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The Medical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship Program is a one-year fellowship program that trains highly motivated physicians to diagnose, manage, and counsel patients with inborn errors of metabolism.

Overview

Like the Medical Genetics Residency Program, this program is unparalleled in several respects. It exposes trainees to rare metabolic disorders that might not be seen in a more typical biochemical genetics program and it is one of the few programs that emphasizes clinical research. Trainees also gain broad newborn screening experience at referral centers serving the DC-Maryland-Virginia area and beyond. Other participating institutions include Children's National Hospital in Washington DC, Kennedy-Krieger Institute and University of Maryland Medical System in Baltimore, MD, and the State of Maryland Newborn Screening Laboratory.

  • Overview

    Like the Medical Genetics Residency Program, this program is unparalleled in several respects. It exposes trainees to rare metabolic disorders that might not be seen in a more typical biochemical genetics program and it is one of the few programs that emphasizes clinical research. Trainees also gain broad newborn screening experience at referral centers serving the DC-Maryland-Virginia area and beyond. Other participating institutions include Children's National Hospital in Washington DC, Kennedy-Krieger Institute and University of Maryland Medical System in Baltimore, MD, and the State of Maryland Newborn Screening Laboratory.

Rotations

Three months of rotations will be at the NIH, three months at Children's National Health System (CNHS), one month in a biochemical genetics laboratory, two weeks at the Maryland Newborn Screening Laboratory, one month of clinical research at NIH and three and a half months of clinical electives at either NIH, CNHS, University of Maryland specialty clinics, or Kennedy-Krieger Institute.

Although this is a one-year program, most candidates will want to spend 2 to 3 years after the fellowship acquiring skills in the care and clinical research of patients with metabolic disorders. The residency program includes many didactic sessions, courses, seminars, biochemical journal club and metabolic continuity clinic. The course Inborn Errors in Metabolism, a one semester course, is required for all trainees.

Metropolitan Area Genetics Rotations: Children's National Health System (CNHS) : During this rotation, fellows have both inpatient and outpatient responsibilities. They function as genetics consultants for CNHS patients and are involved in the medical management of patients with metabolic disorders. They diagnose, manage and counsel outpatients and participate in the metabolic specialty clinic weekly.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center:  During this rotation, fellows have both inpatient and outpatient responsibilities and are involved in the evaluation and management of patients with various metabolic disorders. Fellows participate in 2 weekly patient care conferences.

Maryland Newborn Screening Laboratory: This rotation will introduce the fellow to the state NBS testing and techniques, as well as many nutritional management protocols for newly diagnosed infants with metabolic disorders. Counseling skills will be improved by teaching referring physicians and parents about positive test results and dietary therapies.

  • Rotations

    Three months of rotations will be at the NIH, three months at Children's National Health System (CNHS), one month in a biochemical genetics laboratory, two weeks at the Maryland Newborn Screening Laboratory, one month of clinical research at NIH and three and a half months of clinical electives at either NIH, CNHS, University of Maryland specialty clinics, or Kennedy-Krieger Institute.

    Although this is a one-year program, most candidates will want to spend 2 to 3 years after the fellowship acquiring skills in the care and clinical research of patients with metabolic disorders. The residency program includes many didactic sessions, courses, seminars, biochemical journal club and metabolic continuity clinic. The course Inborn Errors in Metabolism, a one semester course, is required for all trainees.

    Metropolitan Area Genetics Rotations: Children's National Health System (CNHS) : During this rotation, fellows have both inpatient and outpatient responsibilities. They function as genetics consultants for CNHS patients and are involved in the medical management of patients with metabolic disorders. They diagnose, manage and counsel outpatients and participate in the metabolic specialty clinic weekly.

    National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center:  During this rotation, fellows have both inpatient and outpatient responsibilities and are involved in the evaluation and management of patients with various metabolic disorders. Fellows participate in 2 weekly patient care conferences.

    Maryland Newborn Screening Laboratory: This rotation will introduce the fellow to the state NBS testing and techniques, as well as many nutritional management protocols for newly diagnosed infants with metabolic disorders. Counseling skills will be improved by teaching referring physicians and parents about positive test results and dietary therapies.

Faculty and Research Interests

David Adams, M.D. Ph.D.
Oculocutaneous albinism, sialic acid disorders, metabolic diseases

Nicholas Ah Mew, M.D.
Urea cycle disorders, organic acidemias and other disorders of ammonia metabolism

Jessica Albert, Ph.D.
Molecular and biochemical diagnositics

Kimberly Chapman, M.D., Ph.D.
Mitochondrial diseases, metabolic disorders and cardio-genetic diseases

Carlos Ferreira, M.D.
Skeletal dysplasias, inborn errors of metabolism

William A. Gahl, M.D., Ph.D.
Inborn Errors of Metabolism, cystinosis, Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, Undiagnosed Diseases Program

Fizza Gulamali-Majid, Ph.D.
Director, Maryland Newborn Screening Laboratory

Wendy Introne, M.D.
Alkaptonuria, Chediak-Higashi syndrome

Eirini Manoli, M.D., MPH
Organic acidemias, Moebius syndrome

Melissa Merideth, M.D., MPH
Gynecologic aspects of genetic and metabolic diseases

Drew Michael, Ph.D.
Molecular and biochemical diagnostics

Debra Regier, M.D., Ph.D.
Metabolic disorders, genetics education

Oleg Shchelochkov, M.D.
Propionic acidemia

Ellen Sidransky, M.D.
Gaucher disease, Lysosomal storage diseases

Benjamin Solomon, M.D.
Clinical Director, NHGRI

Erin Strovel, Ph.D.
Biochemical diagnostics

Cynthia J. Tifft, M.D., Ph.D.
Glycosphingolipid and glycoprotein disorders including Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff disease, GM1 gangliosidosis, and type 1 sialidosis, undiagnosed diseases program

Charles Venditti, M.D., Ph.D.
Hereditary methylmalonic acidemias and disorders of intracellular cobalamin metabolism

How to Apply

Applications to this program are accepted through the NIH Graduate Medical Education Application System. Candidates must have a medical degree (MD, DO, or equivalent) and have completed a U.S. ACGME-accredited residency training program in clinical genetics, be board-eligible or board certified in clinical genetics and have a valid, unrestricted U.S. license. This program does not participate in the MATCH.

Program Leadership

Program Director

Melissa Merideth
Melissa Merideth, M.D., M.P.H.
  • Program Director
  • Medical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship

Program Coordinators

Kyian Reynolds-Davis
Kyia J. Reynolds-Davis, B.S.
  • Program Coordinator
  • Medical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship
Holly Babcock
Holly Babcock, M.S, C.G.C.
  • Program Coordinator
  • Medical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship

Last updated: December 19, 2023