As genomics is becoming increasingly integrated into clinical settings, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) has named Maximilian Muenke, M.D., its new chief executive officer.
Since 2000, Dr. Muenke has served as Senior Investigator, Head of the Human Development Section, and Chief of the Medical Genetics Branch at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Founded in 1991, the ACMG’s mission is to develop and sustain medical genetics-related initiatives in clinical and laboratory practice, education and advocacy. It provides education, resources and a voice for more than 2,300 biochemical, clinical, cytogenetic, medical and molecular geneticists, genetic counselors and other healthcare professionals, nearly 80 percent of whom are board certified in the medical genetics specialties.
Dr. Muenke has directed medical genetics training since 1994, first at the University of Pennsylvania and then at the NIH, where he is the Director of the NIH Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine Residency and Fellowship Training Programs. The ACMG said he would work closely with the college’s current executive director, Michael S. Watson, M.S., Ph.D., and the ACMG’s board leadership to ensure a smooth transition when Dr. Watson departs ACMG at the end of 2019.
Dr. Muenke earned his MD degree at the Free University of Berlin School of Medicine, Germany in 1979. After his residency in pediatrics at the Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany and a postdoctoral fellowship in human genetics at Yale University, he completed a clinical genetics fellowship at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He is board certified in clinical genetics, clinical cytogenetics and clinical molecular genetics by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics.
In a prepared statement, ACMG President Tony R. Gregg, M.D., M.B.A., said, “We believe Dr. Muenke will be an ideal leader to take the helm at this pivotal time in the integration of medical genetics into all of healthcare and to lead the College as we embark upon an ambitious new strategic plan. Dr. Muenke is the perfect package. He is a clinician with many years of experience, an accomplished researcher, and he has an outstanding track record in education. He is a proven leader of the highest character.”
