So I was thinking about all of this hullabaloo and how Beth Israel Deaconess flipped the script by using non-clinically validated, non medical tests to teach residents about medical genetics.....

Yes, that is pretty freaking preposterous in and of itself, but I have a deeper concern.....

"Beth Israel has launched the Personalized Genomics and Next Generation Sequencing Training Program, which includes a series of lectures, discussions, and presentations, aimed at promoting a better understanding of the personalized genomics field and next-generation sequencing technologies."

Ok, so my question is. Who will be giving the lectures?

Let me put this another way.....

"NewsFlash" (This is not true, however it is just as preposterous and written to illustrate a point)

Harvard Medical School has agreed to partner with Pfizer to educate young resident physicians about pharmacology.

Residents will receive a series of lectures crafted by Pfizer to help physicians understand the complexities of pharmacology. To help the young physicians a pharmaceutical specialist employed by Pfizer will take the residents out to dinner and give lectures crafted by Pfizer.

To further enhance the training, all physicians will be given free samples of viagra/modafinil to help them understand how the medication works

"We believe that pharmacology and pharmacogenetics will be critical to the future of health care," Mark Boguski, of BIDMC's Department of Pathology and the Center for Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School, said in a statement.

"Training our residents on the leading pharmaceutical services and technologies will be essential to this future."

(End Fake Story)

Do you get what I am saying yet, or are you such a blind supporter of DTC genomics to see the absolutely clear freaking conflict of interests here?

And for such a school which focuses so much on Conflicts of Interest, I am blown away that this program has not yet been shut down.....

You can email Mark Boguski at mark_boguski@hms.harvard.edu if you think this is as crazy as I do. Or maybe a phone call? 617-432-7375

The Sherpa Says: Do you see what I am getting at Mark? This is sketchy at best....