This year has been a time of remarkable scientific advancement and contributions in our field. Our Society now comprises nearly 8,000 members in more than 80 countries. Almost half of our members are students and postdocs, who are the future of our field. And while our field is evolving, so is our Society.
The priorities for my year as President centered on building awareness around the need for funding for human genetics and genomics research, particularly with leaders in Congress and with the general public who stand to benefit from vital scientific exploration. It was also important to continue ASHG’s commitment to cultivating diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
We also took on additional areas of focus for the Society and field: continued improvements to our in-person annual meeting, launching an industry roundtable, providing increased support for early career scientists, increasing member engagement opportunities, and revisiting and updating action plans for committees following the launch of a refreshed ASHG strategic plan last year.
I am grateful for having had the opportunity to serve the community in such a meaningful way this past year and proud to share some of our accomplishments to date. Your work – as scientists, volunteers, and champions of the field – continues to be an inspiration.
Advocating for the Field
Earlier this year we initiated a full-scale campaign to communicate the need for funding for human genetics and genomics research to members of Congress. With visits to Congressional offices on Capitol Hill by both Advocacy Certificate for Human Genetics and Genomics trainees and established organization leaders as well as a sustained drumbeat of action alerts sent by our members throughout the year, we worked tirelessly to highlight breakthroughs in research, diagnostics and treatment. There was also a focus on collaborations around the world, and lives changed for all people due to human genetics and genomics research (in your lab, at your institution, or elsewhere) and the importance of sustained, robust NIH funding. A series of opinion editorials were also published in important regions where this message is needed, including the Birmingham News, Cleveland Plain Dealer, and the Seattle Times, further echoing the need for this critical support.
Although there continues to be interest and genuine excitement about human genetics and the value of research as a catalyst to transform our understanding of health and disease, we remain mired in a period in which there is a shortage of public funding for our field, and indeed all of science, both in the U.S. and in most countries worldwide. This lack of science funding continues to be a challenge, and the Society will continue to advocate on behalf of geneticists everywhere to help people realize the benefits of human genetics research.
Cultivating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
As we continue to grow and shape our path forward, ASHG is also reaffirming its unwavering commitment to foster diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive environments and scientific priorities within the Society and across the international research community. During the Fall ASHG Board Meeting, we decided to transition the existing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force into a standing committee called the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Committee. This committee will build on the foundation of the previous task force and work to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility discussions across all ASHG programs and initiatives.
Continued Advancements in Hosting the Annual Meeting
Assisting in the development of the Presidential Symposium during the ASHG 2024 Annual Meeting program in Denver, Colo. On November 5-9, 2024, was both a privilege and a responsibility. ASHG’s Program Committee, led by Chair Beth Sullivan with an incredible team of dedicated colleagues, worked throughout the year to highlight the entire breadth of our field. The annual meeting is a time during which the field comes together to be enriched by meaningful content and to learn from colleagues at different stages of their careers, from all over the world and with different interests within human genetics and genomics. ASHG continues to take in feedback from attendees each year to create an Annual Meeting program that not only reaches our aspirations but helps foster new interdisciplinary science and collaboration to ensure that every member of the Society sees themselves reflected in what is being presented.
Support for Early Career Scientists
As part of an effort to assist early career scientists seeking jobs in today’s job market, ASHG hosted an inaugural Hiring Mixer at the ASHG 2024 Annual Meeting. During the event, job seekers networked with over 300 employers simultaneously, learned more about different companies and labs, and had the opportunity for face-to-face interactions. The Society is dedicated to fostering the next generation of scientists by providing them with the tools, resources, and networks they need to succeed.
Increasing Member Engagement Opportunities
Given the success the Society has seen in recent years hosting shared interest group (SIG) discussions during the annual meeting, ASHG decided to go a step further and began hosting its first series of in-person regional meetings. The first event took place earlier this year at ASHG’s headquarters with geneticists interested in bioinformatics gathering for an evening of discussion and networking. We continue to look at ways that our SIGs can be a membership and content driver for our organization. As a part of the program offered at the ASHG 2024 Annual Meeting, we also held in-person meetups on the topics of bioinformatics and computational methods, phenotypes & genotypes, and emerging laboratory technologies. The meetings boasted over 300 people in attendance and provided a place where members could connect and discuss their similar interests or work projects related to the overall SIG topics. These SIG meetups have grown considerably the last two years and ASHG is looking forward to the future of the SIGs and continuing that growth.
Launching the Industry Roundtable
In order to create deeper connections to industry members we also launched the ASHG Industry Roundtable, with Illumina, PacBio, and Complete Genomics as founding members and welcomed Inocras as a recent addition. This Roundtable met twice this year, and we are looking forward to many more opportunities to assemble leaders from ASHG and these companies working in human genetics and genomics to discuss, strategize, and act to address challenges and opportunities in the field. Some of the key ideas and recommendations that came out of the early discussions are currently being shared with ASHG’s committees, the leaders who plan and carry out ASHG’s programming.
Revisiting and Updating Action Plans for Committees
Finally, the Society conducted a comprehensive review and update of committee action plans, ensuring they aligned with evolving priorities, addressed emerging challenges, and incorporated best practices to enhance effectiveness and impact. These continual updates are essential for ASHG to remain relevant, responsive, and effective in meeting the needs of its members and achieving its strategic objectives.
My Thanks & Gratitude
I have immensely enjoyed my year as ASHG President and the opportunities I’ve had to engage with other ASHG members, including those active volunteer leaders on the Board and committees and the ASHG staff. I thank you for the honor of being ASHG president and encourage you to get involved with this respected, innovative professional home and to help contribute to its important mission of advancing human genetics and genomics. If you know of colleagues who haven’t joined the Society yet, I encourage you to share information on how to join and become a part of this wonderful organization! Thank you for your engagement and support!