For Immediate Release: Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 11:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time
Media Contact: Evelyn Mantegani, [email protected]
ROCKVILLE, Md – The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) announced today the election of Heather Mefford MD, PhD as ASHG’s 2026 President-elect, bringing her deep expertise and leadership in human genetics to this pivotal role.
Fowzan Alkuraya MD, Megan Dennis PhD, Andy McCallion PhD, and Heidi Rehm PhD have been elected to the ASHG Board of Directors, where they will help shape the Society’s strategic vision and future initiatives. Their three-year term begins on January 1, 2026.
Heather Mefford, MD, PhD is a faculty member in the Center for Pediatric Neurological Disease Research at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where she works to determine the genetic and biological basis of pediatric epilepsies and translate those discoveries to precision therapies. She has served on ASHG Program Committee, including as Chair, the ASHG Finance & Audit Committee, and the ASHG Nominating Committee. Currently she holds the position of Secretary of the ASHG Board of Directors.
Fowzan Alkuraya, MD is Chief Medical and Genomics Officer at Lifera Omics and Professor of Human Genetics at Alfaisal University. He is an authority in the area of Mendelian genetics and has advanced global understanding of genetic diseases by leveraging unique population genetics in Saudi Arabia. He currently serves on the ASHG Professional Practice & Social Implications (PPSI) Committee and has served on the ASHG Awards Committee including as Chair. He is the recipient of the 2020 ASHG Scientific Achievement Award.
Megan Dennis, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and Associate Director of Genomics in the Genome Center at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. Her work uncovers previously unknown genes and variants linked to human-specific neurological traits and diseases. She currently serves on the ASHG Program Committee.
Andy McCallion, PhD is a Professor in the McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His research illuminates the connection between noncoding, regulatory sequence variation and the modulation of key genes in disease risk and progression. His lab seeks to leverage tissue- and timing-dependent control of gene regulation as potential avenues for novel therapeutic development. He has served as Chair and member on the ASHG Program Committee, Nominations Committee, Awards Committee, and American Journal of Human Genetics (AJHG) Editorial Committee.
Heidi Rehm, PhD is Professor of Pathology at the Center for Genomic Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Her work is transforming patient care by integrating genomics into clinical practice and advancing rare disease gene discovery through global data-sharing initiatives. She has served as Associate Editor of American Journal of Human Genetics (AJHG) and is the recipient of the 2022 ASHG Scientific Achievement Award.
The new Board members were nominated by ASHG members and elected by members in a recent election, and will join the following individuals to serve the 2026 Board of Directors (institutions presented for identification only):
- Susan A. Slaugenhaupt, PhD, President, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Sarah Tishkoff, PhD, Past President, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Digna Velez Edwards, PhD, Treasurer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
- Chris Gunter, PhD, Treasurer (serving in her individual capacity)
- Melinda C. Aldrich, PhD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
- Chester W. Brown, MD, PhD, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
- Christine Eng, MD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Rebecca Meyer-Schuman, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Beth A. Sullivan, PhD, Duke University, Durham, NC
- Krystal Tsosie, PhD, MPH, MA, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
- Scott Williams, PhD, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
- Amanda Perl, CEO, American Society of Human Genetics, Ex-officio
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About the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG)
The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) is the leading global organization advancing the science of human genetics and genomics. Representing nearly 8,000 researchers, clinicians, genetic counselors, educators, and other professionals, ASHG drives progress in understanding the human genome and its role in health and disease. The Society fosters innovation and collaboration through its flagship events and publications—including the ASHG Annual Meeting and its peer-reviewed journals The American Journal of Human Genetics and Human Genetics and Genomics Advances. ASHG also champions science advocacy, supports the next generation of genetics professionals, and promotes responsible policies and public engagement in genetics. Learn more at www.ashg.org.
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