Pediatric Geneticist David B. Flannery, MD, FACMG, FAAP Joins American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics as Medical Director

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- David B. Flannery, MD, FACMG, FAAP has joined the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) as its new Medical Director. Dr. Flannery is a Founding Fellow of the College and has served on the ACMG's Economics of Genetic Services Committee (member and co-chair), Professional Practice and Guidelines Committee (member), and CPT and Reimbursement Subcommittee (member). He was on the Editorial Panel for the ACMG's Genetics Billing and Reimbursement Manual and he is currently the ACMG representative to the American Medical Association's CPT Advisory Committee. He has also served as a member of the Southeast Regional Newborn Screening & Genetics Collaboratives (SERC). SERC is one of the seven HRSA Genetics Collaboratives that is under the National Coordinating Center for the Regional Genetic Services Collaboratives, housed at ACMG through its cooperative agreement with MCHB/HRSA.

A lifelong pediatric geneticist, Dr. Flannery will play a key leadership role with the ACMG. ACMG President Gail Herman, MD, PhD, FACMG said, "David brings a wealth of relevant experience to this position. In particular, his expertise in healthcare economics and the provision of genetic services is unique and will be critical to the organization going forward in this time of extraordinary genomic advances and limited funding for medical care.  His involvement with organizations that frequently interact with ACMG, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, and Food and Drug Administration, among others, is also considered a real strength."

Dr. Flannery is board-certified in both clinical genetics and pediatrics.  He joins ACMG from the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) where he served in a variety of clinical, academic and medical staff leadership positions since 1984 including Professor of Pediatrics, Chief of the Genetics Division, Vice Chair for Administration and Medical Director for Pediatric Ambulatory Care, President of the Medical Staff, Board of Directors of the MCG Health System, and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Physicians Practice Group.

Dr. Flannery has received a number of awards including the US Department of Health and Human Services Superior Performance Award, Top Doctors in America, the Columbia University Dean's Award and was elected to the American Pediatric Society.

Flannery said, "It is an honor to be selected as the Medical Director of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. The ACMG is approaching its next stage in maturation as a professional society at the same time that the genomic 'revolution' in medicine is approaching. I hope to contribute to making the ACMG the recognized source for information about genetics and genomics in medicine as well as the organization which advocates for its members and for patients to ensure that the vision of personalized, genomic healthcare comes to fruition."

Dr. Flannery received his medical degree from Emory University in 1976. He then completed his internship and began his residency in Pediatrics at Emory University Affiliated Hospitals, completing the latter at the University of Virginia.  He completed his Fellowship in Human Genetics at the Medical College of Virginia in 1983. He also received a certificate in health services research and health economics from MCG in 1999.

A leader in genetics both in the US and internationally, Dr. Flannery's activities are numerous and impressive including:

• World Health Organization Topic Advisory Group for Development of ICD-11 codes for Genetics
• American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Genetics and Birth Defects Executive Committee
• American Board of Medical Genetics Exam Writing Committees
• American Board of Genetic Counseling Accreditation Site Visitor
• American Medical Association Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Advisory Committee
• Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling Board of Directors
• Food and Drug Administration Medical Devices Advisory Committee
• National Institutes of Health, National Center for Human Genome Research, Special Review Committee Member
• Global Partnership for Telehealth Board of Directors

Dr. Flannery has spoken at numerous scientific and medical conferences including, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the American Society of Human Genetics, the American Telemedicine Association, the National Neurofibromatosis Foundation Clinical Care Symposium and the Society for Pediatric Research.

A prolific author, Dr. Flannery has published more than 60 scientific and medical articles; is the co-author of Growth References from Conception to Adulthood; and is the author of seven book chapters on birth defects.

About the ACMG and ACMG Foundation

Founded in 1991, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (www.acmg.net) advances the practice of medical genetics and genomics by providing education, resources and a voice for more than 1700 biochemical, clinical, cytogenetic, medical and molecular geneticists, genetic counselors and other healthcare professionals, nearly 80% of whom are board certified in the medical genetics specialties. ACMG is the only nationally recognized medical organization dedicated to improving health through the practice of medical genetics and genomics. The College's mission includes the following goals: 1) to define and promote excellence in the practice of medical genetics and genomics and to facilitate the integration of new research discoveries into medical practice; 2) to provide medical genetics and genomics education to fellow professionals, other healthcare providers, and the public; 3) to improve access to medical genetics and genomics services and to promote their integration into all of medicine; and 4) to serve as advocates for providers of medical genetics and genomics services and their patients. Genetics in Medicine, published monthly, is the official ACMG peer-reviewed journal. ACMG's website (www.acmg.net) offers a variety of resources including Policy Statements, Practice Guidelines, Educational Resources, and a Find a Geneticist tool. The educational and public health programs of the American College of Medical Genetics are dependent upon charitable gifts from corporations, foundations, and individuals through the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine (www.acmgfoundation.org.)

SOURCE American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics