CoP it will be discontinued as of January 1, 2024.

Donations to the Linda Stevens Fund are important to support the Fund for future trainees. Please visit the CCMG homepage to donate (scroll down to access the donation link).