Bruce Korf, M.D., Ph.D. has been appointed to lead clinical implementation of precision medicine at UAB as Chief Genomics Officer for UAB Medicine, effective October 1.

In this role, Korf, Wayne H. and Sara Crews Finley Chair in Medical Genetics, will work with the UAB Hospital, UAB Health System, clinical department chairs and program and center directors to establish clinical programs in precision medicine, including defining the initial focus priorities as well as the implementation timeline.

Korf joined UAB in 2003 as chair of the Department of Genetics and since then has added other responsibilities, including director of the Howell and Elizabeth Heflin Center for Genomic Sciences; co-director of the UAB-HudsonAlpha Center for Genomic Medicine; and co-director of the Alabama Genomic Health Initiative.

“Dr. Korf has been instrumental in the establishment of a strong foundation in genomic medicine at UAB, serving as a comprehensive resource for patients with rare and undiagnosed disease and developing a portfolio of extramural funding across the spectrum of translational and population research. I believe his leadership will be critical to building on this foundation in order to realize our vision for precision medicine across the entire enterprise, for every patient,” said Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., FACS, senior vice president for Medicine and dean of the UAB School of Medicine.” With this model, clinicians will continue and broaden their use of personalized patient data in making the most precise diagnosis and the best recommendation for treatment.”

Korf received his undergraduate degree at Cornell University, followed by earning his Ph.D. in genetics and cell biology from Rockefeller University and M.D. from Cornell University Medical College. He completed a residency training in pediatrics, pediatric neurology, and clinical genetics at Boston Children’s Hospital. Prior to joining UAB, he served as clinical director in the Division of Genetics at Boston Children's Hospital and as the medical director of the Harvard-Partners Center for Genetics and Genomics. Dr. Korf was an associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and directed postdoctoral training in medical and laboratory genetics at hospitals affiliated with Harvard.

Dr. Korf will remain in the role of chair, Department of Genetics until an interim chair is announced.  In his new role, he will continue to serve as associate director for Rare Diseases, Hugh Kaul Personalized Medicine Institute; co-director, UAB-Hudson/Alpha Center for Genomic Medicine and professor, Department of Genetics.

Genomic approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease will touch virtually all areas of medicine in the coming years,” Korf said.  “I am excited to have the opportunity to work with health providers across all of UAB Medicine to integrate genomics into their practice and to offer our patients the benefits of this powerful new way of thinking about health care.”

Read the story at UAB School of Medicine news.