Summer 2023

A colleague recently asked me what my favorite thing was about genetics.  I was shocked at how difficult the question was to answer… After careful thought, it is clear that one of my favorite parts of genetics, without any doubt, is the Clinical and Laboratory Geneticists who enable this community to thrive.  The passion, high-level expertise, collaborative nature and innovative spirit of our members was on full display in Winnipeg where we recently met for our Annual Scientific meeting.  Thank you to everyone who participated in the annual meeting!  It was wonderful to see so many of our members in person again after so long apart.  Plans are already underway for next year’s event in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and we are looking forward to seeing you there. Whether we are meeting in person for scientific discourse, advocating for our profession, setting standards of genetic practice or facilitating excellence in genetics education, the Clinical and Laboratory Geneticists within our community continue as the heart and core of medical genetics programming in Canada.  I am proud and honored to be part of this amazing group.

Speaking of the Annual Scientific meeting, I would like to take a moment to thank the Scientific Program Committee, the CCMG management team, and everyone else who assisted in organizing the Winnipeg meeting.  The event was a huge success and we appreciate all of the work that went into making it a special event. We also thank the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists (CSCC) for their collaboration in this joint endeavor and for sharing this experience. The educational sessions and programming were exceptional.  Kudos go out to all of the speakers and poster presenters for their thoughtful and informative presentations.  Congratulations also go out to all of the award winners on their achievements! I would also like to provide a special thanks to all of the patients who took time to share their stories with us through patient vignettes that aired between scientific sessions; these brought context and relevance to the discussions and struck an emotional chord for many in attendance.

Although the CCMG activities have slowed down somewhat during the summer months, there continues to be a lot of activity within many of our committees and working groups. Welcome to all the volunteers who will be joining committees and thank you to all those who have completed committee terms this summer.

Between forest fires, torrential rains, and droughts it has been a crazy summer. I hope that wherever you are you are safe and that you have opportunities to enjoy the better parts of our summer months.

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

We thank our outgoing board members Dr. Lindsay Brown and Dr. Graham Sinclair whose terms have ended. Dr. Ron Agatep has taken on the role of Secretary and we welcome Dr. Tracy Tucker and Dr. David Rosenblatt to the board.

The CCMG Committees and Working Groups have submitted their Annual Reports. To read about the accomplishments and ongoing tasks, please visit Annual General Meeting – CCMG | CCGM (ccmg-ccgm.org) (remember to log first to access the page).

Associate Affiliate Fellow:

• Ian King

Emeritus/Emerita

• Peter Bridge
• Judy Chernos
• Wenda Greer

Honourary Affiliate

• Klaus Wrogemann

Fellows

• Marjolaine Champagne
• Michael Macklay
• Zhuo (Shawn) Shao

Fellows in Training

• Sarah Belfaqeeh
• Marie-Claude Dery
• Joshua Dubland
• Chelsea Jackson
• Francesca Jean
• Matthea Sanderson

CCMG-CCGM 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting, St. John’s, Newfoundland
June 16-19, 2024

Clinical Practice

• Felix Levesque, FiT, BC, Bio(c)

Continuing Professional Development

• David Skidmore, NS, Clin
• Chumei Li, ON, Clin
• Laila Schenkel, ON, Mol
• Mehdi Yeganeh, US, Bio(c)
• Kathleen Bone, US, Cyto
• Nicole Park, FiT, ON, GGD

GGD Exam Advisory

• Osama Aldirbashi, Qatar, Bio(l)
• Valerie Desilets, QC, Clin

Laboratory Practice

• Amanda Smith, ON, Mol Metabolics
• Bojana Rakic, BC, Bio(l)

Scientific Program

• Susan Crocker, ON, Cyto
• Ramona Salvarinova, BC, Bio(c)

Please keep an eye out for the next Call for Volunteers coming in the fall of 2023 for committee placements starting January of 2024.

• Clinical Duty to Recontact WG
• Clinical Laboratory Scientists WG
• GGD Advisory WG
• Metabolic Training Redesign WG
• Molecular Pathology WG
• Reproductive Carrier Screening WG
• WG for Guidelines for Genomic Data Sharing for Clinical Genetics Laboratories in Canada
• WG to Review Clinical Genetics and Clinical Biochemical Fellowship

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.

Interested in joining? Please email Kristen Farncomb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">e or Raymond Kim

Fellow in Training CoP
The goal of the Fellows in Training (FiT) Community of Practice (CoP) is to facilitate and support exchange, networking, and career development between Clinical and Laboratory Genetics Trainees across Canada to develop skills as Medical Experts, Communicators, Collaborators, Leaders, Health Advocates, Scholars, and Professionals in Genetics.

Interested in Joining the FiT CoP?
Reply to  with the following details:

•       Name
•       Training specialty
•       Training centre
•       Training start date and projected date of completion

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

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).