Hello, I'm Dr. Bob Wildon.
I'm a medical geneticist and I am the course director
and instructor for your course Genetics for Clinicians,
also known as GNRS 325 or PATH 325.
I am an associate professor of pathology
and laboratory medicine and pediatrics in genetics
at the University of Vermont Health Network
and the medical school.
I am board certified in pediatrics
and also in medical genetics
in the specialty of clinical genetics.
So I wanted to give this kind of introduction to myself
so you'll understand my background
in teaching this course
that you're just about to embark onto.
So how did I get here?
I did my undergraduate degree at MIT in life sciences
and I went to medical school
at the University of California in San Francisco.
I participated in research and research labs
both on the undergraduate and the graduate level
and then finally went to residency in pediatrics
at the University of Washington.
I followed that with a fellowship in medical genetics
and molecular immunology at the University of Washington
as well in Seattle.
I started on the faculty at the University of Washington
in pediatrics and then moved to a faculty position
at UT Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas
and finally to Oregon Health Sciences University.
There, I saw patients
and also did a fair amount of research.
I studied a genetic endocrine and kidney disorder
called nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
I also did a research
that defined a rare genetic disease called IPEX
and laid the theoretical foundation
for gene therapy in that condition.
Come full circle, I currently serve
on the FDA Data Safety Monitoring Committee
for a gene therapy clinical trial for that disorder
I'm very excited about.
I carried that research from OHSU
to the Pastor Institute in Paris, France,
where I worked on sabbatical for a year
and went back to Oregon and became an independent geneticist
for community-based healthcare organizations
and started the first genetics clinics at such organizations
in Oregon, Idaho, and later in Virginia.
I took a job then
at the National Human Genome Research Institute
at the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland.
My title was Chief of the Genomic Healthcare Branch,
which basically involved promoting the integration
of genomic science that was being funded by NIH
into mainstream medical practice in the community at large.
And two large portions of my portfolio included
healthcare, professional education and genetics
and genomics and family health history.
In 2017, I moved to the University of Vermont,
where I wear multiple hats.
I see patients in the clinic and in the hospital.
And my clinic day is on Mondays
and I'm pretty focused on the clinic patients on Mondays
so I'm not very available to respond
to email questions relating to the course.
So if you have a question on Monday
and you need a quick answer, either ask your fellow students
through the discussion board
or reach out to Professor Shukla, my co-instructor,
and she may be able to help you.
Otherwise, I'll try to respond to your questions
as soon as I'm able on Tuesday.
I also work...
Three quarters of my job is in the
hospital genomic medicine laboratory
where I'm Associate Medical Director.
I sign out reports from sequencing of tumor DNA
for precision oncology therapy.
I also lead efforts to introduce pharmacogenomic testing
across the health network,
and I lead the Network's Genomic Population Health program,
which basically is a partnership
with primary care physicians to offer genetic testing
for hidden health risks
that may impact their health care in the future
or their propensity to have children with genetic disorders.
I've published two papers on that program in the last year.
I also do education.
I teach graduate students like yourselves,
medical students, residents,
and fellows about genetics and genomics.
I do original research and data analysis
regarding the genomic population health program.
I am passionate about using genetic information
to improve health and wellbeing,
and I really enjoy working with data, organizing it,
and analyzing it for new insights.
And I'm also passionate about educating the next generation
of healthcare professionals like yourselves
about genetics and genomics.
Personally, I live near Burlington with my husband,
with whom I've been together for 22 years,
and we don't have any pets.
I do enjoy photography, gardening,
and the occasional acrylic painting.
So that's the end of my self-introduction.
I look forward to working with you all
through this semester
and helping you add an additional facet
to your healthcare professional expertise.
Take care and good luck.