About
Personal Statement
Dr. Cunniff welcomes the opportunity to work with patients, families and referring physicians to diagnose and treat children and young adults with genetic and non-genetic syndromes, particularly those associated with birth defects and developmental disabilities. He likes to educate and empower patients and families with rare disorders to be effective advocates for their medical care. He recognizes that patients with these conditions often require medical treatment from multiple specialty physicians, and he strives to connect them with an effective team of providers.
Specialties and Expertise
Specialties
- Medical Genetics
- Clinical Genetics
- Pediatric Genetics
Expertise
- Genetic Disorder
- Chromosomal Abnormality
- Birth Defect
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Teratology
- Human Genetics
- Autism - Genetics
- Genetic Disease
- Genetic Counseling and Testing
- Family History of Genetic Disorder
- Family History of Genetic Disease Carrier
- Family History of Genetic Disease
- Abnormal Genetic Test During Pregnancy
- Abnormal Genetic Test
- Ashkenazi Jewish Ancestry Requiring Population-Specific Screening For Genetic Disorder
- Ashkenazi Jewish Ancestry Requiring Population-Specific Genetic Screening
- Abnormal Chromosomal and Genetic Finding on Antenatal Screening of Mother
Biography
Dr. Cunniff is the Chief of Medical Genetics at Weill Cornell Medicine, where he is a professor of pediatrics. He is also an attending pediatrician at NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children's Hospital and NYP/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Dr. Cunniff received his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in 1984. He completed a Pediatrics residency at the University of Vermont and a fellowship in Dysmorphology and Clinical Genetics at the University of California San Diego. He has previously served as Division Chief of Genetics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and at the University of Arizona.
As a clinical geneticist, Dr. Cunniff has a longstanding interest in the care of children and young adults with chromosome abnormalities, genetic disorders, birth defects and developmental disabilities. He has been a Principal Investigator for grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to perform surveillance for muscular dystrophy, Fetal Alcohol syndrome, autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability, and he has published extensively on these disorders.
Dr Cunniff has served in various leadership roles nationally, including as the Chairperson of the Committee on Genetics of the American Academy of Pediatrics, as a member of the Board of Directors and as the Secretary of the American College of Medical Genetics and as President of the American Board of Medical Genetics. He is an advocate for education and training of medical students, residents and attending physicians. At the University of Arizona he served as Director of Faculty Instructional Development, where he developed programs to assist fellow faculty members to be effective teachers, preceptors and mentors. He maintains a strong interest in general and genetic specialty education, and he presents regularly on these topics.
Research
Honors and Awards
Honors and Awards
Chairperson, Committee on Genetics, American Academy of Pediatrics
Member, Board of Directors, American College of Medical Genetics
Secretary, American College of Medical Genetics
Member, Board of Directors, American Board of Medical Genetics
President, American Board of Medical Genetics
Credentials
Board Certifications
- American Board of Medical Genetics
- American Board of Pediatrics
Clinical and Academic Positions
- Clinical Professor of Pediatrics - Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
Education and Training
- M.D., University of Alabama School of Medicine, 1984
- B.A., University of Alabama, 1980
Insurance
Insurance Plans Accepted
For relevant information regarding accepted insurances, please contact this provider directly.
Locations and Appointments
External Relationships
External Relationships
Relationships and collaborations with for-profit and not-for profit organizations are of vital importance to our faculty because these exchanges of scientific information foster innovation. As experts in their fields, WCM physicians and scientists are sought after by many organizations to consult and educate. WCM and its faculty make this information available to the public, thus creating a transparent environment.