It’s that time of year again. The crisp fall air is greeting us in the mornings, the trees are ablaze with color, and there are so many genetics and genomics conferences in the coming months, it is hard to choose which ones to attend!
Though we may not be able to participate in all of the genomics continuing education events we would hope to during this fall conference season, there are ways to make the most of the opportunities we do get to come together. Sharing our knowledge, research, experiences, and insights is how we as professionals brush up on our genetics training to become better at the work we do. The Institute for Genomics Education, Workforce & Leadership at Sarah Lawrence College has very specific goals in our mission for optimizing both virtual and in-person gatherings. We define them as “The 3 Cs of Conference Season”
Bringing together these thought leaders will serve as a way to build more awareness of the need to develop the genomic care delivery workforce in a way that has not been imagined before.
Convene
The first "C" in our conference season mission is about convening. The Institute is hosting events at key professional conferences this fall, including the highly anticipated National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Conference and ASHG’s Annual Meeting. At these convenings, we are poised to listen to the perspectives of experts and key opinion leaders on the greatest genomics workforce needs and current challenges in delivering precision medicine.
We aim to foster a creative and collaborative atmosphere at these conferences. Our goal is to come together with the brightest minds in genetics and genomics to address the most pressing issues in healthcare delivery. The convening of key thought leaders serves as a powerful way to build awareness of workforce needs. Namely, identifying and developing the roles necessary for equitable genomic care delivery; an issue that has been, thus far, overlooked.
A critical objective of our convenings is to elucidate the challenges faced by the genomics workforce, both those in direct patient care delivery and those in indirect care roles. By synthesizing the knowledge and experience of experts across the field, we gain valuable insight into this issue. The more we understand these collective challenges, the better equipped we will be to find effective solutions. But the benefits don't stop there.
Our goal is to inform the greater public about the pressing need to address one of the greatest health equity challenges of the next century: ensuring that all communities, regardless of their socio-economic status or location, have access to the benefits of genetic and genomic science.”
Bringing together these thought leaders will serve as a way to build more awareness of the need to develop the genomic care delivery workforce in a way that has not been imagined before.
Raising awareness is a crucial step towards progress. In the world of genomics, where advances are happening at a staggering pace, it is essential that we build a workforce that keeps speed and can effectively deliver these advances to patients. Failure to do so poses the risk of exacerbating disparities in genomics care access, especially for underserved communities. Our convenings will highlight the urgency of care-delivery concerns while there is still time to change the course trajectory.
Connect
The second "C" in our mission is about connecting. We are not only convening key opinion leaders at these conferences; we are also connecting them in a network to build better solutions. The future work of the Institute demands that we have ongoing engagement with this community of experts and facilitate their connection to additional stakeholders. While conferences act as information hubs for professionals in the workforce, they often do not include all stakeholder groups such as patients, health systems, health plans, non-profits, and future students or trainees. These groups may not be present at these professional development conferences, but their voices are necessary in the workforce conversation.
Imagine the potential when the collective wisdom of genomics experts, the experience of healthcare practitioners and health systems, and the insights of patient advocates converge. It's within these connections that innovative solutions often find their roots. By forging the nexus between stakeholders, we’ll create a united front against the challenges that impede effective genomic care delivery.
This growing network will serve as a powerful force for change. It will allow us to address the symptoms as well as the root causes of the challenges within the genomic care delivery workforce. Only by understanding and tackling these underlying issues can we hope to create sustainable and impactful solutions.
Contribute
The third "C" in our mission is about contributing. After our convenings, we will compile the expertise shared by our community and offer it for publication, adding to the research pertaining to the care delivery workforce challenge. We plan to make ongoing contributions to conversations happening in the space and share insights gleaned from fall conferences to spark further action.
In the world of healthcare, knowledge is power. By sharing the insights and perspectives gathered during these conferences, we can contribute to a growing body of literature that addresses the challenges faced by the genomic care delivery workforce. This literature serves as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners alike.
Through educational content and foundational papers, we will disseminate the knowledge and ideas generated during these conferences to a broader audience. Our goal is to inform the greater public about the pressing need to address one of the greatest health equity challenges of the next century: ensuring that all communities, regardless of their socio-economic status or location, have access to the benefits of genetic and genomic science.
The 3 C's of Conference Season—Convene, Connect, Contribute—are the foundation of the Institute for Genomics Education, Workforce & Leadership’s mission this fall. These principles guide our efforts to bring together experts, connect diverse stakeholders, and contribute to the collective knowledge that will drive positive change in the genomics field. As we navigate the challenges of our times, let us remember the power of collaboration, the importance of networking, and the value of sharing knowledge to make a lasting impact on healthcare and health equity for generations to come.
Oh, and of course, we did not forget the fourth major “C” of conferences, Coffee! If you find yourself at a meeting this fall with us, please reach out to grab some coffee with our Institute team. You can always go to our Events page under “Fall Convenings” to sign up for a Workforce Coffee Break focus group during NSGC or request a meeting while at ASHG 2023.
See you on the fall conference trail!
~ The Team at Institute for Genomics Education, Workforce, & Leadership