The 2019 US medical genetics workforce: a focus on clinical genetics

Abstract

Purpose: This study characterizes the US clinical genetics workforce to inform workforce planning and public policy development.

Methods: A 32-question survey was electronically distributed to American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics board-certified/eligible diplomates in 2019. We conducted a descriptive analysis of responses from practicing clinical geneticists.

Results: Of the 491 clinical geneticists responding to the survey, a majority were female (59%) and White (79%), worked in academic medical centers (73%), and many engaged in telemedicine (33%). Clinical geneticists reported an average of 13 new and 10 follow-up patient visits per week. The average work week was 50 hours and the majority (58%) worked over half-time in clinical duties. Providers indicated that 39% of new emergency patients wait 3 days or more, and 39% of nonemergency patients wait over 3 months to be seen. Respondents were geographically concentrated in metropolitan areas and many reported unfilled clinical geneticist job vacancies at their institution of more than 3 years.

Conclusion: With the rapid expansion of genomic medicine in the past decade, there is still a gap between genetics services needed and workforce capacity. A concerted effort is required to increase the number of clinical geneticists and enhance interdisciplinary teamwork to meet increasing patient needs.

Fig. 1. Geographic distribution of clinical geneticist respondents across the United States.

Geocoded primary practice locations of geneticists who provide direct medical care by full-time equivalent (FTE) (a) and reported at least one job vacancy (b).