Our leadership is a distinguished cadre of esteemed practitioners, career and industry professionals who bring a unique perspective to the work of ACMGF. Many are recognized in the field as "cutting edge" professionals who have successfully laid the foundation of success, and developed the best-practices used in genetics and genomic science that has become the standard today. Specifically, ACMGF leadership is centered on advancing its mission of creating opportunities for others through philanthropy to fund programs and research to achieve better health through genetics for everyone.

ACMGF Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is responsible for the direction and completion of ongoing work of the organization defined by the ACMGF’s mission statement and strategic plan. ACMGF Board members are volunteers and elected by colleagues. Once approved, a member is eligible to serve a term commencing at the ACMG Annual Meeting. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: fundraising and fiduciary governance, oversight of legal and ethical considerations, and strategic direction.
Roster
Nancy J. Mendelsohn, MD, FACMG
President
2023 - 2028
FOUND_BODNancy5Mendelsohn
Bruce R. Korf, MD, PhD, FACMG
Past President
2023 - 2025
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Brynn Levy, PhD, MMedSc, FACMG
President-Elect
2024 - 2026
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Madhuri Hegde, PhD, FACMG
Secretary
2023 - 2025
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Sucheta D. Bhatt, MD, FACMG
Director
2023 - 2025
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Sarah H. Elsea, PhD, FACMG
Director
2020 - 2026
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Katie Johansen Taber, PhD
Director
2024 - 2026
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Marilyn C. Jones, MD, FACMG
Director
2024 - 2026
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Rong Mao, MD, FACMG
Director
2023 - 2025
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Harry Ostrer, MD, FACMG
Director
2024 - 2026
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Matthew Rabinowitz, PhD
Director
2015 - 2025
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Aleksandar Rajkovic, MD, FACMG
Director
2020 - 2026
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Lisa G. Shaffer, PhD, , FACMG
Director
2024 - 2026
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David Tilstra, MD, MBA, FACMG
Director
2019 - 2026
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Mira B. Irons, MD, FACMG
Ex-Officio Representative
2023 - 2029
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Susan D. Klugman, MD, FACMG
Ex-Officio Representative
2021 - 2027
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Marc S. Williams, MD, FACMG
Ex-Officio Representative
2018 - 2025
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Lynn D. Fleisher, PhD, JD, FACMG
Legal Counsel
2007 - 2025
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Melanie Wells, MPH, CAE
Chief Executive Officer
2023 - 2029
FOUND_BODMelanie45Wells, MPH, CAE
Karl Moeller, MPA
Staff
2022 - 2026
FOUND_BODKarl51Moeller, MPA
Kathy Moran, MBA
Staff
2007 - 2026
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Alexis Morgan, MPH
Staff
2023 - 2026
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Nataly Schwartz, MBA
Staff
2020 - 2026
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ACMGF President

Nancy J. Mendelsohn, MD, FACMG
Previously the Chief Medical Officer for Complex Health Solutions at UnitedHealthcare and a clinical leader serving in both the Optum and UnitedHealth Group organizations, Dr. Mendelsohn is a clinical geneticist, physician-scientist, healthcare executive and researcher with leadership experience. Her role as Chief of Specialty Pediatrics at Children’s Minnesota, one of the largest children’s hospital centers in the United States, included the strategy and development of the multi-specialty physician practice.

She has more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and presentations. Dr. Mendelsohn received a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology from Indiana University and an MD from the University of Missouri. She completed a residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in medical genetics at St. Louis Children’s Hospital at Washington University in St. Louis.

Early on as a general pediatrician and an Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, at the University of Minnesota Medical School, she established the first genetics service at Hennepin County Medical Center. Dr. Mendelsohn then would go on to build the genetics program at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare and Children’s Hospital Minnesota from as little as two clinicians to the largest genetics program in the Upper Midwest. She has served broadly on national committees for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the ACMG, the ABMGG, and Children’s Minnesota.

Chief Executive Officer
Chief Executive Office
Melanie J. Wells
Chief Executive Officer
7101 Wisconsin Avenue
Suite 1101 Bethesda,
MD 20814
 
301-718-9603

Melanie J. Wells, MPH is a nonprofit executive, community advocate, and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience in the public health and nonprofit sectors. During her career, she has served medically vulnerable communities in North Carolina, Florida, the District of Columbia and Maryland. Her areas of expertise include: nonprofit governance, strategic planning, full-cycle grants administration, health education, as well as program design, implementation, and evaluation.

As the Chief Executive Officer for the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine (ACMGF), Ms. Wells works closely with the Boards of Directors to set and execute the strategic visions of both organizations. She has been with ACMG and ACMGF for over eight years previously serving as the Director of Administration and Chief Operations Officer, before being named CEO in April of 2023.

Ms. Wells has a passion to help others reach their potential and willingly shares what she has learned on her professional and personal journey. Ms. Wells was a Pogue Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. She also has a Master of Public Health in Health Policy Management with a concentration in Health Care Organizations Management from the University of South Florida. She earned her certification for association executives (CAE) in 2020. Melanie resides in Baltimore with her husband Michael and black lab, Bella.