Genetic Education for Illinois

Over 160 public health nurses, other health professionals, and others interested in genetic health participated in our webinar in celebration of DNA Day on April 16, 2013. If you missed our program on newborn screening and family health history, including presentations by Michelle Gilats, a licensed genetic counselor and an engaging personal narrative from Marie Vonesh about living with Fabry Disease, you can view our recorded webinar here:

We are thrilled to see nurse Deb Piper and her department’s creativity in using the DNA Day IL 2013 materials. Staff at Bureau County Health Department are celebrating DNA Day IL 2013 by reviewing and distributing this year’s resources on family health history and newborn screening.

The LaSalle County Health Department has put this year’s DNA Day Illinois project materials to good use. Nurse Colleen Gibson has graciously shared one way she will celebrate DNA Day this year: with an informative and creative poster display. We hope her poster inspires others to find ways to integrate genetics into their health outreach!

Click here to view our flyer:

Register online here: DNA Day IL 2013 Webinar

Want to know more about DNA Day Illinois?

View our video about this year’s project:

Diseases are considered rare in the U.S. when they affect less than 200,000 people.  When these diseases are combined, they affect about one in ten people in the U.S. The majority of rare diseases are genetic disorders.  The list of rare diseases includes some disorders that are screened for in Illinois as part of the newborn screening public health program, including sickle cell anemia and congenital hypothyroidism.  Rare Disease Day is celebrated to bring together this community that is at times isolated and raise awareness about the many rare diseases that impact our communities.  For more information about Rare Disease Day, please visit http://rarediseaseday.us/. For more information regarding a an upcoming, free, 2-day conference celebrating rare disease research  held in Baltimore, MD, please visit https://events-support.com/events/Rare_Disease_Day

Congratulations to all the winners of the American Society of Human Genetics 2012 DNA Day Essay Contest. But especially to our own Nathan Swetlitz and Girish Chandrasekar of Illinois! Watch the press release and read more here