Organizer Profile
American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG)

American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG)

Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America

The establishment of the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics evolved out of a recognized need and commitment by the founding members to improve the level and standards of clinical care in the area of medical genetics, both for the care giver and the institutions providing care. It was also apparent that within this rapidly-expanding field, specific areas of expertise were emerging, all equally important components of the clinical genetics health care delivery system. Thus, a twelve-member Board of Directors was founded consisting of human geneticists representing expertise in the areas of clinical genetics, medical genetics, laboratory genetics (including clinical cytogenetics, clinical biochemical and clinical molecular genetics) and genetic counseling.

To reinforce its commitment to quality care at the individual level, the Board, with the assistance of the National Board of Medical Examiners, instituted certifying examinations in these areas of expertise. These certifying examinations are offered every three years. Because the technology of medical genetics is advancing so rapidly, test questions must be thoroughly reviewed and rewritten each time to be sure that the geneticists who take the exams are thoroughly up-to-date in a fast-moving field. In order to be eligible to sit for the examination, the candidate must have successfully completed a minimum of two years in an ABMGG-accredited training program. Individuals who want to sit for clinical genetics and a laboratory specialty must complete a minimum of three years in an ABMGG- or ACGME accredited training program (see training options).

In order to ensure that state-of-the-art techniques, standards and practices are being met at the institutional level, a stringent process of accreditation has been made available to programs that train medical genetics personnel in the areas of clinical and laboratory medicine. The Residency Review Committee (RRC) for the American Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredits clinical training programs and the ABMGG continues to accredit Ph.D. and laboratory training programs.