Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS, also referred to as Williams syndrome) is a unique striking, multi-system genetic disorder resulting in a broad but characteristic pattern of medical and developmental problems. This course provides an overview of WBS and the genetic testing options now widely available so providers are more educated in considering and establishing the diagnosis of WBS. The course discusses several cardinal features to aid both primary and specialty providers in offering appropriate and anticipatory care, as per published guidelines. It is therefore increasingly important that practitioners across disciplines recognize and understand the key features of WBS.

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

This course should take approximately 1 hours to complete.

COST: $20.00 for the average learner. Participants living in emerging nations receive a 50% discount or can register for free. See our International Pricing Page for details.

OVERALL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
By completing this course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the cardinal features of WBS and its management.
2. Recognize that several types of genetic testing are widely available to diagnose WBS.
3. Acquire strategies for treatment and medical management of WBS.
4. Explain the genetic basis of microdeletion syndromes like WBS.

CLINICAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
The clinical objectives are to:

1. Increase competence in recognizing and diagnosing WBS
2. Increase competence in caring for individuals with WBS

METHOD OF PARTICIPATION:

Registrants participate in the learning process by answering interactive multiple choice questions that are dispersed throughout the case presentation. You must answer a question correctly in order to continue through the course. If you answer a question incorrectly, you will be prompted to try again.

In order to earn credit, physicians must complete the entire educational activity before the termination date (see above). Non-physicians may register for the course but are not eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Instead, non-physicians will earn a certificate of participation after successfully completing the course before its termination date.

COMBINATION OF MEDIA USED:

This internet enduring material is a case-based, interactive presentation comprised mainly of text, interactive questions, and images. A variety of media, including video clips, audio clips, and Flash animation, may be presented. Links to any necessary plugins are provided when necessary, but no plugins are required for general use of the CME website, and you may skip the multimedia presentation(s) within the course if you choose.

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BARBARA POBER, MD Course Co-Director

Barbara R. Pober, M.D. is a clinical geneticist who practices in the Department of Pediatrics at the MassGeneral Hospital for Children and is a member of the Department of Surgery Children’s Hospital of Boston. Dr. Pober has a long-standing interest in providing care for individuals with Williams syndrome as well as delineating the natural history of the disorder. She is a Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. DISCLOSURE: Consultant: Williams Syndrome Association (non-profit parent support group for individuals with Williams syndrome)

JESSICA WAXLER, MS, CGC Course Co-Director

Jessica L. Waxler, MS, CGC is a genetic counselor working as the Williams syndrome Clinic and Study Coordinator at MassGeneral Hospital for Children. She also works as the Registry Coordinator for the Williams Syndrome Patient and Clinical Research Registry and is a former trainee of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities program. DISCLOSURE: Reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial entities.

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MONICA GIOVANNI, MS Reviewer

Monica A. Giovanni is a genetic counselor for the Adult Genetics Clinic at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. In this role, she provides counseling and support for individuals with diagnosed genetic conditions, individuals with a family history of genetic disease, and preconception counseling for individuals planning pregnancy. Her clinical interests include the care of patients with disorders of connective tissue, maternal PKU, and lysosomal storage diseases. She also serves as the training coordinator for the Adult Genetics Clinic at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She is an editor for the forthcoming McGraw-Hill publication the Clinical Genomics Handbook. DISCLOSURE: Reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial entities

BETH KOZEL, MD, PHD Reviewer

Dr. Beth Kozel is an Instructor in Genetics and Genomic Medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine. DISCLOSURE: Reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial entities.

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SANJIV CHOPRA, MD Planner

Dr. Sanjiv Chopra is Professor of Medicine and Faculty Dean for Continuing Medical Education at Harvard Medical School and Senior Consultant in Hepatology at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston. In his role as Faculty Dean for Continuing Education, Dr. Chopra provides oversight and leadership of the Department and oversees the academic development of our programs. Dr. Chopra is an experienced clinician, researcher, and educator. In his research roles, he has served both as a principal investigator as well as co-investigator. He has more than 120 publications and five books to his credit, addressing topics in disease states, patient care, and leadership. Dr. Chopra’s teaching experience is extensive, and he has won numerous teaching awards for his work with medical students, residents and physicians. Currently, he directs and speaks at 10 multiday CME courses, nine of which are through HMS. For his full bio, please click here. DISCLOSURE: Reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial entities

ERIN HARVEY, MSC, CGC Planner

Erin K. Harvey, MSc, CGC, was the Assistant Director of Education for Partners Healthcare Center for Personalized Genetic Medicine (PCPGM) from 2008 to 2011. She is a board-certified genetic counselor and has worked with a wide range of primary healthcare professionals in the development of genetics-related, case-based continuing medical education (CME). In addition to being the series editor for PCPGM’s genetics CMEs, she coordinated an advanced human genetics course for Harvard Medical School’s Clinical Genetics Residency training program. In 2011, she accepted a position with Genzyme as a Scientific Communications Principal for the Personalized Genetic Health division. Prior to joining PCPGM, Ms. Harvey spent five years with the National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics, and was seconded for one year to the United Kingdom to help a similar organization there – the National Genetics Education and Development Centre – create genetics resources for the UK’s nationalized medical education curriculum. Ms. Harvey received her master’s degree in science in 2003 from the Johns Hopkins University/National Institutes of Health joint genetic counseling training program. She received a B.A. in English Writing from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas in 1993, and worked as a journalist prior to pursuing a career in the biological sciences. DISCLOSURE: Reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial entities

ANDI LONG, EDM Planner

Andi Long directs the Department of Continuing Education’s Distance Learning group, which offers a variety of online continuing medical education programs to health care professionals around the world. Andi develops strategies for new pilot programs and systematically rolls out new distance learning initiatives and has a leadership role in IT planning and other online processes for HMS DCE. She oversees the day-to-day operations of each distance learning activity and ensures ACCME compliance across all enduring programs. She has had the privilege of working with hundreds of Harvard Medical School Faculty members to develop high-quality, engaging online programs that physicians in more than 170 countries have taken part in. Andi earned her Ed.M. in Technology, Innovation, and Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education and graduated from Bridgewater State College, summa cum laude, with a degree in English. Her professional interests focus on teaching and learning with new technologies and online course development. DISCLOSURE: Reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial entities

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NUMBER OF CREDITS: 1 

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

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

This course should take approximately 1 hours to complete.

Within 2 weeks of completing the course, you will receive your certificate via email.

Click the image to view a sample of the certificate

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