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NHGRI appoints Oleg Shchelochkov as intramural training program director

Prabarna Ganguly, Ph.D. February 25, 2021   PRESS CONTACT

Dr. Shchelochkov will oversee the research training, fellowship and residency programs at the institute.

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has appointed Oleg Shchelochkov, M.D., as the new director of Clinical and Laboratory Residencies and Fellowships.

Dr. Shchelochkov, a clinical geneticist and medical biochemical geneticist, takes the position with over a decade of experience teaching and training young professionals. He has been part of the NHGRI research community since 2015, starting as a staff clinician. Until recently, he was an associate research physician studying many aspects of organic acidemias.

After his early genetics training at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Shchelochkov was an assistant professor within the pediatrics department and division of genetics at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. In this role, Dr. Shchelochkov was routinely recognized with accolades for his outstanding contributions as a teacher and mentor.

“I am particularly enthusiastic about both the depth and breadth of Oleg’s vision for genomics education. As our field expands, it is critical for our trainees to learn about an ever-widening array of science and medicine,” said Ben Solomon, M.D., NHGRI clinical director. “Oleg’s passion for so many areas of genomics — including clinical care and patient management, bioinformatics and emerging technologies — should be enormously valuable as he leads this program.”

I am particularly enthusiastic about both the depth and breadth of Oleg’s vision for genomics education. As our field expands, it is critical for our trainees to learn about an ever-widening array of science and medicine. Oleg’s passion for so many areas of genomics — including clinical care and patient management, bioinformatics and emerging technologies — should be enormously valuable as he leads this program.

NHGRI has one of the most extensive genomics training programs in the world, and Dr. Schelochkov’s leadership efforts will greatly benefit the field. He will work with other NHGRI training program leaders like Melissa Merideth, M.D., M.P.H. of the Medical and Clinical Biochemical Genetics program and Rob Hufnagel, M.D., Ph.D. of the Laboratory Genetics and Genomics program. Each program is designed to train individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise in multiple areas of genetics and genomics. These programs aim to train the next generation of genomics leaders, with a special emphasis on those planning to pursue academic and research-related careers.

In the last two decades, genetics and genomics as clinical and academic fields have undergone enormous changes. Decoding the human genome in 2003 became a defining moment for the field and helped transform clinical genetics into a data-driven discipline. Today, genetics trainees must master clinical aspects of many disorders and become adept in other fields including molecular biology, biochemistry and data science. 

“I cannot think of a better place than NHGRI where trainees get exposed to all aspects of modern clinical genetics. By combining a rigorous curriculum with the flexibility to pursue basic science and clinical research, our clinical and laboratory trainees can chart their own course towards success,” Dr. Shchelochkov said. “It is a great privilege for me to join the NHGRI faculty and the world-class science and resources of NIH to train the next generation of genomics physicians and physician-scientists.”

Dr. Shchelochkov is board-certified in pediatrics, medical genetics and medical biochemical genetics, and he has over 50 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. His appointment begins in early March 2021.

The clinical training residencies and fellowships for Ph.D., M.D., M.D./Ph.D. and D.O. include:

Last updated: February 25, 2021