Program Leadership and Administration Support
Karin M. Dent, Director of the University of Utah Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling (UUGPGC), is a certified and licensed genetic counselor at the University of Utah and Professor of Pediatrics. She received a Master’s of Science degree in Genetic Counseling and Human Genetics from the University of Pittsburgh in 1998. Karin provides genetic counseling in the Medical Genetics and Genetic Counseling Clinics at Primary Children’s Hospital. In these settings, she also provides clinical supervision to genetic counseling students and other healthcare trainees.
Karin’s teaching focus is on genetic counseling and clinical genetics. She directs or co-directs six core courses in the UUGPGC curriculum, including the Genetic Counseling Seminars I, III, and IV; Research Methods for Genetic Counseling Students, Supervised Clinical Rotation in Genetic Counseling, and Genetic Counseling Research. Karin is also a Fellow in the University of Utah Academy of Health Sciences Educators, through which she hopes to continue advancing excellence in education. Her research interests include the delivery of difficult news by healthcare providers and the ethical challenges surrounding informed consent and return of results in exome and whole genome sequencing research. She has published in each of these areas.
Professor Dent is a past president of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC), was a member of several additional NSGC committees, the American Board of Genetic Counseling Credentialing Examination Committee, and chair of the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors (AGCPD) mentorship program. Currently, she is a member of the AGCPD Leadership Development Subcommittee and the Accreditation Council in Genetic Counseling Practice-Based Competencies Task Force. In the Utah community, she is a member of the State of Utah Medical Education Council on the Genetic Counselor Workforce and past member of the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing Genetic Counselors Licensing Board.
Karin enjoys teaching and supporting genetic counseling students. Her greatest reward is watching graduate students develop professionally and succeed in their genetic counselor roles.
Hannah S Anderson joined the UUGPGC leadership team with several years of genetic counseling experience. She graduated from the Indiana University Genetic Counseling Program in 2016 and worked as a prenatal clinical counselor for 2 years. Following that experience, she was cytogenetic genetic counselor at ARUP Laboratories for nearly 6 years. In both these roles provided fieldwork supervision to genetic counseling students and other healthcare trainees. As well as developing skills in pedagogy through volunteering with the UUGPGC.
Hannah’s current clinical practice specializes around vascular anomalies and phakomatoses disorders, including neurofibromatosis and PIK3CA related overgrowth syndrome. In this space Hannah has developed expertise in both germline and somatic genetic testing and novel applications of emerging technologies, such as cfDNA for vascular malformations. She enjoys working in multidisciplinary clinics with multiple providers and expertise to meet the needs of complex patients.
Hannah currently co-chairs the Admissions committee and has worked to restructure our application review process to make it more equitable to diverse applicants from all backgrounds. As Associate Program Director, Hannah focuses on student research, fieldwork coordination, and course instruction. Her research interests include applications of cfDNA, sex chromosome aneuploidies, infertility, mosaic and somatic disorders, vascular anomalies, neurofibromatosis, and dermatological genetics.
Dr. Viskochil has focused his research on the molecular genetics of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Under the mentorship of John Carey and Ray White, he was a recipient of the Young Investigator Award from the National Neurofibromatosis Foundation (now CTF; Children’s Tumor Foundation) in 1988. He is Medical Director for the University of Utah Genetics Counselor Training Program and Director of the Medical Genetics Training Program at the University of Utah. He serves as the Director of the Prader-Willi Syndrome Clinic at the University of Utah. He oversees the care of MPS (mucopolysaccharidosis) Disorders at the University of Utah and serves on the International Board of Advisors for the MPS I Registry. He provides genetics services for the TSC (tuberous sclerosis complex) Clinic at the University of Utah. His career focus has shifted to the implementation of clinical trials for rare disorders.
Bonnie Jeanne Baty is a Professor Emerita in the Department of Pediatrics. Before retiring in 2016, she established genetic counseling services at the University of Utah for several areas in perinatal, pediatric, adult, and research genetic counseling and directed the UUGPGC. She served on the American Board of Genetic Counseling, authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and was awarded the NSGC Natalie Weissberger Paul National Achievement Award and the University of Utah Distinguished Teaching Award. She currently teaches classes and provides research supervision for the UUGPGC; conducts research in genetic counseling education and professional development; serves as book series co-editor for Genetic Counseling in Practice, co-chairs the Career Arc Committee of the NSGC Late Career Special Interest Group, and is co-writing a book on genetic counseling education. She enjoys playing international folk music and dancing, outdoor recreation, and spending time with rambunctious twin grandchildren.
Luisa Rogers
Academic Program Manager
Luisa F Rogers, Academic Program Manager for the Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling has worked for the University of Utah for over 12 years. Luisa’s previous roles have strengthened her abilities in leadership and customer service, including focused attention to detail and accuracy in all that she does. Luisa has also completed the Professional Management Certificate at the University of Utah and she has completed the Management Essentials Certificate and the Business Essentials Certificated offered by the Department of Human Resources at the University of Utah.
Luisa looks forward to working with all the Students and Faculty in the UUGPGC Program for many years to come. Outside of work, Luisa enjoys spending time with her family.
Clinical Program Faculty and Staff
University of Utah – Division of Maternal & Fetal Medicine
Amber Mathiesen Phillips is a licensed and board-certified genetic counselor working in the field of perinatal genetics in the maternal fetal medicine department at the University of Utah since 2010.She has also provided genetic counseling as a contractor for family histories of cancer, pharmocogenomics, pediatrics, and other adult conditions through Genome Medical, Lineagen, and PWN Health. In addition to patient care, she acts as a co-director for the perinatal genetics course, rotation supervisor, and research committee member with the University of Utah Graduate Program of Genetic Counseling. Amber co-authored a book titled, Foundations of Perinatal Genetic Counseling, published by Oxford University Press. She earned her M.S in Genetic Counseling from the University of Utah in 2009. She has served in a variety of leadership roles and has extensive volunteer experiences, giving evidence for her passion to the helping profession.
Dr. Byrne is a Professor in the Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics at the University of Utah with specialties in Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Clinical Genetics.
In addition to her roles in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Dr. Byrne has been a part of the Grant Scott Bonham Fetal Center since its beginning and currently serves as the Director of Obstetric Services. In addition to providing consultation for complex fetal cases, Dr. Byrne leads the team for EXIT procedures and is part of the team for other fetal intervention cases. She performs many of the more complex deliveries and coordinates the multiple services required “behind the scenes”.
Dr. Byrne’s research and clinical areas of expertise include ultrasound, fetal dysmorphology, prenatal diagnosis of complex fetal anomalies and clinical coordination of care. Fetal skeletal dysplasias as well as maternal and fetal genetic and metabolic diseases are special interests.
Kali Roy is a certified and licensed genetic counselor in the perinatal genetics and maternal fetal medicine department at the University of Utah. Kali is a faculty member and co-director for the Perinatal Genetics course (HGEN 6300) in the University of Utah Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling (UUGPGC). She serves as a prenatal rotation supervisor for the program. She is co-author of the textbook Foundations of Perinatal Genetic Counseling published by Oxford University Press. Kali graduated from the University of Utah Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling in 2015. Kali previously earned a Master’s Degree in Genetics and Genomics from the University of Connecticut and was a former laboratory scientist before becoming a genetic counselor. Kali is an active member of the National Society for Genetic Counselors as well as the Association for Utah Genetic Counselors where she currently sits on the Board of Directors as President. She is also active in serving her community through various community service endeavors.
Madison Aliff
Genetic Counselor
(Faculty I)
Madison Aliff is a certified and licensed genetic counselor in the perinatal genetics and maternal fetal medicine department at the University of Utah. Madison also spends a portion of her time seeing patients in the Grant Scott Bonham Fetal Center. She received her Master of Science degree from the University of Colorado in 2021 and serves as a prenatal rotation supervisor for the program.
University of Utah – Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics
Audrey Rutz
Clinical Supervisor
(Faculty I)
Audrey is clinical pediatric genetic counselor with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry and experience in community outreach. She has over 6 years of clinical Pediatric Genetic Counseling experience. She also has a specific interest in Differences of Sex Development (DSD) and works in the DSD multidisciplinary clinic. In addition to her clinical history, she has experience in higher education working with the Genetic Counseling graduate program at the University of Utah by creating and teaching classes as well as supervising students in the pediatric genetics clinic. Additionally, she is on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee through the graduate program and is dedicated to improving program diversity and generating a more inclusive environment. She has specialized experience in science communication having completed a fellowship on science communication through the Natural History Museum of Utah. Lastly, she was the founder and head organizer of a local volunteer group, Science on Tap, that focused on broadening science education and bettering science communication within the community.
Janice Palumbos is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Utah. She has been a genetic counselor in the Division of Medical Genetics since 1983. She co-directs two courses for the UUGPGC and serves as the Pediatric Genetics Fieldwork rotation director. Janice is also a Genetics Core Faculty member for the Utah Regional Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (URLEND). Janice has a longstanding interest in children and adults with developmental disabilities and rare chromosomal and genetic disorders. She has served as a consultant to the Utah Birth Defects Registry and a Board Member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. Her research interests include the genetic etiology of congenital hearing loss and the natural history of genetic syndromes and rare chromosome abnormalities.
John C. Carey, MD, MPH, FACMGG, FAAP, is Emeritus Professor and formerly Vice-Chair of Academic Affairs, Department of Pediatrics, at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Throughout his career, Dr. Carey has been interested in birth defect syndromes and the care of children with these conditions. After undergraduate years and medical school, he trained in pediatrics and genetics & dysmorphology at the University of California San Francisco. Dr. Carey joined the faculty at the University of Utah Health in 1979 and became Chief of the Division of Medical Genetics in 1985. In 2001 he became Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Medical Genetics and held that position until 2016 and is now Editor in chief Emeritus of the Journal. Dr. Carey has authored over 300 papers, chapters, and editorials and co-authored the widely-used textbook for medical students, “Medical Genetics,” by Jorde, Carey, & Bamshad, now in its 6th edition. He is the coeditor of the book, “Cassidy & Allanson’s Management of Genetic Syndromes, 4th edition” published in 2021. Dr. Carey serves as a medical adviser and “founding professional” for the Support Organization for Trisomy 18,13 and Related Disorders (SOFT). The medical and ethical aspects of care of persons with chromosomal syndromes are currently his major academic interest.
Lorenzo Botto
Clinical Geneticist
(Fieldwork Supervisor & Lecturer)
Lorenzo Botto, MD, trained in pediatrics, pediatric cardiology, medical genetics and epidemiology in Europe and the United States. In the clinical setting, as professor of pediatrics / medical genetics at the University of Utah, Dr Botto sees families with congenital anomalies and genetic conditions in inpatient and outpatient settings. As director of the International Center on Birth Defects (ICBD), the study center of the International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Surveillance, he coordinates a team to promote better surveillance and prevention of congenital anomalies and rare diseases.
I am a board-certified Clinical Geneticist trained at Baylor College of Medicine in 2012. I joined the University of Utah School of Medicine in 2016. My clinical and scientific focuses include:
– Vascular Anomalies. I became interested in patients with syndromic and non-syndromic vascular dysplasias after noticing the lack of a unified approach to diagnosis and treatment. I am a member of the team of the Vascular Anomalies Clinic under the leadership of Johannes F. Grimmer, M.D., and in collaboration with ENT, Interventional Radiology, Dermatology, Hem/Onc, and Pathology. This interdisciplinary group is creating the opportunity for advances in the collective experience and knowledge of multiple types of vascular anomalies.
– Skeletal Dysplasias. I am a member of the team of Skeletal Dysplasia and Osteogenesis Imperfecta clinics at Primary Children’s Hospital outpatient clinic and Shriner’s Hospital since 2016, under the leadership of Lorenzo Botto, M.D. and in collaboration with the Department of Pediatric Orthopedics at Primary Children’s Hospital and Shriner’s Hospital.
– Disorders of Sexual Development (DSD). I am a member of the team of the DSD clinic at Primary Children’s Hospital since it was started under the leadership of Dr. Anthony Schaeffer (Pediatric Urology) and Dr. Mary Murray (Pediatric Endocrinology). This clinic utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to manage and counsel families of patients with disorders of sexual development. The DSD team has helped making significant progress in the approach of patients born with DSD in the NICU. This includes a protocol for gender assignment within 5 days after birth.
– Nephrogenetics. This is my most recent interdisciplinary collaboration with Dr. Raoul Nelson (Pediatrics Nephrology). Our goal is to facilitate a comprehensive and integral approach to patients with hereditary or genetic kidney disease. In less than a year since this clinic was initially launched, the demand of patients has increased significantly to the point that we will increase the number of clinics a year.
Primary Children’s Heart Center – Division of Pediatric Cardiology
Briana L. Sawyer, MS, CGC is a board-certified genetic counselor with the Heart Center Genetics Clinic who provides genetic counseling for pediatric patients and their families with congenital heart defects, arrhythmias, aortopathies, cardiomyopathies, and syndromic forms of cardiac disease.
Briana earned her Master of Science degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of Utah in 2011. Since graduating, she has provided clinical care for the University of Utah across multiple genetic counseling specialties. She spent five years in ophthalmology at the Moran Eye Center before moving to Pediatric Cardiology at Primary Children’s Hospital in 2016. In addition to her work in patient care, Briana supports the University of Utah Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling in didactic coursework and fieldwork experiences. Her teaching responsibilities include co-designing and co-directing the Practical Applications of Clinical Genetics course, as well as guest lecturing for several additional courses. Briana is also the director for the Pediatric Cardiology clinical rotation. She won the AGCPD Clinical Supervisor Award in 2020 and the UUGPGC Teacher of the year in 2022. She is passionate about promoting self-care and presence in the genetic counseling process and takes an active interest in mentorship and supporting students in implementing these skills throughout their training.
Ivana Grbelja
Genetic Counselor
Information to be posted.
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Melanie Emmerson
Genetic Counselor
(Faculty I)
Information to be posted.
Erin Baldwin
Genetic Counselor
(Faculty II)
Erin Baldwin is a certified and licensed genetic counselor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Utah. She received a Master’s of Science from California State University Northridge in 2005. She has a background in both clinical and research genetic counseling in the fields of pediatric, adult, and laboratory medicine. Erin currently serves as a study coordinator for the University of Utah’s Undiagnosed Diseases Network and Penelope Program, working with patients with complex, undiagnosed genetic conditions.
University of Utah – Department of Neurology
Emily Spoth
Genetic Counselor
(Faculty I)
Emily Spoth is a licensed genetic counselor and who earned her Master’s degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of Pittsburgh in 2018. She has worked for the University of Utah since 2018. She provides genetic counseling to patients with Huntington disease, Parkinson disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and other neurologic condition in the Department of Neurology. She also works with patients with inherited retinal dystrophies and other genetic eye conditions at the John A. Moran Eye Center. In addition to her clinical role in patient care she is also involved in several research studies and supervises students for the University of Utah Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling.
Rachel Palmquist
Genetic Counselor
Information to be posted.
Kristen Wong
Genetic Counselor
(Faculty I)
Kristen Wong, MS, CGC is a board certified and licensed genetic counselor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Utah. Following her training at the University of Michigan, she joined the Division of Pediatric Neurology where she helps patients and providers to coordinate appropriate genetic testing, help families understand the implications of their genetic results, and provide support. Her main clinical interests include neuromuscular (NM) disorders, leukodystrophies, and general neurogenetic indications. In addition to her outpatient clinical work, Kristen also participates in follow up for the state of Utah newborn screening programs for SMA and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. She enjoys working at a variety of institutions in the Salt Lake Valley including Primary Children’s Hospital, Shriners Hospital for Children-Salt Lake City, and the University of Utah MDA Clinic.
University of Utah – Huntsman Cancer Institute
Amanda Gammon
Genetic Counselor
Information to be posted.
Information to be posted.
Kinley Garfield
Genetic Counselor
Information to be posted.
Kristen Pauley
Genetic Counselor
(Fieldwork Supervisor)
Information to be posted.
Information to be posted.
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Intermountain Medical Center – Oncology
Intermountain Medical Center – Reproductive Genetics
Janessa Mladucky
Genetic Counselor
(Lecturer, Research Fieldwork Supervisor)
Janessa K. Mladucky, MS, CGC has been a genetic counselor at Intermountain Healthcare Maternal Fetal Medicine since her graduation from the University of Utah Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling in 2019. She enjoys supervising genetic counseling students during their prenatal clinical rotations as well as participating in lectures for the program. She sits on the UUGPGC Research Oversight Committee and has special interests in qualitative data analysis, prenatal, and ELSI research topics. In her free time, she enjoys mountain biking with her husband and her dog.
Lauren Eekhoff
Genetic Counselor
(Faculty I)
Lauren Eekhoff is a prenatal genetic counselor currently working for Intermountain Healthcare in Maternal Fetal Medicine. She graduated with her master’s degree in genetic counseling in 2018 from the University of South Carolina. She has special interest in supervision of genetic counseling trainees and providing shadowing and mentorship opportunities to individuals interested in the field. In her free time, Lauren enjoys hiking, caring for her many plants, and cross-stitching.
Rachel Holman
Genetic Counselor
Rachel Holman is a Board-Certified, State of Utah Licensed, lead prenatal genetic counselor in Maternal Fetal Medicine at Intermountain Healthcare. She enjoys working with the specialized MFM team to provide direct patient care at 10 different locations around the state, both in-person and utilizing telegenetic services. The focus for the prenatal group has been on designing strategies for building trust both within the department and with referring providers to ensure high end care and a culture of continuous improvement. In addition to clinical care, Rachel is a member of the IHC career growth committee, serves on the committee of development and management of the Intermountain Precision Genomics Heredigene population study, and is a consultant for the newly created IHC women and newborn testing services. She is passionate about personalized medicine and increasing efficiency, productivity, effectiveness, and equity. She lives in Murray with her husband and four thriving teenagers.
Intermountain Medical Center – Adult Cardiology
Megan Rimmasch
Genetic Counselor
(Clinical Supervisor & Lecturer)
Megan is a genetic counselor at Intermountain Medical Center on the Adult Cardiology Team. She received her master’s degree in genetic counseling from the University of Utah. Prior to this, she worked as a genetic counseling assistant at Lineagen. Outside of genetic counseling, Megan enjoys hiking, playing tennis, and reading.
Bailey Kamp
Genetic Counselor
(Clinical Supervisor)
Bailey Kamp is Megan’s partner in crime as a genetic counselor at Intermountain Medical Center on the Adult Cardiology Team. She provides genetic counseling for adult patients and their families with cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, lipid conditions, and aortopathies. She received her master’s degree in genetic counseling from Brandeis University in 2022. Prior to becoming a genetic counselor, Bailey worked as a genetic counseling assistant both at Indiana Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center and The Feingold Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. Bailey’s interest in genetic counseling include increasing access to care and coverage of services, reproductive rights, and understanding and preventing sudden death. She is very excited to get involved in the program and to become a student supervisor.
When not working, Bailey enjoys reading, participating in book clubs, cuddling with her dog Roo, listening to music, and being creative (serial craft starter). Prospective genetic counseling student contact is welcome.
Intermountain Medical Center – Laboratory Utilization
Mallory Sdano
Genetic Counselor
Information to be posted.
Laboratory, Industry, and Other Affiliated Program Faculty and Staff
University of Utah – ARUP University of Utah – ARUP
Amanda Openshaw
Genetic Counselor
(Faculty II)
Amanda Openshaw is a certified genetic counselor at ARUP Laboratories and the co-course master for the ARUP Genetic Counseling Laboratory Rotation for the University of Utah Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling. She provides additional lectures and assists with GC student courses for topics related to cytogenetics and maternal screening and has enjoyed serving previously on the GC student Admissions Committee. Ms. Openshaw’s interest in current and prospective students has led her to participate frequently in presentations to undergraduate students about the genetic counseling profession, GC career camps, and discussions with GC shadowers. She graduated from the University of Michigan Genetic Counseling Program in 2007 and has worked as a laboratory GC at ARUP since then. She is a dedicated parent and strongly encourages new and future GCs to find work-life balance in their careers.
Shelly Bosworth
Genetic Counselor
(Lecturer & Research Supervisor)
Shelly Bosworth, MS, CGC is a board-certified and licensed genetic counselor in ARUP’s cytogenetics department. She is a graduate of the UC Berkeley genetic counseling program, spending most of her career in a maternal fetal-medicine office and teaching genetics at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon. She also writes, edits, and has worked in pediatrics and client services. Shelly is an active volunteer for the National Society of Genetic Counselors, chairing the webinar subcommittee, serving on the Access and Service Delivery Committee, as well as the awards committee and the former education special interest group. Shelly supports the UU program’s lab rotation and student research in addition to guest lecturing.
Valerie Collier
Genetic Counselor
(Lecturer)
Valerie is a genetic counselor at ARUP laboratories. She received her MS from the University of Utah graduate program in genetic counseling in 2014 and is board certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. Valerie specializes in billing for genetic testing and is a member of the American Clinical laboratory Association (ACLA) CPT code committee.
Patti Krautscheid
Genetic Counselor
(Faculty II)
Patti has over 18 years of work experience in research or clinical genetics laboratory roles. She received her genetic counseling M.S. degree from the University of Michigan in 2006. Since 2006, she has been a laboratory genetic counselor with ARUP, supporting testing performed in molecular genetics and genomics laboratories. Patti has provides lectures and one-on-one student shadowing as part of the Genetic Counseling Laboratory Rotation of the UUGPGC and is currently a co-director for this course. Her areas of special interest include hemoglobinopathies, genomic testing/exome sequencing, and genetic test utilization management. Outside of work, Patti enjoys photography, quilting, and spending time outdoors camping, biking, hiking and exploring with her husband and two children.
Dr. Pasquali is a professor of Pathology, the Program Director of the ACGME accredited Fellowship program in Clinical Biochemical Genetics at the University of Utah School of Medicine, and the Section Chief and Medical Director of Biochemical Genetics at ARUP Laboratories. Dr. Pasquali earned her degrees of doctor in pharmaceutical chemistry and technology and pharmacy doctor at the University of Parma School of Pharmacy in Italy. She trained in clinical biochemical genetics at Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia where later served as the co-director of the Biochemical Genetics Laboratory. Dr. Pasquali is board certified in Clinical Biochemical Genetics. She is a member of the Society for Inherited Metabolic Disorders, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, and several other professional societies. Her research interests are newborn screening, disorders of carnitine and creatine metabolism and transport, and lysosomal storage disorders.
Lauren Wallace
Genetic Counselor
(Lecturer & Field Work Supervisor)
Lauren Wallace is a board-certified and licensed genetic counselor with ARUP’s cytogenetics department. She has a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Arizona and a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling from Brandeis University. Lauren has ten years of experience as a clinical genetic counselor. She previously worked in the Maternal Fetal Medicine department at Intermountain Healthcare where she served as a supervisor for UUGPGC student prenatal rotations. In 2018 she received the UUGPGC Outstanding Clinical Supervisor award from the Class of 2018. Lauren also has experience working in pediatric and cancer genetics. Lauren currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and daughter.
Myriad Genetics Laboratories, Inc.
Anthony Chen
Genetic Counselor
Information to be posted.
Daphne Chen
Genetic Counselor
Daphne Chen, MS, CGC, is a licensed genetic counselor who has been with Myriad Genetic Laboratories since 2014. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Colorado State University and a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Daphne co-directed the Human Genetics course for the University of Utah Genetic Counseling Program from 2017-2019, is a guest lecturer for Dixie State University, and remains involved with student supervision and education for student laboratory rotations through Myriad. Daphne was awarded the UUGPGC 2020 Annual Teaching Award by the Class of 2020, as an instructor who had a significant impact on the students’ educational experience within the program. Outside of work, Daphne is an avid hiker, sports fanatic, and amateur chef.
Heidi McCoy Gorringe
Genetic Counselor
Information to be posted.
Megan Judkins
Genetic Counselor
Megan Judkins was born and raised on a potato farm in Southern Idaho. She received her BS in Health Sciences (Biochemistry focus) from the College of Idaho. She moved to Salt Lake City in 2007 and has lived here ever since. She loves the mountains and wide-open spaces of the West. Megan graduated from the University of Utah Genetic Counseling Program in 2011 and has worked in both clinical and laboratory genetic counseling roles. Currently, she manages a team of scientists that work on variant classification for expanded carrier screening at Myriad Women’s Health. Megan enjoys working on various projects and committees with the University of Utah Genetic Counseling Program. She has worked on the admissions committee, co-directed the Human Genetics course in 2020, and worked on the curriculum planning committee. Megan is passionate about professional development, career planning, and building positive work environments. Outside of work, Megan and her husband have 4 kids (2 boys and 2 girls) and two dogs that keep them very busy. In her free time, Megan is usually working in her garden, going on hikes in the mountains, and enjoying nature as much as possible.
Susan Manley
Genetic Counselor
Information to be posted.
Susana San Román
Genetic Counselor
(Faculty II)
Susana San Román, MS, LCGC, has been with the Medical Information Liaison team at Myriad Genetic Laboratories since February of 2014. She has an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from Washington University in St. Louis and a graduate degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of Colorado. Susana’s special projects at Myriad include training and on-boarding of new hires, providing support to the international laboratory, and consenting patients into RNA studies for variant classification. She is originally from Mexico City, and enjoys handling requests and answering questions from customers that speak Spanish only. She has also served as the supervisor for the Myriad Summer Rotation through the University of Utah Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling since 2015. She is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors and of the Association for Utah Genetic Counselors.
Pregnancy Risk Line / Mother To Baby
Marsha Leen-Mitchell
Health Educator
Marsha Leen-Mitchell has been with MTB Utah for over 30 years. She currently serves as Secretary for the Board of Directors and Membership Co-Chair for the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS). She has published numerous scholarly articles in teratology and has provided education and training for hundreds students (PharmD and Genetic Counseling) and for thousands of health care providers and families. Her projects also include working with underserved communities, specifically American Indian/Alaska Native and Migrant Farmworkers.
Alfred N. Romeo
(Faculty II)
Alfred N. Romeo, BA, BSN, RN, MS, PhD, works at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services with MotherToBaby Utah / Pregnancy Risk Line as a teratogen information specialist and at the University of Utah as an editor for the Medical Home Portal. His experiences include working as a nurse in newborn intensive care; teaching college health education classes; training medical homes in improving services for children with special health care needs; training young adults with disabilities in leadership and advocacy; and helping families learn about child development. He is the current President of the professional society, the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS)/MotherToBaby.
Utah State Department of Health
Genome Medical
Other Contributors
Elena Coupal
Genetic Counselor
(Fieldwork Supervisor & Lecturer)
Elena Coupal is a senior genetic counselor specializing in molecular genetics at ARUP Laboratories. She received her MS from the University of Utah Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling in 2016 and is board certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. She is licensed by the state of Utah and is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, including the Lab/Industry SIG. Elena is passionate about teaching and enjoys giving lectures for the UUGPGC program, serving on the Research Oversight Committee, and collaborating with colleagues to develop the ARUP Laboratory Rotation course for GC students and ARUP fellows.
Jennifer Dailey-Provost
PH.D. Student
Jen Dailey-Provost completed her BS in Business at the University of Utah and her MBA at Westminster College. Currently, Jen is pursuing her PhD in Public Health at the University of Utah. Her academic and research priorities include the epidemiological science of health disparities for marginalized communities.
Jen is also a current member of the Utah House of Representatives, elected in 2018 to serve the constituents of House District 24 in downtown Salt Lake City. Prior to serving in elected office, Jen worked as a non-profit executive, first with the Utah Association for Justice, advocating for 7th Amendment rights, and later for the Utah Academy of Family Physicians, focusing on primary care healthcare and public health, specifically on improving healthcare outcomes for all Utahns.
Jen’s policy priorities and passions include universal access to healthcare, breaking down inequities that lead to disparities in outcomes for marginalized communities, criminal justice reform, women’s health, better treatment for mental health and substance abuse disorder, including addressing the opioid crisis, alleviating homelessness, and addressing our current gun violence epidemic.
She lives in Salt Lake City with her husband and three daughters, where they all enjoy our incredible access to the outdoors. In addition to hiking and skiing with her family, Jen loves to spend her spare time running, reading and knitting.
Christine Miller
Genetic Counselor
(Research Supervisor and Lecturer)
Christine Miller has worked as a genetic consultant at ARUP Laboratories in molecular genetics for 19 years. She serves as a liaison between the molecular genetics laboratory and ordering health care providers, writes custom molecular sequencing test interpretations and coordinates new test development with marketing, research and development, clinical variant scientists, medical directors, and laboratory supervisors. Her clinical specialization is in exome sequencing and other next generation sequencing assays.
She earned a BS in Biology from James Madison University and a MS in Genetic Counseling from the University of South Carolina. She is a diplomat of the American Board of Medical Genetics in Genetic Counseling. Prior to her position at ARUP Laboratories, Ms. Miller was employed for 13 years as a perinatal genetic counselor in both HMO and University settings. She spearheaded the effort to achieve licensure for genetic counselors in the state of Utah in 2001. She currently holds an adjunct faculty position at the University of Utah, and serves on the research oversight committee for the University of Utah Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling.
Jennifer Saam
Genetic Counselor
Information to be posted.