NBS Advisory Committee

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In March of 1999, a select review team sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s Genetic Services Branch, reviewed the NBS Program at the invitation of the Georgia Department of Public Health. This review team recommended that Georgia develop an advisory council with oversight and advisory responsibility for the entire program.

Purpose/Role

The purpose of the Georgia Newborn Screening and Genetics Advisory Committee (NBSAC) is to advise the Georgia Department of Public Health on a statewide system for newborn screening and genetics.

Advisory Committee Members as of January 2024

James Eckman 

Emory University School of Medicine

Kristen Vanags  (Co-Chair)

Georgia PKU Connect

George Bugg

Emory Healthcare and Grady Memorial Hospital

Peter Lane

Emory University and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Hong Li (Co-Chair)

Emory University School of Medicine

Stephanie Moss

Parent to Parent of Georgia

Rani Singh

Emory University School of Medicine

Amber Hockema

Babies Can't Wait

Ansley Thompson

Parent of child with MCADD
Jamika Hallman-Cooper Emory University
Morgan McLemore Emory University and Grady Memorial Hospital
Paula Harmon Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Vishwas Sakhalkar Navicent Children's Hospital
Rachel Linnemann Emory Children's Center
William Wilcox Emory University
Stephanie Wechsler Emory University
Tabatha McGee Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia
Lynne Hall Georgia Hospital Association
Doris Fadoju Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Gerald Lee Emory University 

Meeting Schedule

Public meetings are held bi-annually on the fourth Friday in April and October. The next Newborn Screening and Genetics Advisory Committee (NBSAC) meeting will be held virtually on Friday, April 26, 2024 from 1:00-3:30pm.

Microsoft Teams meeting

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Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 247 006 267 740
Passcode: KW7d6u

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Or call in (audio only)

+1 470-344-9228,,675031893#   United States, Atlanta

Phone Conference ID: 675 031 893#

If you would like to receive communication regarding upcoming NBSAC meetings, please visit https://forms.office.com/g/VX0ES8dpCE

Public Comment

If you would like to make a public comment to the NBSAC, send written comments, clearly marked “PUBLIC COMMENT” to [email protected] no later than the Wednesday before the meeting. Your comments will be read aloud during the Public Comment portion of the meeting if time permits.

Nominating a New Condition

Nominations to add new conditions to the Georgia NBS panel must be completed and submitted to the Georgia NBSAC for consideration. Anyone can nominate a condition for review, however, the Committee encourages individuals and organizations to form multi-disciplinary teams to submit nominations for conditions to be considered for inclusion. Teams should include researchers and/or clinicians with expertise on the condition being nominated, advocacy and/or professional organizations with knowledge of issues relevant to newborn screening, and interested consumers/individuals.

To nominate a condition, submit a nomination package that includes:

Nomination forms must be submitted at least six (6) weeks prior to the NBSAC meeting during which the nominator will present their nomination.

The Georgia NBSAC will consider the completed nomination package and presentation to determine whether to establish a work-group to review the condition for addition to the Georgia NBS panel.

Page last updated 4/9/2024