Community Engagement and Equity within Molecular and Human Genetics

The Office of Community Engagement and Equity in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics works alongside the Baylor College of Medicine’s Office of Community Engagement & Health Equity to promote an environment that fosters inclusion, education and understanding for faculty, trainees, staff and the community-at-large. Besides the activities listed below, the office curates an extensive internal online library of articles regarding community engagement and equity for department faculty, trainees and staff.

Evenings with Genetics
The Evenings with Genetics series has served the community for 15 years. The department partners with Texas Children’s Hospital to offer this free webinar/seminar series that is open to the public. The goals of the series are to provide current genetic and genomic information in a clear, plain-language manner, offer support and resources to families impacted by a genetic disorder and foster interdepartmental collaborations. 

All of Us Evenings with Genetics Research Program
The All of Us Evenings with Genetics Research Program provides data science training to senior postdoctoral trainees and early career faculty. 

Statewide Genetics Outreach 
Through a collaboration with the UT Texas Center for Disability Studies, the Texas Department of State Health Services and Texas Children's, we provide statewide genetics outreach in the form of in-person events and webinars.

Medical Genetics Visiting Students Program
The Medical Genetics Visiting Students Program was developed to provide underserved fourth-year medical students a four-week clinical rotation with faculty in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics.

Clinical Research Education Training Program
The Clinical Research Education Training Program is a short-term summer training program that allows first generation and socioeconomically disadvantaged first and second-year medical students the opportunity to gain clinical research experience in the field of medical genetics.

A White Coat and Genes: The Life of a Medical Geneticist
This virtual program offers third and fourth-year medical students the opportunity to learn about careers in medical genetics from department faculty and students. (Watch the latest presentation)

Let’s Learn about One Another
A series of interactive presentations that began in the summer of 2020 to address the social injustice climate. Thus far the program has offered the “Let’s Learn about One Another” experience from researchers representing a wide spectrum from communities historically underserved in biomedical research. The Let’s Learn program will continue to include perspectives from the various cultures found among the department’s many members. 

Understanding Genetic Variations Sessions
The office holds “Understanding Genetic Variations Sessions” at national student research meetings to introduce genetics and genomics careers and biomedical researchers conducting genetics/genomics research to encourage participation in the field.