4/12/16 news article
Dayton Children’s welcomes new genetics specialist
Dr. Karl takes families from newborn screenings to lifelong care
Having a baby is a wonderful but stressful time. You welcome a new life into the world and suddenly become entirely responsible for another human being. There are so many joyous moments but also many moments of worry.
One of those moments happens when parents hear that their child had an abnormal result on a newborn screening. It scans for disorders that aren’t obvious at birth. In general, metabolic and other inherited disorders can hinder an infant's normal physical and mental development. Although these conditions are considered rare and most babies are given a clean bill of health, early diagnosis and proper treatment can make the difference between lifelong impairment and healthy development.
That’s where Karl de Dios, MD, comes in. As the newest geneticist at Dayton Children’s Hospital, he is specially trained to care for those with genetic disorders and find the solutions that will help that child develop and thrive.
Known by the kid-friendly moniker, Dr. Karl, he was most recently at Northeast Indiana Genetic Counseling Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana where he was a clinical/biochemical geneticist. He also recently completed training in clinical genetics and clinical biochemical genetics at the National Institutes of Health Inter-Institute Genetics Program in Bethesda, Maryland. He earned his medical degree at the University of East Ramon Magsaysay College of Medicine in Quezon City, Philippines.
While Down’s syndrome and sickle cell disease may be the most familiar conditions to many people, other examples include PKU or galactosemia, both of which require baby to have a special diet. But by finding and treating these conditions at the earliest possible opportunity, children can avoid any long-term damage.
“Genetics is expanding at such a rapid pace that we are finding better ways every day to help our kids lead better lives,” says Dr. Karl. “I look forward to working with all our kids and families at Dayton Children’s.”
For more information, contact:
Stacy Porter
Public relations manager
Phone: 937-641-3666
newsroom@childrensdayton.org
