Family physicians are at the frontier in health promotion. They have opportunity to identify many familial genetic risks prior to health crises. Early diagnosis allows time to discuss choices: schedules for screening, change of diet, preventive drug treatment, and/or reproductive alternatives. Investigation of risk is less time consuming when families already have a general awareness of how genetic disease is inherited. In geographic areas underserved by genetics clinic staff, we are using CEIC job-development monies to train laypeople to organize community workshops on health and "family trees". Family physicians, together with informed laypeople, succeed in transforming genetic theory into practice.