Clinical Genetics Residency

Residency Program Director – Elliot Stolerman, MD

The clinical genetics residency at the Greenwood Genetic Center is designed to provide intensive postgraduate clinical experience with heritable or potentially heritable conditions. Residents are required to have completed a primary care residency program (family practice, internal medicine, OB/GYN or pediatrics) in the United States. Clinical training includes exposure to prenatal, pediatric and adult genetics and counseling (2,500 new families per year). Specifically, the resident will see a wide range of heritable disorders, reviewing the evaluation and management of each patient with their preceptor. The student will learn principles of heredity through conferences, internal graduate courses and clinical experience. Moreover they will study the nature of genetic disorders and their impact on the individual, family, and society.

The writing of case reports and reviews, utilization of genetic literature and the preparation of lectures will be integral parts in the residency learning process. All residents are required to take a core course in Advanced Human Genetics through the Center.

While many heritable disorders have medical impact, the content and focus of the clinical residency at the Greenwood Genetic Center will be weighted toward birth defects and intellectual disability. Comprehensive prenatal, pediatric and adult patient genetic evaluations are provided to the upstate region of South Carolina through offices in Greenwood and Greenville. Experience with individuals and families having intellectual disability will be largely gained through patients of the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs in statewide outreach clinics. Experience in dysmorphology will be obtained in the multiple regional and statewide outreach clinics. Additionally, the resident will have in-patient consults through Self Regional Healthcare and prenatal experience through the Greenville Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program, Greenville and Greenwood Ob/Gyn, to gain experience in prenatal and neonatal diagnostics, and the care and management of genetic disease.

After successful completion of the residency program, the physician resident should be qualified for independent clinical practice in medical genetics or an academic position in clinical genetics. The resident will be prepared to sit for the examination given by the American Board of Medical Genetics for certification as a clinical geneticist.

Lab Rotations: Residents who will pursue the two-year genetic residency tract will arrange three 3-week rotations in each of our diagnostic laboratories: molecular, biochemical, and cytogenetics. The purpose of these rotations is to gain a more complete understanding of the diagnostic and research functions of these laboratories in relation to clinical practice. The student will be expected to meet specific goals and objectives for each laboratory rotation. For those residents choosing the three-year tract, the additional year can be spent as an elective in the research laboratories.

Library Access: The Center’s extensive English language library holdings contain over 1,000 monographs and pertinent genetics textbooks, including rare and historical book collections in the area of birth defects. Over 60 current major Medical and Medical Genetics journals are in circulation as well as a substantial number of back volumes for another 50 titles. The library also provides a comprehensive collection of patient photos, slides, and radiographs from our clinical and research studies. A full-time librarian is on staff to assist in searches and interlibrary loans.

Didactic Teaching: Residents are required to participate in a regular set of conferences and lectures throughout the period of training. In addition, residents have the opportunity to attend other seminars and lectures given through the Center. Required conferences are:

  • Weekly Case Conferences – 8:15-9:15 AM, Fridays – Clinical and research presentations
  • Advanced Human Genetics Graduate Course
  • Statewide Quarterly Genetics Case Review and Seminar – Review of patients seen on consultation; Seminar by faculty member or visiting faculty
  • Statewide Genetic Conclaves – Annual scientific and patient presentations

Application Process

Prior to appointment in the program, residents are required to have completed a primary care residency program (family practice, internal medicine, OB/GYN or pediatrics) in the United States. The candidate must also be licensed to practice medicine in the United States. Applications are handled through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) site.

Application to the GGC residency program follows the deadlines of the ERAS site. Interviews are arranged and final decisions will be made as soon as possible.

Greenwood Genetic Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and interested minorities are encouraged to apply.

Meet Jeremiah

Play peek-a-boo with 9 month-old Jeremiah Licorish of Florence, and you'll be rewarded with a huge grin that lights up both his and his mother's faces. But this family has been through the unthinkable over the past few months, with very few reasons to smile. At first things were going well. Jeremiah was a happy, healthy newborn, doted on by his mother, Aneesa, and his three big brothers. But when Jeremiah was around 5 months old, Aneesa noticed ...

In The News