Driscoll Children's Genetic Services
Genetics is the branch of medicine concerned with how hereditary and genetic factors play a role in causing a disease, birth defect, or inherited susceptibility to a health problem.
According
to a study published by the American Society of Human Genetics, about one
in eight pediatric hospitalizations are due to genetic disorders. Genetic
disease knows no boundaries by age, sex, race, or country of origin. Everyone
is at risk for being born with a birth defect. Most birth defects are not
under our control, and are not caused by an action or inaction on the parents'
part either before or during the pregnancy. Even with normal prenatal diagnosis
such as an amniocentesis, there is still a 3 percent to 4 percent
chance that a child will be born with some type of birth defect or health
problem.
The Human Genome Project began in 1990 with the goal of mapping the location of all of the genes on the chromosomes. This monumental achievement will give scientists the building blocks to determine how diseases are caused and hopefully, how to treat them and, ultimately, prevent them.
This Web module is intended to provide an overview of genetic mechanisms that can result in disease. Common examples of genetic conditions have been included for example, but are not meant to be comprehensive. The point is to understand how genetics impacts the health of our children.
Click here to view the
Online Resources page of this Web.
Contact information:
Raymond Lewandowski, MD
Medical Director, GeneticistOfelia Rivera
Office ManagerDeborah Dansby
Sonographer SupervisorDenise Dominguez
Valley SupervisorAndrea Ramirez
Senior Genetic CounselorCPSST - Driscoll Genetics Services
5920 Saratoga Blvd. 540
Corpus Christi, Texas 78414
Phone: (361) 694-1600 or (361) 985-6600
Fax: (361) 985-6603
Hours 8-5 pmCPSST - Driscoll Genetics Services -Brownsville
1096 Los Ebanos, Suite B
Brownsville, TX 78520
Phone: (956) 544-5663
Fax: (956) 544-7386CPSST - Driscoll Genetics Services - Harlingen
2220 Haine Dr., Suite #46
Harlingen, TX 78550
Phone: (956) 428-0897
Fax: (956) 428-0899CPSST - Driscoll Genetics Services - McAllen
1910 S. First St., Suite #500
McAllen, TX 78501
Phone: (956) 686-0503
Fax: (956) 668-0503
Hours: 8 – 5 Monday – Friday

