As the year 2019 dawns, I take this opportunity to reflect on the evolvement of our society, the Indian Academy of
Medical Genetics, which enters the eighth year and our quarterly publication, Genetic Clinics which completes eleven
years.
Starting with small steps, Genetic Clinics has made its presence felt among the professionals. We see several readers
eagerly waiting and responding to the most popular section PhotoQuiz. The editorial team believes most of the contents
are educative to the vast majority of readers. The team is now working towards getting this publication indexed in
databases in the year 2019.
Our society looks more vibrant now recovering from initial shaky, toddling steps. The success of its fifth national
conference held last month at the Christian Medical College, Vellore corroborates the same. The galaxy of medical
scientists and enthusiastic delegates affirms the imminent success for genomics in India. The society and editorial board
congratulates Dr Sumita Danda and her team for the massive efforts (read GeneEvent in this issue) and wish all the best
for the next meeting of the society at Hyderabad, to be led by Dr Prajnya Ranganath and Dr Ashwin
Dalal.
The beginning of the new year is also a time to deliberate on what lies ahead. Though there is much to be done for
genetics health care and research in India, we seem to have made a good start. To begin with, the society has come up
with a position statement to voice against discrimination based on genomic information of an individual (see the position
statement in this issue). This is just a drop in the ocean of the task that calls for more active participation from members
and professionals, specifically in the area of clinical care, diagnostic facilities and genetic counselling. With immense
resources and technological advances within our country, we just need to gear for a fast track, yet efficient handling of
genomic healthcare.
