Advocate and Photographer to Receive Award at ASHG2019Annual Meeting
Rick Guidotti，recipient of ASHG’s2019Advocacy Award （courtesy Mr.Guidotti）
The American Society of Human Genetics（ASHG）has name d Rick Guidotti as the 2019 recipient of theAdvac Award.Mr.Guidotti is the founder and director ofPOSITIVE EXPOSURE，described as“an innovative arts，advocacy，and education organization which utilizes the visual arts to celebrate human diversity，inclusivity of ethnicity，religion，gender，sexual orientation，age and ability.”
This award honors individuals or groups who have exhibited excellence and achievement in applications of human genetics for the common good，in areas such as facilitating public awareness of genetics issues，promoting funding for biomedical research，and integrating genetics into health systems.ASHG，which will include a plaque and$10000prize，on Friday，October 18during the organization’s69th Annual Meetingin Houston，Texas。
r.Guidotti started his career as a fashion photographer，and he shared his career transition story，which started in New York City.“One day in NYC，on a break from a photo shoot，I saw a stunning girl at a bus stop-a girl with pale skin and white hair，a girl with albinism.Upon returning home I began a process of discovery-about albinism，about people with genetic differences.What I found was startling and upsetting.The images that I saw were sad and dehumanizing.In medical textbooks children with a difference were seen as a disease，a diagnosis first，not as people.So，I stopped working in the fashion industry and created the not-for-profit organization POSITIVE EXPOSURE。
“Mr.Guidotti’s work has helped to demonstrate to the world that what we do as human geneticists is caring for and helping people；making lives better for all people–beautiful people，”said Jannine Cody，PhD，Director of the Chromosome18 Clinical Research Center，Department of Pediatrics，UT Health San Antonio，in her nomination letter。
Works of art by Mr.Guidotti have been exhibited in museums，galleries，educational institutions，hospitals and pubic spaces around the world.POSITIVE EXPOSURE was the focuus of the 2014 award-winning documentary，On Beauty，by Kartemquin Films，which highlights the stories of several young ople，themiir，files，and communities as they learn to appreciate their differences.This film has been presented at conferences and encourages lively discussion on on the intersection of genetics and disability。
r.Guidotti has presented at the ASHG High School Workshop for 11years and through this engages students across the United States.One workshop attendee said，“I loved Mr.Guidotti’s presentation because it gave me faith in humanity，and showed another way to see people with genetic disease，who are normal and part of our world.”
Dr.Cody concludes her nomination letter by noting“Rick has spent his career promoting the science of human genetics by giving everyone new eyes with which to view our shared humanity.”
Among his many honors，Mr.Guidotti was awarded the American Cleft Palette and Craniofacial Association&Craniofacial Foundation Leadership Award（2017），the Sturge-Weber Foundation Champion Award（2017），and the Eurordis Media Award，Rare Diseases Europe American Association on Intellectual and Development2014。
About the American Society of Human Genetics（ASHG）
Founded in 1948，the American Society of Human Genetics is the primary professional membership organization for human genetics specialists worldwide.Its nearly8000 members include researchers，academicians，clinicians，laboratory practice professionals，genetic counselors，nurses，nurses，and others with an interest in human genetics.The Society serves scientists，health professionals，and the public by providing forums to:（1）share research results through theASHG Annual Meeting在，在Human Genetics American Journal of Human Genetics打开；（2）预应力支撑；（3）educate current and future genetics professionals，health care providers，advocates，policymakers，educators，students，and the public about all aspects of human genetics；and（4）promote genetic services and support responsible social and scientific policies。For more information，visit：http://www.ashg.org。
