To develop a draft set of
competencies for integrating genetics into public health workforce training.
By the end of this year, all of the estimated
30,000 human genes will have been identified and tests for more than 700 genes
are already available in medical practice. Genes found thus far include not only
those associated with rare diseases, but also genes that increase susceptibility
to common diseases. When genes interact with environmental factors (such as
chemical, physical, behavioral, nutritional, and infectious), risk for disease
and injury increases. Prevention includes the use of medical, behavioral, and
environmental interventions to reduce the risk for disease among people
susceptible because of their genetic makeup.
One of the steps in appropriately and effectively
using these historic genetic discoveries to improve health and prevent disease
is the training of the public health workforce. Public health agencies will have
an increasing role in assessing the health needs of populations, assuring the
quality of genetic tests and services, and evaluating the impact of
interventions. Thus, the identification of competencies across public health
practice, that enable or enhance worker's ability to integrate genetics into ongoing activities, is an
imperative.
These long-term goals cannot be achieved without
the coordinated efforts of CDC's national, state, and local prevention
partners and representation of the core public health disciplines. Over the
summer, administrators, educators, environmentalists, epidemiologists,
laboratorians, and clinicians will identify the current and future roles for
incorporating genetics into each
public health discipline. By August, a draft set of
competencies for integrating genetics into the ten essential public health
services will be available to the public health community for comment.
