Reconciling competencies in undergraduate medical genetics education: APHMG versus PCME competencies

We wanted to understand whether there were gaps within and/or between the Association of Professors of Human and Medical Genetics (APHMG) and the Association of Pathology Chairs (APC) published competencies for undergraduate medical education pertaining to topics in medical and/or laboratory genetics.

This study compared and contrasted the APHMG and APC competencies related to genetics to identify gaps between and within each to inform the closure of those gaps in undergraduate medical education curriculum development for medical and laboratory genetics at the University of Florida.

Gaps were identified within and between both documents, many relating to neoplasia for nonheritable cancers and various topics related to laboratory genetics, such as interpretation of results, principles of laboratory diagnostics, and explaining results to others.

APHMG and APC should consider the gaps identified in this study in future updates to their respective competencies. Additionally, medical school curriculum committees may also wish to consider addressing these gaps in the development of medical genetics curricula.