As a family medicine physician in Reno, I have the opportunity to work with the Healthy Nevada Project, an innovative community health research program powered by Renown Health. I like to tell my patients that we cannot change your genes, but we can check them to see if you have a gene mutation (since birth!) that can increase your risk of cancers or cardiovascular issues. If you have a gene mutation, then we can watch you in a whole different way. We can find issues when they are small and let you live your one, big, beautiful life.

The project is designed to better understand how genetics, health history, and environmental factors influence health outcomes while giving participants useful information that may help guide their own care.

Adults age 18 and older who qualify can receive no-cost genetic screening for several important hereditary conditions, including Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome, Lynch Syndrome, and Familial Hypercholesterolemia. These conditions are especially important because identifying a genetic risk can allow patients and their healthcare providers to consider earlier screening, preventive strategies, and more personalized care.

The Healthy Nevada Project would like to continue enrolling new participants in genetics research and currently needs our help reaching approximately 12,000 additional patients by the end of December. If you are in Northern Nevada you can go to HealthyNV.org and sign up!

Participants receive genetic sequencing through Helix, which provides screening for some of the most common actionable hereditary cancer and cardiovascular risks. Their genomic sequencing is also retained securely through Helix, creating the potential for additional genetic testing in the future, including expanded hereditary cancer panels and pharmacogenomic testing when clinically appropriate.

As a primary care physician, I believe programs like this represent an exciting step toward more personalized medicine. Genetic information does not replace good clinical care, but when used thoughtfully, it can help us identify risk earlier and make more informed decisions with our patients.

Sign up at HealthyNV.org today!