The student-led revolution in medical genetics
April 2026
Dear Editor
For too long, the “diagnostic odyssey” has been framed as an inevitable hurdle. But what if the solution starts before the doctor even graduates?
As medical students with a deep interest in medical genetics, we observed a concerning gap: many universities lack geneticists in their teaching staff, leaving this vital field on the periphery of medical education. Refusing to wait for institutional changes, we founded ABLAGEM-DR, a nationwide grassroots movement designed to bridge this educational void.
Our most impactful initiative to date is our ‘Summer Course’ hosted at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). This programme provides medical students from across Brazil with intensive theoretical and practical training in the core areas of medical genetics. By taking students out of the traditional classroom and placing them in clinical and laboratory settings, we are equipping the next generation of physicians with the tools to identify rare conditions early and manage them with precision and empathy.
In many parts of the world, medical genetics remains a secondary subject. This lack of early exposure leads to delayed diagnoses and fragmented care. Our association was born from the desire of students to create their own specialised learning environments, ensuring that the rarity of a disease does not equal a lack of knowledge or care.
Our call to action is simple: We must empower the future healthcare workforce to be “Rare Aware” from day one. When students take the lead—organising national courses and fostering clinical screening initiatives—we aren’t just learning about syndromes; we are building the networks of support that patients deserve.
The future of rare disease care is being rewritten today, in the laboratories and clinics of our summer programmes, by those who are just beginning their journey in medicine.
Sincerely,
Lorena Jesus, medical student at the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM) and scientific director, ABLAGEM-DR
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