Introduction • Project Purpose

The University of Michigan School of Public Health has developed, and now is disseminating through this web site, a guide for the development of curriculum offerings in public health genetics. This web site is designed for use by faculty and administrators of schools and departmental units who serve students in public health.

This web site includes three primary sections:

• the elements from our curriculum that may be most useful to other institutions,
• a self-study guide which provides an outline of practical and evaluative steps for developing a curriculum in public health genetics,
• a list of relevant web sites that may be used as a source of information about public health genetics, professional organizations, data bases, human genetic education, genetic research and ethical, legal and social issues.

Why Genetics in Public Health?

Public health genetics is the integration of genetic advancements and technologies in the study and practice of public health. The maintenance of health and the etiology and prevention of disease are best understood in the context of behavioral, environmental, and genetic risk factors. The last decade has provided us with an avalanche of new information about the genetic basis for disease. This information, while only part of the disease puzzle, is supplying some of the missing pieces, leading to the development of genetic tests. The results of these tests will reveal genetic susceptibility to common, multifactorial diseases such as cancer and heart disease, the greatest threats to the population's health. Genetic susceptibility is a risk factor for disease development, as are certain lifestyle and environmental factors. A better understanding of individual genetic susceptibility combined with modifiable lifestyle and environmental disease risk factors, allows for the development of a more effective intervention strategy, enabling us to better promote and protect the public's health.

Acknowledgments

This project was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)/Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications Branch (ELSI).
Grant No: 1 R25 HG01511-01A1

Project Investigators

Carl Marrs, Ph.D., Current Principal Investigator, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health

Susan Caumartin, Ph.D., Original Principal Investigator

Diane Baker, M.S., Co-Principal Investigator, Department of Human Genetics, Medical School

Michael Boehnke, Ph.D., Co-Investigator, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health

Toby Citrin, J.D., Co-Investigator, Department of Health Management and Policy

Project Consultants

Bruce Chin, Ph.D., Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health

Thomas Hickey, Dr. P.H., Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health

Special Acknowledgments

Many students and faculty contributed to this project which was developed and piloted at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. We particularly wish to thank:

External Advisory Committee

The following external consultants reviewed and advised on the project's implementation, evaluation and dissemination:

Melissa Austin, Ph.D., Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington

Terri Beaty, Ph.D., Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University

Eric Juengst, Ph.D., Center for Biomedical Ethics, Case Western Reserve

Muin Khoury, M.D., Ph.D., Office of Genetics and Disease Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Thomas Sellers, Ph.D., Population Science, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center

James Sorenson, Ph.D., Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Public Health Genetics
Interdepartmental Concentration Students

We are deeply indebted to the students who participated so willingly and energetically in this curriculum pilot.

The University of Michigan School of Public Health
Alumni Board of Governors

We appreciate the participation of the Alumni Board of Governors who provided suggestions on the overall project and advice on internships and job market possibilities.

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In you have any questions, please contact: geneticsed@umich.edu