Center for Human Genetics

Who We Are

HISTORY:

The Center for Human Genetics, located in Bar Harbor, Maine, is a nonprofit counseling, educational, referral and research institution  now in its 41st year of service.  Founded in 1968 as the Genetic Counseling Center, it was later incorporated under the name Center for Human Genetics.

Founders were Morris A. Lambdin, M.D., pediatrician;                               James H. Thaidigsman, M.D., obstetrician and gynecologist;                   Thomas H. Roderick, Ph.D., geneticist; and Merrill C. Bunker, cytogeneticist

STAFF:

The Center has a staff of five, a board of directors made up of people from all segments of our communities, and an active consulting staff of collaborators in service and research. 

All serve without compensation. 

Margaret Rieley, M.D. - Dr. Rieley, who recently moved to Maine, is the newest member of our staff here at the Center.  A graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine, she comes to us from Cincinnati Children's Hospital, where she recently completed her residency in pediatrics with a subspecialty in medical genetics.  Dr. Rieley has a particular interest in genetic counseling and cancer genetics, and we welcome her as a consultant and a participant at our upcoming genetics clinics.  

Thomas Roderick, Ph.D. – Dr. Roderick was one of the original founders of the Center and has devoted countless hours to its counseling, education, and research projects.  He is a research geneticist emeritus at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, who long ago recognized the importance of detailed genealogy in understanding the role of genetics in human disease. He also is credited with coining the term "genomics" to refer to the newly emerging subdiscipline of genetics that deals with the mapping and analysis of entire sets of chromosomes (genomes) .

 
Sheena Whittaker, M.D. – Dr. Whittaker, a pediatrician practicing in Ellsworth, Maine,  graduated from George Washington Medical School and completed her residency in pediatrics at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. She also has experience as a health educator for the Peace Corps in Paraguay and for a migrant worker health program in Maryland.

In Memoriam:  

Our long-time executive director and beloved colleague, Melba Wilson, Ph.D., died peacefully on Feb. 11, 2009 after a lengthy illness.  Her contributions to the Center were enormous, and she will be greatly missed. 

A complete tribute appears in The Bar Harbor Times online at http://mdi.villagesoup.com/print/Print.cfm?StoryID=146184

MISSION:

To enable informed decisions and early detection of genetic disorders by raising awareness and understanding through education, support and referral.

With this mission in mind, the Center for Human Genetics aims to:

• provide information and free clinics for families with genetic disorders that will enable them to make informed decisions about medical surveillance for early detection and improved survival; 
• provide to each patient and his/her healthcare providers a written report and resource materials after each clinic visit;
• provide information regarding genetic testing and follow-up counseling to patients and families who elect testing;
• provide referrals to specialists, support groups, and research centers; and
• provide links to other reliable websites with information on genetic disorders for families and healthcare professionals