Welcome, Dr Golder Wilson

FigureIt's with real pleasure that we welcome Dr Golder Wilson to the editorial board of this journal.

Dr Wilson-series editor of our "Genetics Disorder" feature-has been practicing pediatrics and genetics for nearly 30 years. He has written more than 150 articles and 6 books and CD ROMs for clinicians on pediatrics and medical genetics. Examples include a collection of checklists to assist the primary physician with preventive health care¹ and a "Keep Up With the Genetics Revolution"² CD ROM to foster genetic education for nurses. He is also the author of Four Mothers: Four Faces of disAbility,³ which he wrote "for the desperate parent, hearing or thinking for the first time that something is wrong." He also dedicated that book to those clinicians who face the task of informing parents or for directing care for children with disabilities. He writes: "Here you can realize the value of your care and experience the enormous gratitude for those who make time for special needs of children."

Dr Wilson's goal is to demystify the study of genetics for non-geneticists and to convince clinicians that "genetics is a simple addition to their medical knowledge and daily routines." In his case involving a neonate with hypotonia and several subtle anomalies in this issue (see page 69), for example, Dr Wilson writes: "For the primary physician, the challenge is to recognize the possibility of a syndrome-not to remember many rare disorders. Physical examination is the key-interpreting subtle minor anomalies that comprise an altered developmental pattern. . . . Dysmorphology thus depends on the common history and physical rather than mystic powers of facial recognition or esoteric recall."

Dr Wilson earned a PhD in biochemistry in 1970 from the University of Chicago, where 2 years later he was awarded his MD degree. After completing residencies in pediatrics and medical genetics at the University of Michigan, he held several academic appointments at the University of Michigan, at McGill University, and at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), where he became a professor of pediatrics in the mid 1980s. He was subsequently named the Mary McDermott Cook Distinguished Professor of Pediatric Genetics at UTSW. Dr Wilson is currently a clinical professor of pediatrics at Texas Tech University. He also practices clinical genetics at KinderGenome Pediatrics Genetics Practice in Dallas.

Dr Wilson's perspective as a teacher and practitioner of pediatric genetics makes him well qualified to serve with the other distinguished physicians who serve on our editorial board (see page 54). We will look to Dr Wilson to provide you with well-illustrated cases that offer practical teaching messages. We hope you'll be able to put those messages to good use in your daily practice.

Welcome, Dr Wilson.

References:

• Wilson GN, Cooley WC. Syndromes with proportionate growth failure as a primary manifestation. In: Preventive Health Care for Children With Genetic Conditions. Providing a Medical Home. 2nd ed. New York: Cambridge University Press; 2006.

• Wilson GN, Tonk V. GEN-ARM: Genetics Education Network for Assessment, Referral, and Management. A CD-ROM For Nursing Genetics Education. Available at: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/genetics/doc/GEN-ARMCDUseandContents.doc. Accessed January 17, 2008.

• Wilson GN. Four Mothers: Four Faces of disAbility. Dallas: KinderGenome Press; 2005.