Physician Support Services

Addressing the Metabolic Medicine Workforce Crisis

Metabolic medicine is facing a significant workforce crisis in the United States and around the world. Demand for specialized care continues to grow, yet the number of trained metabolic physicians remains critically limited.

Today, there are only approximately 100 practicing Clinical Biochemical Geneticists in the United States, excluding laboratory professionals and researchers. As a result, nearly half of all metabolic clinics, regardless of size, are estimated to be directed by providers without formal training in metabolic disease.

The challenge continues to intensify. More than 1,200 new patients are identified each year through newborn screening programs, placing additional pressure on already stretched healthcare systems and specialist providers.

A Scalable Solution: VMP Physician-to-Physician Support

VMP offers immediate access to six internationally recognized Clinical Biochemical Geneticists, providing expert metabolic consultation without the challenges associated with recruitment, retention, benefits administration, or credentialing.

Our flexible remote on-call services integrate seamlessly into existing clinical programs and can be rapidly scaled to meet changing staffing and patient-care demands.

We do not view our role as that of a vendor. Rather, we establish strategic clinical partnerships designed to enhance patient outcomes and strengthen institutional capabilities. The collaborative model we follow is a vital component of delivering safe, effective, and high-quality metabolic care.

Supporting a Wide Range of Clinical Environments

Our services enhance care delivery across diverse healthcare settings, including:

Genetic or metabolic clinics
ICUs and emergency departments
Newborn screening follow-up programs
Burnout prevention and workload relief
Faculty leave or vacation coverage
Planned or unexpected staff vacancies

Customized Clinical Consultation

Every consultation is tailored to the needs of the treating clinician and may include:

A concise metabolic-focused case assessment highlighting key clinical concerns
Differential diagnostic recommendations for undiagnosed or evolving cases
Guidance on appropriate diagnostic and investigative testing
Prioritized, actionable treatment recommendations
Follow-up recommendations based on clinical response or diagnostic findings
Insights into emerging therapies or advances in metabolic medicine

Proven Results: Real World Clinical Support

VMP has successfully partnered with a variety of healthcare organizations to provide flexible metabolic expertise, including:

Supporting a solo biochemical geneticist at a major metabolic center and a referral center for the state’s newborn screening program with scalable coverage and respite services. Click here for the case study.
Providing fluctuating physician support and education over a 6-year period as an institution navigated facility turnover and recruitment. Click here for the case study.
Delivering adaptable physician support coverage that evolved with changing hospital staffing requirements throughout the duration of the ongoing engagement. Click here for the case study.

Ready to strengthen your metabolic care program? Contact VMP today to learn how our Physician-to-Physician Support Services can help your organization overcome staffing challenges, expand access to specialized expertise, and deliver exceptional patient care with confidence. Let's build a partnership that ensures your providers have the support they need, when they need it most.

A Few Testimonials:

Just wanted to drop in and say I have really appreciated your VMP consultant on call. This week, I have found her to be very prompt and thorough in her responses to my questions and have greatly appreciated her insights and expertise. Thank you all for continuing to assist our clinic when needed.

Clinical Geneticist of a pediatric hospital

I very much appreciate your input and enjoyed reading your thoughts. I particularly enjoyed your thoughtful approach to management rather than a shot-gun “do everything” plan.

Medical Director of a Pediatric Hospitalist Service

I appreciate your partnership. It has been absolutely transformative for the quality of life for my colleague and me. LF, M.D.

Clinical Biochemical Geneticist in a metabolic clinic

VMP is an integral part of our metabolic genetics team for new consults, inpatients, and outpatient clinic. They are an excellent support service for our doctors, nurse practitioners, and dietitians who provide individualized assessments, recommendations, plans, and follow up care. The education provided on each case is above and beyond what is expected and with a clear and concise strategy to tackle undiagnosed inborn errors of metabolism and known diagnoses. MT, N.P.

NP in a metabolic clinic

You helped save my program! One of my goals was to keep my practice running until I can get more metabolic help, so having time off call while you provide coverage is important for me. I also needed to have a clear head to manage the complex cases that come in, so again, time off helped avoid burnout. I feel comfortable when you are providing call for X. He has a good understanding of metabolic genetics and has your help for complex cases. BA, M.D.

Chair of Genetics

Our institution has used VMP for 6 yrs and I have personally used VMP services for 4 years. My experience has been beyond amazing. VMP’s medical knowledge and expertise to provide guidance has helped me save many lives. During the last three years I have faced complex metabolic emergencies and the support I received from VMP has helped my patients to have a good outcome. I read extensively about metabolic disorders. Patients may not fit what has been published and treatment interventions may not be the same for everyone. VMP physicians have many years of experience and have helped me come up with management interventions unique to my patient’s situation. VMP consultants are talented educators and not only help you with recommendations but also help you understand the mechanism, pathophysiology, and recognize ultra-rare metabolic flags that may not be in books or easily available in medical literature. VMP has provided my institution with physician support, consultation, educational presentations, and interpretation of challenging NBS. Their program has been lifesaving to our institution. I am thankful for all the support provided to me and for understanding I am not alone in the unpredictable scenarios I have faced. ES, M.D.

Clinical Genetics

VMP's consulting services are invaluable. Not only do they provide highly specialized advisement for a unique patient population, but their consultants also educate the entire team requesting help and provide a detailed explanation of their thought process. As a dietitian, I learn from every encounter with VMP regarding the management of these rare disorders. JB, R.D.

Registered dietitian in a metabolic clinic

I continue to be amazed at the thought process. SW, M.D.

Clinical Genetics

VMP has taken many steps to go above and beyond as a consultant. In one instance, our VMP consultant was attending a conference a few weeks after our consult was completed. They went to a lecture, remembered our unique patient case, and later reached out to share what they learned! VMP service is really the complete package. MR

Metabolic clinic staff

Just wanted to say... I am learning so very much from these cases. It's like being at SIMD-NAMA all over again. MDP, M.D.

Clinical Genetics

We really enjoy working with you! Thank you for spending time with us this morning thinking through how to better set up our patients for success. You have a tremendous wealth of knowledge and I look forward to continuing to work with you. LRF, M.D.

Clinical Genetics and Medical Biochemical Genetics

It was good working with you the last weekend. It was pretty busy. Especially Saturday. Found your advice and recommendation very helpful and I was always able to reach you. BA, M.D.

Clinical Genetics

VMP has been invaluable to us, while we have searched and recruited a new physician. We will certainly keep you in mind if we need support in the future. JI

Sr Admin | Dept of Pediatrics

Mark S. Korson, MD

Dr. Mark S. Korson is board certified as a Clinical Biochemical Geneticist and has extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of children & adults with a wide array of inborn errors of metabolism, specifically mitochondrial & metabolic disorders.

Education:

MD - University of Toronto, Toronto Canada

Internship & Residencies:

Resident in Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada

Rotating Internship, St. Joseph's Health Center, Toronto, Canada

Clinical/Research Fellowships:

Fellow in Genetics and Metabolism, Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Academic Appointments:

Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (1990-1998)

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (1998-2000)

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA (2000-2014)

Board Certifications:

Clinical Biochemical Genetics, American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (active)

Clinical Genetics, American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (1993-2003)

Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics, (1989-2007)

Pediatrics, Royal College of Physicians of Canada

Hospital Appointments:

Chief, Metabolism Service, Floating Hospital for Children, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA (2004-2014)

Director, Inborn Errors of Metabolism Service, Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA (1990-2000)

Associate in Medicine (Genetics), Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA (1998-2000)

Other Professional Positions:

Co-founder, Co-director, "North American Metabolic Academy" Society for Inherited Metabolic Disorders

Member, former Board Member, Society for Inherited Metabolic Disorders

Member, Medical Advisory Committee, Past Founding Board Member, MitoAction, Boston, MA

Member, Medical Advisory Board, Fatty Acid Oxidation Support Group

Member, Medical Advisory Board, Organic Acidemia Association

Board Member, Mitochondrial Medicine Society

Board Member, Rare New England

Associations:

American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics

Society for Inherited Metabolic Disorders

Mitochondrial Medicine Society

Awards and Honors:

Loewen, Ondaatje, McCutcheon & Co. Educational Award for excellence in clinical teaching, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada (1986)

Young Investigator Award, Society for Inherited Metabolic Disorders(1988)

Excellence in Teaching Award, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA (2003)

Outstanding Tufts University School of Medicine Lecturer, Boston, MA (2011-2012)

Outstanding Tufts University School of Medicine Lecturer, Boston, MA (2012-2013)

Teaching:

Dr Korson has lectured or taught healthcare colleagues at numerous institutions around the country and world. Please contact us for a complete list.

Lectures:

Dr Korson has lectured to patients and to healthcare colleagues and students at numerous conferences, grand rounds, or meetings around the country and world. Please contact us for a complete list.

Publications:

Dr Korson has authored numerous clinical and research articles on an array of inborn errors of metabolism and the power of education, and has a long term interest in the clinical aspects of metabolic disorders, long distance medicine, and medical education. Please contact us for a complete list.