The public expects high quality health services provided by appropriately trained, skilled and knowledgeable health professionals. This is particularly relevant to human genetics because new discoveries occur on a daily basis.
What training is available to health professionals?
To meet the challenges of genetic medicine into the future, our medical students, the doctors of tomorrow, must have a thorough understanding of genetic issues so they can develop their professional skills in this area. Accordingly, the relevant professional Colleges and Societies provide a national approach to education in human genetics and its medical applications.
To ensure that medical students achieve appropriate standards in core issues related to human genetics, the Human Genetics Society of Australasia (HGSA) has published a set of genetics learning objectives titled Core capabilities in genetics for medical graduates [1]. The NHMRC encourages all medical schools to address the HGSA core standards in their curricula.
Why is it important to educate our future medical doctors and other health professionals?
The changing and challenging scenes described above, as well as continuing new developments in genetic medicine, make it essential that the next generation of health professionals – medical doctors, nurses, counsellors, scientists and others – are well grounded in the principles of modern genetics. By understanding the basics, they will be able to continue their ongoing professional education and so provide up-to-date advice and patient care in an area that is having a major impact on health services.
The importance of educating the next generation of health professionals was highlighted in recommendation 23-4 of the 2003 Australian Law Reform Commission/Australian Health Ethics Committee report, Essentially Yours – the Protection of Human Genetics Information in Australia [2].
A practical outcome of the above report is the recent development and publication of Core Capabilities in Genetics For Medical Graduates by the Human Genetics Society of Australasia (HGSA) [1]. The HGSA has shown leadership and taken an important step forward in developing these core competencies that include knowledge, skills and professional attitudes on the subject.
References
- Human Genetics Society of Australasia (HGSA): Core capabilities in genetics for medical graduates
- Australian Law Reform Commission/Australian Health Ethics Committee: Essentially Yours – the Protection of Human Genetics Information in Australia