BETHESDA, Md., April 2, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At its 2015 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting in Salt Lake City, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) announced the election of five new directors to its Board. Members of the ACMG Board of Directors serve as advocates for the ACMG and for forming and advancing its policies and programs. ACMG is the national organization for the medical genetics profession.

"It's an eventful time in medical genetics and genomics. We are excited to add these outstanding individuals to our Board," said Michael S. Watson, PhD, FACMG, ACMG Executive Director. "The College's Board consists of experienced and skilled individuals with diverse medical backgrounds within genetics to represent the broad range of work that our members do. Each new Board member brings singular talents, insights, and experience that will enhance the College's mission."

The five newly-elected directors will serve six-year terms from April 2015 to March 2021.

Louanne Hudgins, MD, FACMG:President-Elect

ACMG President-elect Dr. Louanne Hudgins received her MD from the University of Kansas. She completed her internship/residency in Pediatrics and her fellowship in Human Genetics at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Hudgins is board certified in medical genetics. She is currently Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of the Division of Medical Genetics at Stanford University Medical Center. She is also Director of Perinatal Genetics and Service Chief for Medical Genetics at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. She has been the Mosbacher Family Distinguished Packard Fellow at the Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics since 2008. Known as an outstanding teacher and mentor, she also earned the "Excellence in Teaching Award" at Stanford University School of Medicine in 2004 and 2009-2010.

Dr. Hudgins has been very active in the ACMG serving on the ACMG Board of Directors (2002-2009) and as VP for Clinical Genetics (2007-2009). She has also served on several committees: Dysmorphology Subcommittee (1997-2000); Governance Committee (2008-2009); Co-Chair, Professional Practice and Guidelines Committee (2003-2007); Maintenance of Certification Committee (2005-2012). Additionally, Dr. Hudgins has been involved in national and international professional activities including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Board of Genetic Counseling, the National Board of Medical Examiners, the NIH/NHGRI Special Emphasis Review/Panel, the American Society of Human Genetics and the International Congress of Human Genetics.

Dr. Hudgins' specialties include prenatal screening and diagnosis, dysmorphology, and general clinical genetics. She has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed and invited publications. She recently co-edited the book Signs and Symptoms of Genetic Conditions: A Handbook.

Tina M. Cowan, PhD, FACMG:Director, Biochemical Genetics

Dr. Cowan received both her BA and PhD degrees in Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Cowan completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and is ABMGG-certified in Biochemical/Molecular Genetics and Medical Genetics. Following training she joined the faculty at the University of Maryland, Division of Human Genetics, where she was co-director of the Biochemical Genetics Laboratory. She is currently Associate Professor of Pathology at Stanford University and Director of the Clinical Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, as well as Laboratory Training Director for ABMGG-accredited training in biochemical genetics for both the Stanford and UCSF programs.

Dr. Cowan was a member of the ACMG Laboratory QA committee (Vice-Chair 2010-2012) and Biochemical Genetics Subcommittee (Chair 2008-2012), as well as the ACMG ACT Sheet and Confirmatory Algorithms Workgroup. She served on the ABMGG Board of Directors from 2006-2011 (President 2011), and is a member of the CAP/ACMG Biochemical and Molecular Genetics Resource Committee (Biochemical Genetics).

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American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Announces New Board Members: Dr. Louanne Hudgins is ACMG President ...