Jonathan Berg, MD, PhD is the inaugural recipient of the Richard King Trainee Award. This award was instituted last year by the American College of Medical Genetics Foundation (ACMGF) to encourage ABMG trainees in their careers and to foster the publication of quality research in Genetics in Medicine. Each year the editorial board will review all articles published in GIM by an ABMG trainee who was either a first or corresponding author during that year. The manuscript felt to have the most merit will be selected and a cash prize awarded at the annual American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) meeting.
In this first year, the recipient of the award is Jonathan Berg, MD, PhD, who completed his training in 2008 at the Baylor College of Medicine and published "Microduplications of 22q11.2 are frequently inherited and are associated with variable phenotypes" in the April 2008 issue of Genetics in Medicine. In the article, Dr Berg and his co-authors describe the identification of individuals and families who harbor microduplications within the 22q11.2 region by array CGH. The study's findings highlight the ability of array CGH to identify genomic imbalances in an unbiased way and the utility of this technology to further define the molecular etiology and clinical phenotypes associated with this microduplication syndrome. Dr. Berg will be Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he will pursue clinical and research activities in adult genetics and cancer genetics.
The award is given by the American College of Medical Genetics Foundation and is named for Dr. Richard King in recognition of his instrumental role in creating Genetics in Medicine and serving as the first Editor-in-Chief of the journal.
Eligible trainees include those in the following programs:
- Combined Internal Medicine/Genetics
- Combined Pediatrics/Genetics
- Clinical Biochemical Genetics
- Clinical Cytogenetics
- Clinical Molecular Genetics
- PhD Medical Genetics
Eligible trainees should identify themselves upon submission of manuscripts to Genetics in Medicine. The editorial board of Genetics in Medicine will determine the winning trainee and presentation of the award will be made each year at the American College of Medical Genetics Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting (www.acmgmeeting.net).
About the American College of Medical Genetics
Founded in 1991, the American College of Medical Genetics (www.acmg.net) advances the practice of medical genetics by providing education, resources and a voice for more than 1400 biochemical, clinical, cytogenetic, medical and molecular geneticists, genetic counselors and other health care professionals committed to the practice of medical genetics. ACMG's activities include the development of laboratory and practice standards and guidelines, advocating for quality genetic services in health care and in public health, and promoting the development of methods to diagnose, treat and prevent genetic disease. Genetics in Medicine, published monthly, is the official ACMG peer-reviewed journal. ACMG's website (www.acmg.net) offers a variety of resources including Policy Statements, Practice Guidelines, Educational Resources, and a Medical Geneticist Locator. The educational and public health programs of the American College of Medical Genetics are dependent upon charitable gifts from corporations, foundations, and individuals. The American College of Medical Genetics Foundation (www.acmgfoundation.org) is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to funding the College's diverse efforts to translate genes into health.