Launching the Women’s Genetics Center
he Division of Women’s Genetics in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob/Gyn) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center is a well-established leader in the discovery and implementation of reproductive genetic technologies. The division’s expert team has published a multitude of research studies in leading medical journals which have transformed obstetrical care and genetics practices. A ground-breaking 2012 study led by Dr. Ronald Wapner, Chief of the Division of Women’s Genetics, resulted in microarray analysis becoming a standard of care for genetic testing. Today, the Division of Women’s Genetics remains at the forefront of innovation in the field, yet again transforming the standard of obstetrical and genetics care with the advent of accessible whole genome sequencing services.
In July 2024, the Department of Ob/Gyn at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian, and the New York Genome Center launched the Women’s Genetics Center, a multidisciplinary program that aims to transform the standard of care for genetic testing.
Through collaboration between laboratory geneticists and clinicians, the Women’s Genetics Center provides genetic counseling and whole genome sequencing to pregnant patients, generating impactful results that inform pregnancy and delivery management. Genome sequencing is the most powerful genetic test currently available to evaluate the health of a pregnancy, identifying 3 times as much information as the current standard of care. The impacts of genome sequencing results on pregnancy and post-natal management have been presented at premier academic meetings of the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine, American College of Medical Genetics, and International Society of Prenatal Diagnosis by the Women’s Genetics Center leadership.
Medical Director of the Women’s Genetics Center and Chief of the Division of Women’s Genetics at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Dr. Ronald Wapner states, “genetic testing is now the stethoscope that we used to carry, in that it can tell us a lot about the pregnancy. We have found that a team with genetic counselors, laboratory experts, and Clinical Geneticist Maternal-Fetal Medicine physicians is the only way to maximally utilize genetic information to support the best health outcomes.”
Informed by an understanding that the genetic consultation and testing process is often tied to many complex emotions, the Women’s Genetics Center offers a human-centered approach to care, prioritizing patient values and offering an option to limit uncertain testing results. On the laboratory side, scientists process patient’s genetic testing samples with exceptional turn-around times and accuracy, offering results in as little as two weeks.
The clinical and laboratory teams at the Center meet every week to discuss cases and interpret test results. Clinical Geneticist and Maternal-Fetal Medicine expert, Dr. Caitlin Baptiste shares, “I contact the lab prior to speaking with patients to gain a better understanding of the diagnosis and how to help relay this information. Together, we offer a level of genetic information to patients that we have never been able to provide before.”
Results from whole genome sequencing at the Women’s Genetics Center are immediately used to inform patient care. Per Women’s Genetics Center Associate Director, Jessica Giordano, MS, CGC, “the genetic counselors at the Women’s Genetic Center frequently share sequencing results with providers across Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian,” including high-risk obstetrics and neonatology teams. In turn, these results support more informed care for pregnancy planning, delivery management, medication decisions, surgical interventions, imaging, and more.
Founded through a collaboration between the Department of Ob/Gyn, NewYork-Presbyterian, and the New York Genome Center, the Women’s Genetics Center and whole genome sequencing will transform the future of healthcare for patients on the path to parenthood.