Recently, our VP of Marketing, Josh Forsythe, traveled to Boston to attend the Festival of Genomics conference. He had the wonderful opportunity to speak about Tute Genomics’ plan to leave no child undiagnosed by “Laying the Foundation of Pediatric Genomic Medicine Through Frontline Empowerment, Community, and Communication.” Josh explained that it takes empowerment, community, and communication to create movement, which is what is needed to progress genomic and personalized medicine. Download slides here.
Josh reiterated Dr. William J. Mayo’s thought that, “The best interest of the patient is the only interest to be considered, and in order that the sick may have the benefit of advancing knowledge, union of forces is necessary.” It truly takes a community and united effort in order to get patients fully recognized and receive the specific diagnosis and treatment that varies per individual. Josh shared a story of how Tute CEO, Dr. Reid Robison, visited India en route to Hong Kong to help a family, with the assistance of others around the world, receive buccal swabs for DNA testing. If not for the combined effort of many, one child may not have received the help she needed.
Communication was the next item on Josh’s agenda, pointing to the fact that there is a large array of technology allowing for the spread of massive communication through social media, webinars, phone conferences, etc. We can simply turn on our computers from wherever we are and learn and listen to others, sharing our insights and knowledge. Many ideas and thoughts in a community create movement and action, especially when there’s real motivation and concern behind them. The medical community is worldwide and doctors and patients alike can share experiences, even through mediums such as Facebook where pediatric groups are plentiful, creating support for others who may have thought they were alone.
Thank you Josh for your example and drive to change pediatric and personalized medicine. Real change can and is happening and we at Tute Genomics are thrilled to be a part of the movement to have no child left undiagnosed and have patients receive the precision care they need.