One in four Jewish individuals of Central and Eastern European descent is a carrier for at least one of 19 preventable genetic disorders, many of which strike in childhood, have no cure and can lead to an early death. 

On Jan. 13, 2013, the Levite Jewish Community Center, 3960 Montclair Road in Birmingham, will hold a community-wide screening from 11:00.a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for potential carriers of these genetic disorders. 

The Birmingham Jewish Federation and Foundation host this screening in partnership with the National Victor Center for the Prevention of Jewish Genetic Diseases at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia and UAB’s Department of Genetics. Lane Rutledge, M.D., professor in Genetics, and Katie Nelson, a genetics counselor, will provide genetic counseling.