Stanford Birth Defects Library Presentation

Birth Defects check presentation at Stanford, representing the Columbia Lodge #1940 and the Cornelia-Vita Nuova Lodge #1198.  Unfortunately, our Medical Charities/Birth Defects Library Chairperson Mary Lucido was unable to attend due to a work commitment, so I represented on her behalf.  Mary, you were missed.  This was a special event for us, as it marked the 50th Anniversary of the founding of our Birth Defects Library at Stanford, which was created on February 12, 1974 as the first Birth Defects Library in our Grand Lodge chain of libraries.

We were warmly greeted by Susan Schelley, MPH, LCGC, Senior Genetic Counselor and Dr. Jon Bernstein, MD, PhD, Chief, Division of Medical Genetics at Stanford Children’s Health.  Susan has been in the Genetics Department for over 40 years, and was hired by Dr. Luigi Luzzatti, who helped found the Pediatrics Birth Defect Center at Stanford.  I have had the pleasure of knowing Susan for many years due to these presentations, and I very much like to think of her as the “Queen” of genetic counselors!

Susan and Dr. Bernstein then gave us updates on the progress of the Genetics Program, stating that Stanford is known for its Down Syndrome Clinic, cardio-vascular programs, and liver transplants for metabolic conditions.  The hospital also has contracts with other states, especially those cardiac-related.    They also have a great bio-chemical genetics lab, which can look at blood and urine samples for biochemical signatures of genetic metabolic conditions.  The technology includes mass spectrometry machines as well as others.   They also have a molecular diagnostic laboratory that does sequencing of the DNA.  This lab employs next-generation sequencing technology that performs many thousands of reactions at a time.  Since there are several hundred new diseases each year, this speed of diagnosis is invaluable.  Stanford is also developing whole genome sequencing as the next in-house test.  They have also invented a way to replace a missing gene from the brain after a child is born, and is designing cells with the missing gene.  Truly modern miracles.

We were told that every child born in California is given a uniform screening for approximately 50 diseases, and that treatment is focused on medication versus surgery whenever possible.   80% of its patients are children who are treated at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, a truly caring state-of-the-art facility, with 20% adult patients who are treated at Stanford Medical Center Hospital as well at the Children’s Hospital.  They are one of the few specialties that continue to see individuals throughout their lifespan.  It is encouraging to know that there are 30 students in Genetic Counseling training, with 14-15 graduating every year from this two-year program.

Our informative afternoon ended with a check presentation to Dr. Bernstein and Susan of $1000 which will be used for educational purposes. The Grand Lodge of California is very proud of our half-century collaboration with Stanford University Medical Center, and wishes much future success for this world-class program that benefits so many people.  We thank all our donors for their generosity and ask others to consider donating to this amazing facility that does so much good.