New Genomics Clinic Will Enable Preventive Care, Precision Medicine

The new clinic will be integrated with the primary care practices at MGH, and will aim to help patients better understand, prevent, and predict disease. MGH chose to establish the genomics clinic after receiving requests from providers and patients for greater use of genetics in clinical care. “We believe DNA testing will be a key piece of routine care in the future,” said Amit V. Khera, MD, an MGH cardiologist and co-founder of the new clinic. “But, in many cases, our PCPs were unsure which of the available genetic tests were most appropriate for their patients – or how best to integrate that information into an individualized screening or treatment plan. That’s why it was so important for us to root ourselves within primary care from the start.” Common reasons for referral to the clinic include requests for interpretation of an existing genetic test result, concern about family history of disease, or an interest in learning about the risks and benefits of testing while still asymptomatic.