05-01-2026IMPACT COUNCIL

It’s time to take genetic testing off the pedestal 

Rethink how genomic testing fits into modern medicine.

[Photo: Getty Images]

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of top leaders and experts who pay dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership, and more.

BY Linda Genen, MD, MPH

For years, genetic testing has been treated as something rare and exceptional—a highly specialized tool ordered only by geneticists and often reserved for the end of a long diagnostic journey. Not surprisingly, medicine has changed. Science and technology have advanced and patients’ expectations have evolved. And yet, the way genomic testing is used in practice has struggled to keep up.  

Exome and genome sequencing should no longer sit on a pedestal in healthcare. It should be used far more broadly as part of everyday clinical care. The insights encoded in our DNA are foundational to understanding human health, yet too often genomic testing is still viewed as a last resort rather than as a starting point. 

To deliver better care, the healthcare system must rethink how genomic testing fits into modern medicine. 

PATIENTS ARE MOVING TOWARD A MOLECULAR VIEW OF HEALTH 

Across healthcare, people are increasingly seeking deeper insights into their biology. A new generation of companies is gaining traction by offering individuals a more comprehensive, molecular view of their health. 

Companies like Function Health and Prenuvo are resonating with consumers because they provide something traditional........

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