New program to help physicians understand role of DNA-based preventiv...( Washington D.C. and Redwood Shores C...),Health

Washington, D.C., and Redwood Shores, CA November 4, 2008 American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) and Navigenics, Inc. today announced a medical education program designed to improve physicians' understanding of genetic risk factors for disease, the current evidence about the use of genomic tools and technologies to determine risk, and promising practices for utilizing those tools to aid in disease prevention. Through an unrestricted educational grant from Navigenics, ACPM is independently developing this continuing medical education (CME) course, titled Genetic Risk, Screening and Intervention, to address the growing use of genetic testing services and to examine their evidence-based impact on the practice of medicine.

"The ACPM has a long history of leadership in helping physicians integrate preventive medicine into their practices," stated Dr. Vance Vanier, chief medical officer of Navigenics. "We are very pleased to provide support that enables ACPM to advance their leadership into the next generation by educating physicians about the current scientific and clinical frameworks underlying preventive genomic medicine."

"We are beginning to see healthcare's evolvement from a discipline focused primarily on treating existing diseases and conditions to one that gives equal credence to preventing those diseases in the first place," said ACPM Executive Director Michael Barry, CAE. "We are excited to be helping physicians on the frontline of care become more familiar with multiple risk assessment strategies and the evidence behind new technologiesincluding genomic applicationsthat can help patients better understand their risk for disease and take appropriate actions to mitigate that risk."

ACPM members and national experts in genomics, prevention and epidemiology are designing this course to delve into many issues related to genetic risk factors, screening and disease prevention. Specifically the program:

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