Medical Genealogy is coming to Kansas Health Online
Photo by Julie Broski
Genealogy is one of the most popular hobbies in the US, frequently involving retired family members who are interested in accurate family details about health. Genealogists collect information on several generations of ascendants as well as descendants, potentially identifying genetic concerns. Their large sets of pedigree data are invaluable for genetic evaluations. As Dr. John Mulvihill has said, “The family health history is the cheapest genetic test.”
Dykes Medical Library, Midwest Genealogy Center and KU Medical Center are collaborating to bring genetics information developed especially for genealogists and family historians. This collaborative project includes identifying health information needs of genealogists and family historians and developing a Medical Genealogy section on Kansas Health Online. The new tool will be available on Kansas Health Online in the spring of 2011.
This project links Kansas Health Online, the Genetics Education Center at KU Medical Center, the Genetics Division at Children’s Mercy Hospital, and the Midwest Genealogy Center, in Independence, Missouri.
The Kansas Health Online Medical Genealogy Project is funded through Heartland Regional Genetics and Newborn Screening Collaborative.
