The contributions of careful clinical observations: A legacy.

Clinical Medicine is an Art which is learned, together with hard work, as an apprentice-observing how a master works, and improving with experience and exposure. Clinicians are performing multiple things at the same time-trying to make a diagnosis, providing best therapies and preventative strategies, and looking for the underlying mechanism(s). Families want to know what to expect over time-the natural history of their disorder. Rare disease networks and parent support groups are helping in this effort. Information technologies and international collaborative efforts are changing the way clinical genetics is provided.