Through the financial support of Weis Markets, the Family History Project, developed by Geisinger's Genomic Medicine Institute, provides tools to help families discover their potential health risks in their family health history. These tools help individuals collect information on various health issues that have affected other members of their family, which in turn can help determine potential risks to their health.

Family history is known to be a risk factor for many common, chronic conditions such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, stroke, obesity and diabetes. This project offers individuals the opportunity to collect your family health history, possibly discover high-risk factors for your health and practice individualized preventive action if appropriate.

Activities include:

• Interactive educational tools to explain the importance of family history in prevention.
• Guides to enable family history collection.
• Tools to discuss family history with healthcare providers.
• The option to engage in local research addressing family health history and health risks.
• Your Family Health Portrait: An Activity For The Whole Family
• If you are reuniting with your relatives during the holiday season, use this chance to collect important family health information. Aunt Dottie or Grandpa Bill may be that one special relative who knows everything about your family's history.