The Harvard Medical School Genetics Training Program is accredited by the American Board of Medical Genetics to provide training in Ph.D. Medical Genetics. It is expected that trainees will be funded by a research laboratory associated with the program. No additional stipend will be provided for clinical training. Trainees must first identify a research sponsor and source of funding before applying to participate in Ph.D. Training.

The Ph.D. Medical Genetics Training Program consists of one year of clinical rotations followed by two years of research with participation in a weekly continuity clinic during the research years. The clinical rotations include three months each at Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Each of these rotations includes involvement in clinical laboratories as well as genetics clinics. The focus is on the interpretation of genetic test results rather than the actual performance of the particular genetic test. Trainees attend the laboratory meetings of the laboratory in which they are rotating. An additional requirement for Ph.D. Medical Genetics fellows, however, is participation in the course Biology 152 (Population Genetics) at Harvard University. The description of this course is given below as presented in the 1999-2000 Course of Instruction (Official Register of Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences).

Biology 152. Population Genetics
Introduction to population genetics theory. Covers deterministic and stochastic theory of gene frequencies, and coalescent theory of sample-based statistics. Emphasis on patterns of observed genetic variation within and between populations, and how these can serve as the basis for inference mutation, genetic drift, migration, natural selection, and population structure.
Prerequisites: Biology 17 (Evolution), Calculus, and knowledge of statistics and probability

The overall goals of the training program are:

• understand the principles of cytogenetics as applied to diagnostic testing
• become familiar with major protocols used in clinical cytogenetics, including culture of peripheral blood, fibroblasts, amniotic fluid, and chorionic villi, chromosome staining, karyotyping, and FISH
• learn the major clinical indications for cytogenetic testing and the clinical implications of test results
• become familiar with major syndromes due to chromosomal imbalance, principles of prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis, and cancer cytogenetics
• develop skills in communicating with referring physicians
• appreciate the issues in quality assurance necessary to management of a diagnostic laboratory
• become sensitive to ethical issues in genetics
• participate in an ongoing research activity in cytogenetics