Integrating genomics into US public health.

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of how the US government is currently addressing the complex issue of integrating genomics into public health. The author, a public health provider with many years of experience, including several years spent in genetics and maternal and child health, is currently a senior advisor to the Surgeon General of the United States. At the time of the third biennial Asan-Harvard Medical International Symposium, "Genomics and Proteomics: Impact on Medicine and Health," in Seoul, Korea, July 3-4, 2001, the US Surgeon General was Dr. David Satcher. Dr. Allan Noonan attended the symposium as Dr. Satcher's representative. Dr. Noonan's paper discusses the challenges facing the US public health system as it strives to integrate and promote genomics and proteomics into its efforts to reduce morbidity and mortality in the US population.