Faculty Profiles
Program Leadership / Physician Faculty / Genetic Counseling Faculty / Supervision Faculty
Program Leadership:
Catherine A. Wicklund, MS, CGC
Director
Assistant Professor, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Genetic Medicine
Cathy Wicklund received her bachelor of science degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and a master of science degree in genetic counseling from the Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling at the University of Texas Graduate School in Biomedical Sciences at Houston in 1993. Cathy received her board certification from ABGC in 1996. After graduation, Cathy worked in prenatal and pediatrics at Cooper Hospital in New Jersey. Cathy joined the University of Texas Medical School-Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences in 1996 where she was the director of Prenatal Genetic Counseling Services. In addition, she was the co-director of the Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling at the University of Texas.
After 10 years at the University of Texas she joined the Northwestern Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling as the associate director in 2006 and became director in August of 2007. In addition, she provides prenatal genetic counseling services in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Cathy is also very active in the National Society of Genetic Counselors. She co-chaired the 2005 Annual Education Conference and was on the Board of Directors as Region V Representative (1999-2001) and Secretary (2002-2004). She just completed her tenure as NSGC President in December of 2008. As President of NSGC, she has represented the organization at several national committees including the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society and she is a member of the Institute of Medicine Roundtable on Translating Genomic-Based Research for Health. She is also active on a state level, working with the Illinois Department of Public Health on genetics education and finance and reimbursement issues, and as a member of the Genetic and Metabolic Diseases Advisory Committee. Her research interests include cross-cultural communication, psychosocial and counseling issues, prenatal diagnosis, decision making, billing and reimbursement and delivery of genetic services.
As director of the program, she works closely with the associate director, medical director and assistant director on administration, overall curriculum and clinical development, clinical rotations, and thesis development.
Suzanne O’Neill, MS, PhD, CGC
Associate Director
Assistant Professor, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medicine and Center for Genetic Medicine
Suzanne O’Neill received a bachelor of science degree in biology and a master's degree in liberal studies (with an emphasis in genetics) from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. After working for over 20 years at Stony Brook in a variety of positions in research, teaching and administration, she completed genetic counseling training at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, receiving a master's degree in genetic counseling in 1998 and certification by the ABGC in 1999. While working as a cancer genetic counselor at UPMC/Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh, she continued her studies at the University of Pittsburgh, and received a PhD in Human Genetics in 2001. Her dissertation research focused on development and use of a computerized method to perform breast cancer genetic risk assessment.
Dr. O’Neill was clinical researcher and genetic counselor at the Center for Medical Genetics at NorthShore University HealthSystem for six years, where she developed MyGenerations, an online cancer family history and risk assessment tool for the public. She was also a principal investigator in the Centers for Disease Control Family Healthware Trial and remains active in their Family History Initiative. Other research interests include understanding the psychological aspects of risk assessment and provision.
Dr. O’Neill is active in mentoring the research of genetic counseling students, co-teaches the research seminar, and provides a variety of lectures on quantitative genetics, risk assessment and risk communication. Her keen interest in educating and training students led her to assume the role of associate director of the program in 2008.
Judith Feigon Schiffman, MSW
Assistant Director
Instructor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Center for Genetic Medicine
Judith Feigon Schiffman is a clinical social worker with a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a graduate of the Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Program at the Institute for Psychoanalysis. She is a faculty member of the Department of Psychiatry at Northwestern University. She has worked extensively with children and their families, having a special interest in developmental issues of children with chronic illness and disability, and their siblings. Recently she has been developing a website that lists children’s books about genetic issues and syndromes.
Judy is on the faculties of the Institute for Clinical Social Work and the Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Program. In both of these programs, she teaches courses on infant development, psychosocial aspects of genetics and disabilities. She recently became director of the Barr-Harris Center for Childhood Grief in Chicago.
Judy has been with the graduate program since its inception and was appointed assistant director in 2002. She designed the sequence of psychosocial courses and is responsible for teaching coursework in psychosocial aspects of genetic counseling, disabilities and chronic illness, and an advanced genetic counseling seminar. She also is an advisor to students and mentor on research projects.
Jeffrey Dungan, MD, FACOG, FACMG
Medical Director
Associate Professor, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Jeffrey Dungan is an associate professor in the Division of Reproductive Genetics in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and clinical genetics, his clinical expertise and research interests are in prenatal diagnosis, genetic screening and ultrasonography. He is also keenly interested in student and resident education, having served as the clerkship director at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. As medical director, Dr. Dungan is involved in multiple areas of the graduate program, including student supervision and research, the Research Oversight Committee, the Advisory Committee, and the Admissions Committee. He also lectures in several courses.
Mary N. Langjahr, BA
Program Coordinator
Mary received her bachelor of arts degree from California State University, San Bernardino, in public administration. She has been with the program for two years and is responsible for coordinating various components of courses and lectures, clinical rotations, admissions, and graduation. Mary is responsible for the day to day operations of the program and assisting students with program related issues.
Physician Faculty:
Barbara Burton, MD, FACMG
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Dr. Burton is a professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Medical School and the Clinical Practice Director for the Division of Genetics at the Children's Memorial Hospital. Prior to coming to Northwestern, she served as head of the Division of Genetics at the University of Illinois at Chicago and previously at the Wake Forest University Medical School. Dr. Burton is Board Certified in Pediatrics, Clinical Genetics and Biochemical Genetics. She directed the Reproductive Genetics program at Michael Reese Hospital for ten years and, prior to that, developed and directed a statewide maternal serum AFP screening program in North Carolina. She has authored over 100 publications in the medical literature, many of them focused on the areas of prenatal diagnosis and maternal serum screening.
Joel Charrow, MD, FACMG
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Dr. Joel Charrow is a Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Medical School, and the Director of the Section of Clinical Genetics at Children's Memorial Hospital, where he has directed the clinical program and diagnostic laboratory since 1981. Board certified in Pediatrics, Clinical Genetics and Biochemical Genetics, he has a wealth of experience in genetic counseling and carrier screening for genetic disorders. He has published numerous articles, reviews and book chapters on various areas of pediatric and general genetics, with a particular focus in neurofibromatosis, Jewish genetic disorders, and lysosomal storage diseases.
Sherman Elias, MD, FACOG, FACMG
Professor and Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Sherman Elias is currently the Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and is a clinical geneticist with over 20 years of experience. Dr. Elias was awarded his medical degree from the University of Kentucky, and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Louisville, followed by fellowships in genetics at Yale University and Northwestern University. Dr. Elias's professional career began at Northwestern in 1978, where he held a faculty appointment until 1986, followed by appointments at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. Most recently Dr. Elias was the Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Illinois at Chicago from 1998-2003. Dr. Elias is distinguished internationally in reproductive endocrinology and genetics. He is a member of many prominent academic societies, including the American Association for Advancement of Science and has held important leadership positions in many professional societies.
Wendy Rubinstein, MD, PhD, FACMG, FACP
Medical Director, Center for Medical Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem
Associate Professor, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Member, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
Dr. Rubinstein earned her MD and PhD degrees in the Medical Scientist Training Program at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and is a board-certified internist. After completing a clinical and research fellowship at the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, she achieved dual board certification in Clinical Genetics and Clinical Molecular Genetics.
Dr. Rubinstein’s clinical and research efforts span the spectrum from gene discovery, to medical care of patients and families, to public health. She is the recipient of a National Cancer Institute Career Development Award focusing on DNA microarray research in hereditary breast-ovarian cancer. She held a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study computerized family history tools in primary care practice to prevent cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure awarded Dr. Rubinstein a grant to identify new familial breast cancer susceptibility genes using DNA microarrays. The Center for Medical Genetics collaborates with international researchers investigating surgical endpoints and modifying genes in BRCA1/2 carriers (PROSE study); Gynecologic Oncology Group investigators evaluating screening and prevention of ovarian cancer; and the Pancreatic Cancer Collaborative Registry (PCCR) via the Pancreatic Cancer Family Registry.
Lee Shulman, MD, FACOG, FACMG
Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Head, Section of Reproductive Genetics
Lee P. Shulman MD is Northwestern Memorial Hospital Distinguished Physician, Professor and Head of the Section of Reproductive Genetics in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. He received his bachelors degree from Cornell University and his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College. Dr. Shulman then completed his internship and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at North Shore University Hospital in New York, where he served as Chief resident during his final year. From there he completed a fellowship in Reproductive Genetics at the University of Tennessee, Memphis under the guidance of Drs. Joe Leigh Simpson and Sherman Elias. In 1989 he joined the Ob/Gyn faculty of the University of Tennessee, Memphis and became the Director of Reproductive Genetics in 1994. In 1999 he relocated to the University of Illinois at Chicago where he served as Deputy Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Director of the Divisions of Reproductive Genetics and Ambulatory Care Services and Practices and as Medical Director of the Center of Excellence in Women’s Health.
Dr. Shulman is a diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Board of Medical Genetics, a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a Founding Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics. Among his current appointments are Senior Lecturer in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital/Rush University Medical School and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Dr. Shulman is a member of numerous regional, national and international organizations that pertain to the health and care of women. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the emedicine.com textbook and the Yearbook of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Corresponding Editor of the Journal of Reproductive Medicine and is the Associate Editor of The Female Patient. He also serves on the editorial board of three other journals and as a peer-reviewer for 21 journals. A frequent contributor to the peer-reviewed and informational literature with over 100 peer-reviewed articles and over 40 book chapters, Dr. Shulman serves on governmental, foundation and pharmaceutical advisory boards and is currently on the Medical Advisory Board for the Chicago Center for Jewish Genetic Diseases. His major research focus is in reproductive genetics, contraception and medical education.
Darrel Waggoner, MD, FACMG
Associate Professor of Human Genetics and Pediatrics
Medical Director, Human Genetics, University of Chicago
Dr. Waggoner specializes in the treatment of metabolic and genetic disorders in children and adults. He sees patients in the medical genetics, craniofacial, and neurogenetics clinics, and provides genetics consultation services for patients within the medical center.
Dr. Waggoner's research includes genotype/phenotype studies in patients diagnosed with 9p deletion (9p-) syndrome, exploring greater understanding of the genetic basis of medical problems associated with this condition. He is involved in the family support group for 9p-. His interests also include studying the referral patterns for clinical genetic testing in specific diseases, and determining factors that can help primary care doctors learn to improve the use of these tests.
As director of the clinical and laboratory genetics training program at the University of Chicago, and the medical genetics course in the Pritzker School of Medicine, Dr. Waggoner is involved in curriculum development and teaching for medical students and residents.
Genetic Counseling Faculty:
Rebecca Anderson, MS, CGC
Genetic Counselor, University of Chicago
Rebecca Anderson graduated from the genetic counseling program at the University of Colorado in 1999 and was certified by the ABGC in 1999. She is the senior genetic counselor in the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Chicago. She provides pediatric genetic counseling and coordinates multiple research projects. She works on several research projects involving the mapping of complex traits as well as a study of chromosome 9p. She supervises students during the general genetics rotation at the University of Chicago, participates on the Clinical Rotations Committee, and mentors student thesis projects.
Sharon Aufox, MS, CGC
Coordinator, NUgene Research Project, Center for Genetic Medicine
Sharon Aufox graduated from the Sarah Lawrence Genetic Counseling program in 1996, and was certified by the ABGC in 1996. Sharon worked in prenatal and pediatric genetics at Wake Forest University between1996 - 2000, and as a prenatal genetic counselor for Rockford Memorial Hospital from 2000-2002. Since 2002, she has been a research coordinator for the NUgene project in the Center for Genetic Medicine at Northwestern. Sharon is involved in co-teaching the research seminar, and supervising students in the research rotation.
Kristin Culp Clemenz, MS, CGC
Genetic Counselor, Children’s Memorial Hospital
Kristin Culp Clemenz graduated from the genetic counseling program at Brandeis University in 1996 and was certified by the ABGC in 1999. She is the sole genetic counselor for the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplant at Children’s Memorial Hospital. Within the division, Kristin covers the sickle cell, hemophilia, thalassemia, general hematology and retinoblastoma services. She also supervises students who come to CMH for the hematology rotation, is active on the clinical rotation committee and provides several lectures for the program.
Dania M. D’Achille, MS, CGC
Genetic Counselor, Children’s Memorial Hospital
Dania has been a pediatric genetic counselor in the Division of Genetics, Birth Defects, and Metabolism at Children’s Memorial Hospital, in Chicago, Illinois, since 2003, and is the program coordinator and counselor of both the 22q11 Deletion Syndrome Program and the Lysosomal Storage Diseases Program. She also holds faculty positions in the Department of Pediatrics and the Genetic Counseling Graduate Program in the Center for Genetic Medicine at Northwestern University. Dania received her bachelor’s degree in biology with minors in Spanish and psychology from Villanova University and her master’s degree in genetic counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical College of Virginia. She is board certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling.
Lisa Dellefave, MS, CGC
Instructor, University of Chicago
Lisa Dellefave graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2001, and was certified by the ABGC in 2002. She was a genetic counselor in the Department of Neurology at Northwestern from 2001-2005 and was an adult genetic counselor in the Center for Medical Genetics at NorthShore University HealthSystem from 2005-2006. She is currently a genetic counselor in the Department of Cardiology at The University of Chicago, specializing in inherited cardiovascular and neuromuscular disease, where she supervises genetic counseling students. She also coordinates the Genetic Lecture Series and co-directs the "Genetic Counseling for Adult Complex Genetic Conditions: Cancer Genetics and Beyond" course.
Melissa Dempsey, MS, CGC
Genetic Counselor, University of Chicago
Melissa Dempsey graduated from the genetic counseling program at Indiana University in 2004 and was certified by the ABGC in 2005. She is assistant director of clinical services and education for the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at The University of Chicago. She has worked on multiple grant applications, publications and research projects. She is co-supervisor of the research/lab rotation, active on the Medical Genetics Committee, and provides several lectures for the program. Melissa is the NSGC State Representative for Illinois and a member of the Clinical Advisory Board for the Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Foundation.
Sandra Donkervoort, MS
Genetic Counselor, Neuromuscular Disorders Program, Northwestern University
Sandra Donkervoort graduated from the Sarah Lawrence Genetic Counseling program in 2007. She is genetic counselor at the Neuromuscular Disorders Programs which includes the Lois Insolia ALS and MDA clinic and the The Les Turner ALS Research Laboratory. Sandra is involved in co-facilitating clinical practicum and supervising students in the neurology rotation.
Taya J. Fallen, MS, CGC
Instructor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Taya Fallen graduated from the genetic counseling program at Northwestern in 2001, and was certified by the ABGC in 2002. Taya worked at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, from 2001-2002, providing prenatal, adult and cancer genetic counseling. She started the Cancer Genetics Program with the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation in May of 2002 and provided cancer risk assessment for the Department of Medicine's Division of Hematology and Oncology through March 2008. She currently works in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Section of Reproductive Genetics, providing prenatal and cancer genetic counseling. Taya co-moderates Medical Communication and teaches the cancer genetic coursework for the program.
Megan Hinton, MS, CGC
Instructor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Megan Hinton received her master’s degree from the Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling at Northwestern University in 2000, and was certified by the ABGC in 2002. She started her career in genetic counseling at the Fetal Diagnostic Center of Evanston Hospital and the Evanston Health Department, and has been at Northwestern since 2001. Megan is active in the National Society of Genetic Counselors, participating in the Abstract Committee and Regional Conference Planning Committee, and previously as the Illinois State representative. Megan is also a member of the Illinois Genetic Task Force, and she has been active in the legislative pursuit of genetic counseling licensure in Illinois. Megan currently provides general and comprehensive prenatal and preconception genetic counseling for a variety of indications, and supervises graduate students in the both clinics.
Michelle Kambich, MS, CGC
Genetic Counselor, Fetal Diagnostics Center, NorthShore University HealthSystem
Instructor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Michelle Kambich received her master’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1990, and was board certified by the ABGC in 1993. She was a perinatal genetic counselor at the University of Illinois Medical Center from 1991 to 1992. She is currently a genetic counselor and serves as the perinatal diagnostic coordinator at NorthShore University HealthSystem. She provides clinical supervision in the prenatal rotation, various lectures and research project oversight.
Katherine Kim, MS, CGC
Genetic Counselor, Children’s Memorial Hospital
Katherine Kim received her master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1998, and was certified by the ABGC in 1999. She currently provides pediatric genetic counseling at Children’s Memorial Hospital, with a focus on skeletal dysplasias and general genetics. Katherine supervises graduate students in the above clinics, providing comprehensive pediatric genetic counseling for a variety of indications, and is active on various committees and in research project supervision.
Stacey Koszut, MS, CGC
Instructor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Stacey Plaga Koszut graduated from the Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling at Northwestern University in 2005. She is currently a genetic counselor in the Division of Reproductive Genetics at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and provides clinical supervision and related lectures within the program.
Elizabeth Leeth, MS, CGC
Fetal Diagnostics Center, NorthShore University HealthSystem
Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Beth Leeth received her master’s degree from Indiana University in 1993, and was certified by the ABGC in 1996. For the past 14 years, she has provided prenatal genetic counseling at NorthShore University HealthSystem in the fetal diagnostics section, where she is currently the manager. Beth is active in the NSGC and the Genetic Task Force of Illinois (previously serving as secretary in 1996), and is a member of the Medical Advisory Board for the Disorders of Chromosome 16 Foundation. Beth is both a supervisor of the prenatal rotation at NorthShore and the instructor for the three primary genetics courses. Beth was first elected to the NSGC Board of Directors, as the Region 4 Representative and is currently the secretary/treasurer.
Amy A. Lemke, MS, PhD, CGC
Research Assistant Professor, Center for Genetic Medicine
Amy Lemke received a MS degree in genetic counseling from the University of California-Berkeley and a PhD in public health and community health sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a research assistant professor in the Center for Genetic Medicine and is a student advisor and lecturer in the program. She also works with students on Illinois Department of Public Health professional education grant projects. Amy has directed a number of funded projects to deliver genetic services to underserved communities and is currently conducting research to assess various stakeholder views toward collecting and sharing genetic research data. Dr. Lemke is a qualitative and quantitative researcher and her research areas of interest include public health genomics, ethical/legal/social issues in genomics, translational genomics, community-based participatory research and community consultation models, and cross-cultural issues in underserved populations.
Rachelle Lorenz, MS, CGC
Genetic Counselor, University of Chicago
Rachelle Lorenz graduated from Sarah Lawrence College Graduate Program in Human Genetics in 2005. She currently works at The University of Chicago's Department of Human Genetics in prenatal and pediatric genetics. She also acts as the clinic coordinator for the Fetal Center, which facilitates management and treatment for complex high-risk pregnancies.
Eve Simi, MS, CGC
Genetic Counselor, Fetal Diagnostic Center, NorthShore University HealthSystem
Instructor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Eve Simi graduated from the Northwestern Genetic Counseling program in 1999, and was certified by the ABGC in 2002. Eve worked in prenatal and pediatric genetics at Cook County Hospital in Chicago from 1999-2003. She has been a prenatal genetic counselor since 2003 in the Fetal Diagnostic Center at NorthShore University HealthSystem. Eve also supervises the prenatal rotation at Evanston Hospital and gives lectures for this program.
Maureen Smith, MS, CGC
Clinical Director, NUgene, Center for Genetic Medicine
Maureen Smith received a master of science degree in human genetics from Sarah Lawrence College in 1987 and was board certified in genetic counseling by the ABMG in 1990. She has more than 14 years of genetic counseling experience in the areas of prenatal, pediatric, adult and cancer genetics.
Maureen joined Northwestern in 2003 as the clinical director for the NUgene genetic banking study. She has extensive experience in project management, obtaining informed consent for genetic testing and research and developing educational materials on genetic topics for public and professional audiences. Maureen is an active member of the ASHG and the NSGC, and served as NSGC President in 1997-1998. Maureen provides lectures in the "Your Future as a Genetic Counseling Professional" class, organizes seminars on professional topics, and mentors student thesis projects.
Amber P. Trivedi, MS, CGC
Instructor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Amber Trivedi is a genetic counselor for the Northwestern Ovarian Cancer Early Detection and Prevention Program and the Division of Reproductive Genetics at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH). Trivedi earned her bachelor's degree in behavioral biology from Johns Hopkins University in 1997, and her master's degree in genetic counseling from Northwestern University in 2005.
Prior to her genetic counseling career, Trivedi worked for several years as a research coordinator for breast cancer clinical trials at UCLA and Northwestern University. During that time, she coordinated trials measuring survivorship quality of life, surgical oncology, imaging, and chemoprevention outcomes. Trivedi also facilitated breast cancer prevention educational sessions for the general public, and worked with community healthcare providers to improve cancer prevention awareness in minority populations.
At NMH, Trivedi provides genetic risk assessment for patients at risk for hereditary cancer, performs reproductive genetic counseling, and coordinates hereditary cancer research protocols. Trivedi has a special research interest in how hereditary cancer may affect young women’s social and reproductive options. She is a member of the expert panel for Bright Pink, a non-profit organization devoted to breast and ovarian cancer prevention and early detection in high-risk young women.
Kristen Vogel, MS, CGC
Center for Medical Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem
Kristen Vogel received a master of science degree in genetic counseling from the University of Pittsburgh in May of 2005. While in graduate school, Kristen worked with the Center for Minority Health where she helped to pioneer the Family Health History Initiative, a community outreach program that incorporates the use of pedigrees as risk assessment tools in the African-American community. Kristen joined the Center for Medical Genetics in 2007 and provides risk assessment and genetic counseling to adults at risk for various adult-onset genetic conditions. She is also the research coordinator for the NorthShore University HealthSystem Pancreatic Cancer Family Registry (PCFR).
Scott Weissman, MS, CGC*
Center for Medical Genetics, NorthShore University HealthSystem
Scott Weissman graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign in 1998 with a BS in biology. After graduation, he spent two years at the Molecular Oncology Diagnostic Laboratory at UIC developing expertise in molecular genetic techniques used in various hematologic and oncologic disorders. He completed the Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling at Northwestern in 2002, and was certified by the ABGC in 2002. He is an instructor in the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Scott provides adult and cancer genetic counseling in the Center for Medical Genetics in Evanston, supervises genetic counseling students in those rotations, and is a thesis advisor/ committee member. He is active in the NSGC and is a past co-chair of the Cancer Special Interest Group.
Heather Hall Wetzel, MS, CGC
Genetic Counselor, Department of Oncology
Heather Wetzel received her master’s degree from the Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling at Northwestern University in 2006. For three years she worked at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the Department of Pediatrics, where she co-supervised pediatric rotations. Currently, Heather provides cancer genetic counseling in the Department of XXXX. Heather gives several lectures in the program and provides clinical supervision. Heather is an active member of the Genetics Task Force of Illinois (GTFI) and currently serves as secretary.
Clinical Supervision Faculty:
Northwestern University
Department of Neurology
Sandra Donkervoort, MS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Division of Reproductive Genetics
Taya Fallen, MS, CGC
Megan Hinton, MS, CGC
Stacey Koszut, MS, CGC
Amber Trivedi, MS, CGC
Gwendolyn Steffen, MS, CGC
Cancer Genetics Program
Heather Wetzel, MS, CGC
Northwestern-Affiliated Clinical Supervisors
Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago
Brad Angle, MD
Barbara Burton, MD
Joel Charrow, MD
Kristin Culp Clemenz, MS, CGC
Dania D’Achille, MS, CGC
Bethany Friedman, MS, CGC
Michelle Gilats, MS, CGC
Danielle Hartung, MS, CGC
Maria Helgeson, MS
Katherine Kim, MS, CGC
Andrea Paras, MS, CGC
Victoria Roberts, MS, CGC
Lindsay Walker, MS, CGC
NorthShore University HealthSystem - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Angela Bakke, MS
Leslie Geibel, MS, CGC
Michelle Kambich, MS, CGC
Megan Latchaw, MS
Elizabeth Leeth, MS, CGC
Ira Salafsky, MD
Richard Silver, MD
Eve Simi, MS, CGC
NorthShore University HealthSystem - Center for Medical Genetics
Anna Newlin, MS, CGC
Wendy Rubinstein, MD, PhD
Scott Weissman, MS, CGC
Kristen Vogel, MS, CGC
Other Chicago-Area, ABGC-Approved Clinical Rotation Sites
Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn
Jeannette Israel, MD, FACMG
Terri Blasé, MS, CGC
Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital, Chicago
Rachel Pothast, MS, CGC
Cook County Hospital, Chicago
Rebecca Burr, MS, CGC
Kiren Mann, MS, CGC
Susan Ecchiveri, MD
Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood
Sara Cherny, MS
Carolyn Jones, MD, PhD
Kelly Moyer, MS, CGC
Bryanna Cox, MS, CGC
Dawn Mikelionis, MS
Lauren Bowling, MS, CGC
University of Chicago Medical Center - Department of Cardiology
Lisa Dellefave, MS, CGC
University of Chicago Medical Center - Department of Hematology/Oncology
Olufunmilayo Olopade, MD
Cassandra Gulden, MS, CGC
Sarah Jackson, MS, CGC
University of Chicago Medical Center - Department of Molecular Genetics
Rebecca Anderson, MS, CGC
Soma Das, PhD
Melissa Dempsey, MS, CGC
William Dobyns, MD
Sara Halbach, MS, CGC
Rachelle Lorenz, MS, CGC
Chris Tan, MS
Darrel Waggoner, MD
University of Chicago Medical Center - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Marion Verp, MD, FACMG
Elyse Weber, MS, CGC
University of Illinois at Chicago - Center for Handicapped Children
Richard Dineen, MS, CGC
Catharine Harris, MD
George Hoganson, MD
Allan Horowitz, MD
University of Illinois at Chicago - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Lindsey Waitzman, MS, CGC
Rush University Medical Center
Kisha Johnson, MS, CGC
Paul Wong, MD
Paula Wei-Tong Hsu, MD
