Cynthia Curry, MD, professor emeritus of pediatrics, sits in her Fresno office surrounded by case files and genetic data, but her focus is on one patient – a young woman whose medical mystery has consumed her for more than 20 years. Dr. Curry first saw the patient as an infant because she was experiencing seizures and unexplained developmental delays. As with many of Curry’s cases, decades of testing, dead ends, and scientific advances followed.
Now, a newly identified gene variant may finally hold the key to solving the decades-long puzzle. Blood samples have crossed the Atlantic to a research team in France, where scientists are investigating the possibility that they’ve found other patients with matching genetic defects and similar symptoms. This collaborative hunt for genetic patterns – comparing DNA sequences and clinical presentations across multiple cases – is the cornerstone of rare disease diagnosis. What began as a baffling local case has become a global effort, and Curry’s long-awaited answer may finally be within reach.
“Genetics is a puzzle, and you need a lot of patience,” says Dr. Curry, who has spent 49 years fine-tuning that critical skill as a pediatric geneticist in Fresno. “Time is your friend.”
Curry’s passion for genetic medicine is matched only by her deep commitment to the people of the Fresno community. These two forces have fueled her long career, inspiring her to practice well into her 80s. They’re also the impetus for her planned gift to the UCSF Fresno Department of Pediatrics. Through this gift, she hopes to advance the future of genetic medicine by supporting the recruitment and training of the next generation of geneticists to serve the San Joaquin Valley.
The Case That Changed Everything
Curry’s path to genetics wasn’t straightforward. Though genetics fascinated her in college, she initially pursued pediatrics – a more conventional path when genetics had yet to emerge as a medical subspecialty. Following several years in pediatric practice, she pursued genetic training at UCSF and began work as a geneticist in Fresno in 1976. One pivotal case galvanized her decision to devote her career to genetic medicine.
She was introduced to a young boy with shortened limbs, an unusual nose, hearing loss, and cataracts. The family had been to other specialists, who reassured his mother, then pregnant with her second child, that the new baby would likely be spared the same condition. Curry, who had seen another family with two boys similarly affected, was not as sure. She joined the parents in the delivery room and immediately recognized the same features in the newborn boy.
“I reported the case at a regional conference, and this launched this big academic adventure,” Curry recalls. The collaborative investigation involved researchers at UCSF, in Oregon and England, and in a genetics lab in Fresno. Eventually, they discovered that several missing genes on the short arm of the X chromosome were causing the condition. The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Curry’s second paper in this journal.
“It was this case that furthered my interest and pursuit of academic genetics,” she says. “That’s what genetics is – an academic adventure.”
Building a Program from Scratch
When Curry arrived in Fresno in 1976, there was no genetics infrastructure at Valley Children’s Hospital. She built the program from the ground up, eventually growing it to include two divisions with five physicians, 11 genetic counselors, and a cytogenetics laboratory – the most extensive genetics programs between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Curry was a pioneer in the field, publishing over 140 articles and chapters and authoring a 2019 book, Genetic Consultations in the Newborn. She has also earned prestigious awards, including the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2014 David W. Smith Excellence in Genetics and Birth Defects Education Award.
Curry has witnessed the dramatic transformation of genetics firsthand. She began her career in an era of paper records. There were few geneticists she could collaborate with, and she mailed letters to them, often waiting weeks for a response. She remembers the excitement of getting the first electronic medical records system.
“Much of what we do relies on finding others who might have the same defective genes. With computer technology came electronic databases and the ability to collaborate immediately with people worldwide. Breakthroughs happened as technology advanced, so I had to have a lot of patience and work to motivate families to hang in there with me, sometimes for years,” she says. “Like detectives in mystery novels, which I love to read, I don’t give up. I get a lot of satisfaction pulling at the threads and not giving up.”
Fervent Curiosity
Although the Valley Children’s Prenatal Diagnostic Program and cytogentics laboratory were closed in 2003, Curry remained dedicated to her community, now treating second- and third-generation families. She appreciates the invaluable support of Community Regional Medical Center (CRMC), Central California Medical Practice Group (CCMPG), and Community Health Partners (CHP). Approaching 50 years in practice, she shows no signs of slowing down, finding joy in helping individuals and families navigate the complexities of genetics.
“Patients often ask me when I’m going to retire,” she says with a smile. “But I failed retirement once already. I’m back doing what I enjoy most – making diagnoses, participating in clinical projects, and helping families adjust to genetic conditions. I like learning something new every day. There is so much variety, and I’m still having fun.”
A Legacy Gift for the Future
Curry’s lifelong commitment to genetic medicine and the Fresno community is unmistakable. Though she officially retired from UCSF in 2014, she continues to work full time seeing patients, mentoring students, and engaging in clinical research, and her vision for the future is clear. Through a planned gift to the UCSF Fresno Department of Pediatrics, Curry is helping ensure that genetic services continue and expand in the San Joaquin Valley.
“There is a dramatic need for more genetic services, particularly in Fresno,” she says, noting that half of her current referrals are now adults – a sign that genetic medicine has expanded beyond pediatrics.
As UCSF Fresno marks its 50th anniversary, Curry’s gift embodies the university’s mission to train future doctors in the San Joaquin Valley. It’s a strategic investment in the next generation of geneticists and a reflection of Curry’s unwavering belief in equitable health care. She hopes her gift inspires others to support pediatric genetics so families across the Valley will continue to benefit from the thoughtful, persistent advocacy that has defined her extraordinary career.
For information about supporting UCSF Fresno, visit fresno.ucsf.edu/give
