Letter from the President

Spring, 2009

Dear GPA Members,

The Georgia Perinatal Association exists because of you - a dedicated group of individuals concerned about women and children in Georgia. Working with our membership and the GPA Board has been a rewarding experience and I look forward to serving as President for the next two years. Providing quality Perinatal and Neonatal care is a challenge that our membership is well suited for. The current economic climate will present many challenges as the number of uninsured and under-insured patients rise. The future also presents opportunities as a new President and Congress are inaugurated in January.

I encourage you to get involved in GPA and to continue the fight for quality care. Diane Norris encouraged me to become involved with GPA while I was working as a genetic counselor in Savannah and at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and now I encourage you to get involved. I look forward to continuing the tradition of excellence that previous GPA Presidents have strived for. Our annual education meeting this year was a huge success. Let the GPA Board know what is important to you and we’ll do our best to continue to provide quality educational opportunities.

On a personal note I am excited about the advances in genetics and the potential for new treatments for genetic conditions. Many healthcare providers are beginning to realize that genetic discoveries may allow us to prevent disease and potentially treat many diseases before they cause impairment or disability.

Please feel free to contact me at andy.faucett@emory.edu with your feedback and ideas for roles GPA can play in improving the health of women and children in Georgia. Have a safe and happy holiday.

Andy Faucett, MS, CGC
Assistant Professor
Department of Human Genetics
Emory University School of Medicine