Public Health Genetics and Genomics Week (PHGW) is an annual awareness campaign held each May to highlight how genetic and genomic information is applied to improve population health, prevent disease, and ensure equitable access to genetic services. Throughout the week, we celebrate those professionals, researchers, and patient advocates working in this field.
The seventh annual campaign is themed The You in Public Health Genetics and will feature resources and events that include current research presentations on topics in public health genetics as well as a social media and outreach toolkit for public health geneticists to use now and in the future.
“At the core of public health genetics and genomics is a focus on equity,” said Andrea Durst, DrPH, MS, CGC, director of Pitt Public Health’s MPH in Public Health Genetics program. Durst is honored to have support to continue this annual event, from the MPH in Public Health Genetics program and partners nationwide after the shuttering of the National Coordinating Centers for the Regional Genetics Networks.
“As genetic technologies and integration of genetics into health care continue to grow, public health genetics focuses on ensuring people can make informed decisions about utilizing these technologies (or not!) and that these innovations are equally beneficial for all who are eligible and choose to use them,” she said.
The takeaway from the week – for both professionals and the public – is to see how public health genetics and genomics research can be applied to their work and to their health.
Head over to publichealth.pitt.edu/phgw to grab some resources from our toolkit, register for virtual events and brush up on your talking points during Public Health Genetics and Genomics Week 2026.
-Caitlin McCullough