The Colon Cancer Genetics course is designed to enhance the participants’ knowledge of inherited colon cancer syndromes, particularly Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC, or Lynch Syndrome). The participant will be guided through how to identifying patients at a high-risk of harboring genetic mutations that predispose them to colon cancer. Participants will also learn the genetic testing modalities that can be offered to these patients. Additionally, the screening recommendations for these patients and their family members will be reviewed.

NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS: The Harvard Medical School designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

COST: $20.00
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OVERALL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Improve knowledge of inherited colon cancer syndromes, specifically Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC, or Lynch Syndrome)

CLINICAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Identify the subset of colon cancer patient with an inherited susceptibility.
2. Learn the testing algorithm for individuals whom you may suspect have Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC, or Lynch Syndrome).
3. Understand the screening recommendations for affected individuals and their family members.
4. Learn the prediction models available to assess a patient’s risk of having Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC, or Lynch Syndrome)

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RAJU KUCHERLAPATI, PHD Course Director

Raju Kucherlapati, Ph.D. is the Scientific Director of the Harvard Medical School-Partners HealthCare Center for Genetics and Genomics (HPCGG) and the Paul C. Cabot Professor of Genetics and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS). He is the first Scientific Director of HPCGG. Dr. Kucherlapati was a member of the consortium to map and sequence the human and mouse genomes. His research interests are in the areas of discovery and characterization of human disease genes using a combination of human and mouse genetic and genomic approaches. He was a member of the National Advisory Council for Human Genome Research at the National Human Genomics Research Institute, co-chair of the steering committee for the National Cancer Institute’s Mouse Models for Human Cancer Consortium and served on the editorial board of the New England Journal of Medicine and was editor in chief of the journal Genomics. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). DISCLOSURE:

JENNIFER SPARR, MD Course Director

Jennifer Sparr graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004. She is currently a medical student at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. From 2007-2008 she worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator for the Pancreatic Cancer Genes Study (PAGES) at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. During this time she worked closely with physicians and genetic counselors in the Gastrointestinal Risk and Prevention Clinic to enroll patients in research studies. She will graduate from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2009 and will begin her Internal Medicine residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in July, 2009. DISCLOSURE:

SAPNA SYNGAL, MD, MPH Course Director

Dr. Sapna Syngal received her MD from McGill University in 1990 and completed her clinical training in internal medicine and gastroenterology at Brigham and Women's Hospital. She received her Masters in Public Health from Harvard School of Public Health and completed a research fellowship at the Harvard Education Program in Cancer Prevention. In 1995, she joined the faculty of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School where she is principally involved in clinical care and research in the genetics, early detection and prevention of gastrointestinal cancer. She is the Director of Gastroenterology at the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center, the Director of the GI Cancer Risk and Prevention Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She directs a NIH-funded research program that focuses on the genetics and prevention of colorectal and pancreatic cancers. Dr. Syngal has been recognized nationwide for her expertise in genetics and gastrointestinal malignancies. She was elected to the American Society of Clinical Investigation in 2009. DISCLOSURE:

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DANIEL CHUNG, Reviewer

Bio and Photo Coming Soon. DISCLOSURE:

ROBERT MAYER, MD Reviewer

Dr. Mayer is Vice Chair for Academic Affairs of the Department of Medical Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Senior Physician at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Physician at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Stephen B. Kay Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School where he is also Faculty Associate Dean for Admissions. He has directed the Institute's Medical Oncology Training Program since 1975 and is presently the Director of the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program of Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare. Dr. Mayer's research interests focus on gastrointestinal cancer a subject about which he has published extensively. Dr. Mayer established the Center for Gastrointestinal Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and is the past Chair of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Committee of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B, a cooperative group sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. He has served as an Associate Editor for the New England Journal of Medicine, is a past President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Association of Subspecialty Professors and is a former member of the Executive Committee of the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Mayer is a graduate of Williams College and the Harvard Medical School. DISCLOSURE:

MALCOLM K. ROBINSON, Reviewer

Bio and Photo Coming Soon. DISCLOSURE:

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NUMBER OF CREDITS: 1 

Harvard Medical School is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Harvard Medical School designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Upon completion of the course you will get a certificate via e-mail within 2 weeks.

Click the image to view a sample of the certificate

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