image: The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine is a community of supporters and contributors who understand the importance of medical genetics in healthcare. The ACMG Foundation raises funds to attract the next generation of medical geneticists and genetic counselors, sponsors important research and promotes accurate information about medical genetics. www.acmgfoundation.org view more
Credit: ACMG Foundation
Erin Riggs, MS, CGC was presented with the ACMG Foundation Carolyn Mills Lovell Genetic Counselor Award at the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Genetic Counselor's Luncheon, during the 2018 Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Ms. Riggs was selected to receive the award for her platform presentation, "Copy Number Variant Discrepancy Resolution Using the ClinGen Dosage Sensitivity Map Results in Updated Clinical Interpretations in ClinVar."
Ms. Riggs is an Assistant Professor and certified genetic counselor at the Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute at Geisinger. Her research interests include variant interpretation education, alternative models of informed consent, and increase in patient participation in genomic data sharing efforts. Ms. Riggs received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Wesleyan College. She completed her Master of Science degree in Genetic Counseling from Northwestern University, after which she achieved board certification in Genetic Counseling by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. Before joining Geisinger, Ms. Riggs was a clinical genetic counselor in the Department of Human Genetics at Emory University, specializing in general pediatrics and lysosomal storage disorders.
The Carolyn Mills Lovell Award was made possible by a generous donation by ACMG Medical Director, David Flannery, MD, FAAP, FACMG to honor genetic counselor Carolyn Mills Lovell, MAT, MS, CGC. A genetic counselor who continues to provide exemplary service and care to patients and their families at Augusta University, previously known as the Medical College of Georgia (MCG). Dr. Flannery worked with Carolyn Mills Lovell for over 15 years while he was at MCG. Through this award he also wanted to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of genetic counselors around the world.
The award includes a cash prize of $1,000 and is presented to one recipient annually through 2025. The recipient is chosen based on the highest rated abstract submitted by a Genetic Counselor to the ACMG Annual Meeting.
ACMG Foundation President Bruce R. Korf, MD, PhD, FACMG said, "There is a recognized need to increase the genetic counseling workforce, especially given growth in our ability to use genomic approaches in medical care. We are excited to be able to continue to recognize the important contribution genetic counselors make to genetic and genomic medicine."
"I am honored to have been selected for this award, highlighting the importance of work to resolve inconsistencies in copy number variant interpretation. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of all of my co-authors on the abstract (and the laboratories they represent) - their efforts to remain actively engaged in data sharing and conflict resolution efforts help us move toward the goal of more consistent variant interpretation across laboratories," said Ms. Riggs.
"I wanted to help recognize genetic counselors who play a huge role in clinical genetic services and felt that this award would help with that and also honor Carolyn, who has always provided exemplary services to families, students and residents at the Medical College of Georgia of Augusta University," said ACMG Medical Director David Flannery, MD, FAAP, FACMG.
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The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine (ACMGF) is a community of supporters and contributors who understand the importance of medical genetics and genomics in healthcare. A non-profit organization established in 1992, the Foundation supports the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) mission to "translate genes into health"; to foster charitable giving, promote training opportunities to attract future medical geneticist and genetic counselors, to share information about medical genetics, to sponsor important research and much more.
To learn more and support the ACMGF mission to create "Better Health through Genetics", please contact Nicole O. Bell, ACMG Foundation Manager, at nbell@acmg.net or 301-718-9604 or visit acmgfoundation.org.