Laboratory Genetics and Genomics Post-Doc Fellowship

Didactic Learning

We offer several didactic courses to trainees, including:

• MBG Core Clinical Seminar Series (launched in 2020, this online conference spans several months & includes experts in the field across the US)
• Molecular Genetics and Cytogenetics
• Survey in Human Genetics (offered through the Human Medical Genetics Program)
• Biochemical Genetics
• Risk Assessment
• Cancer Genetics

The classes are coordinated through the graduate genetic counseling program except where noted above. Further, the Department of Pediatrics offers an evening fellows lecture series to which the medical genetics residents are invited and encouraged to attend.
Conferences

Residents participate in the following education conferences:

• Basic science research presentations
• Metabolic patient care meeting
• Laboratory Rounds 
• Pediatric Grand Rounds
• Genetics Journal Club 
• Genetics Grand Rounds
• Variant interpretation conference 
• Clinical research update meetings
• Morbidity and Mortality Conference 
• Radiology Rounds
• Lunch and Learn Meetings
  

Other Opportunities:

• QI/QC Workshop and training
• Resilience training
• Resident and fellow retreats/workshops through GME
• Metabolic University
• Mountain States Regional Genetics Network Meeting
• North American Metabolic Academy (NAMA)

Other Scholarly Activities

In addition to the formal research rotation, the residents are encouraged to participate in scholarly activities throughout the 2 years of residency.  Attendance and submission of abstracts or presentations to local, regional, or national meetings is encouraged.

Accreditation

The Laboratory Genetics and Genomics fellowship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Certification

Upon satisfactory completion of the program requirements, fellows may apply to the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG) to take the certification examination in LGG.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The University of Colorado’s School of Medicine, the Children’s Hospital Colorado, and the Heart Institute believe that diversity is a value that is central to their educational, research, service and health care missions. We are committed to working towards equity and justice for all. With this goal in mind, the Heart Institute created a Diversity, Health Equity, and Inclusion workface that includes over 40 members and represents every discipline within the H.I. including fellows, faculty, nursing, pharmacy, and research staff. The workforce has 7 subcommittees, including:

• DHEI data focused on patient outcome reporting/transparency and equitable research
• DHEI Quality Improvement
• DHEI awareness and education
• Underrepresented minority faculty, fellow, and staff recruitment and retention
• DHEI Family Advisory Council
• Community engagement, outreach, and legislative action
• University of Colorado-School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital Colorado liaison and dissemination of information

  The vision of the Heart Institute DHEI Taskwork is as follows:

  1. To create actionable changes that will reduce health outcome disparities and remove barriers to equitable care
  2. To build a workforce representative of the community we serve
  3. The ensure a diverse, equitable, and inclusive approach to H.I. research
  4. To provide education and training to our division aimed at increasing cultural competency and awareness of health disparities in the congenital and acquired heart disease population
  5. To celebrate diversity and promote an inclusive environment for patients, their families, and team members with the H.I.

      

     Diversity in Denver

     Training at the University of Colorado provides the opportunity to care for an incredibly diverse population of patients and families. As the regional referral center for the Mountain West, Children’s Hospital Colorado and the Heart Institute regularly serves children from urban and rural areas in multiple states including Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Nebraska, Kansas, and North and South Dakota.

     The Denver Metro Area is home to a diverse and vibrant array of people from all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. Denver is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States with a city population of over 700,000 and over 3 million in the metropolitan area. Approximately 1 in 6 Denver residents was born in a country other than the United States and over 40% of children in Denver speak a language other than English at home. The population of Denver is approximately 1% Native American, 5% Asian, 12% Black, 50% non-Hispanic White, and 32% Hispanic/Latinx. In the three-zip-code region surrounding the Children’s Hospital Colorado, 77% of residents belong to racial and ethnic minorities. In addition, Denver ranks among the top 10 cities in the United States for the highest proportion of residents who identify as LGBT.

     University of Colorado and Children’s Hospital Colorado DEI Resources:

• University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Central Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement

  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Department of Pediatrics

• Pediatric Residency Program – Diversity and Inclusion
• Diversity in Pediatrics Committee
• Minority and Allied Resident Council (MARC)

The CU Anschutz LGBTQ+ Hub

Repurposes the Women and Gender Center formerly at CU Anschutz.  On this website you will find information about services and resources provided by the LGBTQ+ Hub.

You can also visit us in our physical space (shared with the Oasis Space) Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, located on the second floor of the Education 2 North Building, room 2101.

Here is the website link: https://www.cuanschutz.edu/offices/diversity-equity-inclusion-community/programs-and-initiatives/lgbtq-hub

Current Fellow

Katherine Haines, PhD

• Hometown: Houston, TX
• Education: Baylor College of Medicine
• Research Interests: Detection of germline structural variation
• Other Interests: Hiking, running, cheese, my dog

The Application Process

Our fellowship will be conducting virtual interviews for this upcoming interview season.  We will be interviewing to fill one fellowship spot for the 2024 academic year. We look forward to sharing our programs with you and getting to know more about you.  We will send interview offers out mid-August as well as a list of interview dates in September, October, and November.

If you have questions about the application process, please feel free to reach out to our program coordinator! (Sara Higsley: sara.higsley@cuanschutz.edu)

The program cannot provide H-1B visa sponsorship.  J-1 visa sponsorship is not available to non-physicians due to ECFMG/Intealth policies

Materials for Application:
1. Email the following to the Program Director and Program Coordinator:         

• A personal statement (up to 1 page) describing your motivation for training and future career goals
• CV outlining your education, clinical and research interests, and publications
• USMLE scores
• If applicable, candidates should submit evidence that they have applied for the ABMGG foreign credentials review

2. Provide 3 original letters of reference

• One should be from your most recent Program Director
• All should be emailed directly from the author to the Program Director and Program Coordinator
  

Kristy Crooks, PhD, FACMG
Program Director
Assistant Professor
Director, Colorado Center for Personalized Medicine Biobank Laboratory
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
kristy.crooks@cuanschutz.edu​

Sara Higsley

Program Coordinator

University of Colorado Anschutz

sara.higsley@cuanschutz.edu

Salary and Benefits

The University of Colorado offers salary and benefits packages that are competitive with other fellowship programs across the country. Current salary levels can be found at the School of Medicine - Graduate Medical Education Stipends.

Denver

The Mile High City is nestled at the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains and is the largest city in the region with a population of over 2.7 million. Denver enjoys one of the best climates in the country, with 300 days/year of sunny skies. Although it snows in the winter, the snow melts quickly and temperatures are usually moderate. Hot summer days give way to cool summer evenings. The city is the home to dozens of highly rated restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. The city attracts many outdoor enthusiasts with its extensive system of hiking and bike trails and the largest city park system in the country. The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is the largest performing arts complex under one roof in the country and attracts many of the top national theater tours each year. Red Rocks Amphitheater, a natural amphitheater in the foothills west of town, attracts the nation’s top touring musical talent throughout the summer.

Denver is home to the Denver Broncos (NFL), the Denver Nuggets (NBA), the Colorado Rockies (MLB), the Colorado Avalanche (NHL), the Colorado Rapids (MLS) and the Colorado Outlaws (MLL). The University of Colorado, the state flagship school and a world-class educational institution, is based in nearby Boulder. In addition, Denver is the gateway to the Rocky Mountains, which offer abundant recreational and sightseeing opportunities year round. The state of Colorado is home to over 20 major ski areas, many of which are within 2 hours of the city.