About Genetic Alliance Salons

As a means of transformative visioning, Genetic Alliance regularly holds salons, similar to the 17th - 19th century gatherings of intellectuals and other eminent individuals. In our case, individuals are not chosen for their expertise or the expansiveness of their resumes, but for their character and reputation as open-minded, curious, and willing to explore all sides of a given issue. Salons are fueled by the mechanism of open space, allowing unfettered thought and discussion; we leave our certitude and intellectual property at the door. Through our conversation, we realize more than any one of us could have alone. This is our chief aim: transformative knowledge through conversation with others. A variety of salons are held annually, in locations around the country. The salons are an increasingly useful way to practice openness and transformation; dynamic interaction around rigorous topics inevitably leads to disruptive and exciting solutions.

Upcoming Salons

Salons on a Public Health Approach to Early Disease Detection and Intervention

The purpose is to have a conversation around what to consider when identifying genetic disorders within a public health framework.

A collaborative effort is needed to develop a public health approach to effectively use clinical, genetic, and family history information for early diagnosis of disease leading to improved health outcomes. Genetic Alliance, in partnership with the Office of Public Health Genomics, CDC, and other partners are part of such an effort entitled Genetics for Early Disease Detection and Intervention to Improve Health Outcomes (GEDDI). The initial focus of this initiative will be on single gene disorders, but will be expanded in the future to include common diseases as genomics knowledge matures over the next few years.

Each Salon can accommodate a limited number of individuals, and participation will be on a first come first served basis. If you would like to be challenged, leave all your interests at the door, collaborate, and take action, please RSVP to Tetyana Murza at tmurza@geneticalliance.org

Topics from Recent Salons

The recent Genetic Alliance salons were about health, the way we view it, and the impact we seek to make in transforming health systems. Traditionally, work in the biomedical realm has been siloed by field, industry, or agenda. In this information age, with the tools of social networking, and a need to accelerate basic science's translation to treatments and services, we have the opportunity to vision, strategize, disrupt, and take effective steps toward a collaborative system.

Read and comment on our Advocacy Salon Blog to continue the conversations from recent salons.

Urgent Meeting:

The Time is NOW: Let's use our collective voice to inform health reform

Over the past few months, Genetic Alliance held a series of salons on advocacy across the country. In these meetings, open-minded and curious individuals came together, leaving certitude and intellectual property at the door, to explore health and its meaning in open space and unfettered thought. What emerged from these salons was the need for an "emergency meeting" on access to healthcare.

On June 17, 2009 from 12- 4pm EST, individuals in the health community came together for an urgent meeting on healthcare reform. This meeting was convened in an open partnership between health organizations, in response to the growing dialogue on health reform. We came together in urgency and openness to articulate our shared principles that focus reform on what truly matters: improved health for individuals, families and communities.

Individuals participated in the event by attending the meeting in Washington, DC and by sharing ideas, energy, and suggestions through an online blog and twitter. Learn more