Briefly, I am a medical geneticist/pediatrician and thrilled to be the current President-Elect of the ACMG. I am also the Associate Chief of the Division of Genetics and Genomics at Boston Children's Hospital where I lead the clinical and educational activities of the division, as well as the Program Director for the Medical Genetics clinical training programs which provide clinical education across several HMS-affiliated hospitals. My professional activities have been focused in the areas of clinical care and innovation, education and advocacy. Over the years I have held leadership roles in national genetics organizations including the CME Officer, Chair of the Education Committee and Member of the Board of Directors of the ACMG and ACMG Foundation, Council Member and President of APHMG, and Member of the Advocacy Committee of ASHG.

My previous role as Chief Health and Science Officer at the American Medical Association introduced me to the importance of advocacy in enabling our community to most effectively care for patients. Advocating for patients and families has always been a priority of mine and having the vision to think of a time to seemingly do the impossible has been a hallmark of those in our specialty. As genetic diagnostics are increasingly shared with our colleagues in healthcare, it is important to think about what the role of our clinical and laboratory specialties should be in the future. We are at an important and pivotal time in our specialty—one that gives us the opportunity to use the knowledge and tools of genetics and genomics to impact larger populations by working with our colleagues across all specialties; educate our patients and the public; and importantly, advocate for the resources necessary to do so responsibly with a focus on equity, access, and improving disparities across the healthcare system.