Welcome to the Victor Center
The Victor Center for the Prevention of Jewish Genetic Diseases
What’s in Your Genes? All it takes is a simple blood test to find out. We offer genetic counseling and screenings for Jewish genetic diseases (JGDs). On a national level, we work in partnership with healthcare professionals, clergy and the community to create awareness about the need to be screened for the 19 preventable genetic diseases with a 1 in 4 carrier rate in Jews. There are currently Victor Centers in Philadelphia, Boston, Miami and Pittsburgh and community partnerships in Atlanta, Birmingham and Dallas. Please join with us to host an awareness and screening program in your community. The National Victor Center at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia was founded by Lois Victor.
Upcoming Screenings
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Victor Center May Screening in Center City, Philadelphia 05/20/13 Register » |
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Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta Screening 06/02/13 Register » |
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Inaugural Victor Center Screening event at Einstein Medical Center Montgomery 06/02/13 Register » |
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Victor Center June Screening in Center City, Philadelphia 06/18/13 Register » |
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Victor Center July Screening in Center City, Philadelphia 07/15/13 Register » |
| view all events > |
Recent Press
| Jewish genetic disease testing to be held at Temple Emanuel Dec. 2 Jewish Community Voice |
| Highmark's new screenings to help Jewish population Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |
| Wading Into the Gene Pool Jewish Exponent |
| Center promotes awareness, testing for diseases Philadelphia Inquirer |
| Philadelphia Federation's Women of Vision Supports Victor Center Project Jewish Exponent |
| more news > |
The Victor Center provides full service genetic counseling and screening to all interested individuals and couples. Genetic counseling and screening for Jewish genetic diseases is offered both in the office and through the community screenings.
For more information on the screening process, click here.
Victor Center Partnership Cities
- Atlanta
- Birmingham
- Dallas
Ashkenazi Jewish genetic diseases are a group of disorders that occur with higher frequency in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. People of Ashkenazi descent have ancestors from Central and Eastern Europe (i.e. Poland, Russia, Germany, Lithuania, etc.) It is estimated that 1 in 4 Ashkenazi Jews is a carrier of a mutation in at least one of several disease genes.
Sephardic Jewish genetic diseases are a group of disorders that occur with higher frequency in the Sephardic Jewish Population. "Sephardic" is the term originally used for Jews who descended primarily from Spain and Portugal, but now also includes Jews descended from the Middle East and Northern Africa. Sephardic Jews are at risk of being carriers of different diseases than Ashkenazi Jews.
Click here for more information