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From: NIH news releases and news items [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
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Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 8:15 AM
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Subject: NHGRI LAUNCHES ONLINE GENOMICS CENTER FOR EDUCATORS OF NURSES,
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NIH News 
National Human Genome Research Institute
(NHGRI)<http://www.nhgri.nih.gov/> 
Embargoed for Release: Friday, February 26, 2010, 9 a.m. EST

CONTACT: Omar McCrimmon, NHGRI,
301-402-0911,<e-mail:[log in to unmask]> 

NHGRI LAUNCHES ONLINE GENOMICS CENTER FOR EDUCATORS OF NURSES, PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANTS 

An online tool to help educators teach the next generation of nurses and
physician assistants about genetics and genomics was launched today by
the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the
National Institutes of Health. The tool is part of NHGRI's effort to
address the growing need among health care professionals for knowledge
in this area, which is paving the way for more individualized approaches
to detect, treat and prevent many diseases.

The Genetics/Genomics Competency Center (G2C2), developed by the
University of Virginia in Charlottesville through a contract with NHGRI,
is a free, Web-based collection of materials on genetics and genomics
designed for educators who train nurses and physician assistants. To
access this resource, visit <http://www.g-2-c-2.org>. 

"As we enter the era of personalized medicine, establishing genetic and
genomic literacy is an urgent concern for those who educate health
professionals. This online resource will provide a valuable new tool for
meeting that challenge," said Jean Jenkins, R.N., Ph.D., NHGRI senior
clinical advisor to the director. "In the future, we hope to expand this
tool to include other health care professions, such as pharmacists and
physicians." 

Dr. Jenkins announced the new resource at the 2010 American Association
of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Master's Education Conference in New
Orleans. 

Nursing and physician assistant educators can use the Genetics/Genomics
Competency Center to find and download materials for use in their
classrooms. They also can share their favorite genomic and genetic
teaching resources and materials with other educators by uploading
material, which is regularly reviewed by the center's editorial board to
ensure quality control. 

The Genetics/Genomics Competency Center was created under the guidance
of an advisory group made up of representatives from a wide range of
research and professional organizations. In addition to AACN,
participating organizations included the American Academy of Physician
Assistants, National Cancer Institute, National Coalition for Health
Professional Education in Genetics, National League for Nursing,
National Society of Genetic Counselors, Physician Assistant Education
Association and Sigma Theta Tau International, the honor society of
nursing. 

"We're very excited that physician assistants were included in this
pioneering effort. Our profession has been at the vanguard of realizing
the importance of genetics and genomics in the future of medicine, and
encouraging efforts to incorporate more of these key concepts into
education and training," said physician assistant Michael Rackover,
M.S., an advisory group member who directs the physician assistant
program at Philadelphia University. 
 
To encourage sharing and reduce duplication across health care
disciplines, the Genetics/Genomics Competency Center helps to match
existing educational resources with educational competencies for health
professionals. The online center accomplishes this through
sophisticated, cross-mapping of learning activities and assessments,
outcome indicators and professional competencies, such as Genomics
Nursing: Competencies, Curricula Guidelines and Outcome Indicators,
<http://www.genome.gov/Pages/Careers/HealthProfessionalEducation/genetic
scompetency.pdf>, and similar guidelines for physician assistant
education,
<http://www.paeaonline.org/index.php?ht=d/ContentDetails/i/60083>.
 
NHGRI's Genomic Healthcare Branch will host a webinar this spring to
provide educators with a tutorial on using the tool and answer questions
about the resource.

NHGRI supports the development of resources and technology that will
accelerate genome research and its application to human health. For more
about NHGRI, visit <www.genome.gov>. 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- The Nation's Medical Research
Agency -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal
agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational
medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures
for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and
its programs, visit <www.nih.gov>.
  
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This NIH News Release is available online at:
<http://www.nih.gov/news/health/feb2010/nhgri-26.htm>.

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