Research Projects
*Presented at national meeting
†Journal article published
◊Submitted for publication
Class of 2012
Katie Bergstrom
Patient empowerment and internet information-seeking behavior
Committee: Eric Rosenthal, MS, PhD, LCGC (Chair); Erin Rothwell, PhD; Janice Palumbos, MS, CGC
Meghan Chirpich
Improving use and efficacy of interpretive services: Recommendations from interpreters
Committee: Louisa Stark, PhD (Chair); Erin Rothwell, PhD; Bonnie Baty, MS, LCGC
Erin Heckaman
Practice makes perfect: Are genetic counselors adequately trained during graduate school for the different specialties within the field?
Committee: Chris Miller, MS, LCGC (Chair); Rena Vanzo, MS, LCGC; Eric Rosenthal, MS, PhD, LCGC; David Viskochil, MD, PhD
Sumathi Iyer
Influence of breast feeding on waist circumference in women with gestational diabetes
Committee: Heather Major, MD (Chair); Kristina Milan, MD; Janice Rinsky, MS, LCGC
Danielle Lemke
Effects of hippotherapy on people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMN)
Committee: Kathryn Swoboda, MD (Chair); Erin Rothwell, PhD; Tara Newcomb, MS, LGC; Benjamin Chisum
Alekhya Narravula
Analysis of incidental findings in exome sequencing data
Committee: Sean Tavtigian, PhD (Chair); Therese Tuohy, PhD, LCGC; Steven Bleyl, MD, PhD
Jade Tinker
Assessment of autism spectrum disorder in neurofibromatosis 1 patients
Committee: David Stevenson, MD (Chair); David Viskochil, MD, PhD; Paul Carbone, MD; Amber Mathiesen, MS, LCGC
Class of 2011
*Megan Bell
Motivations for biobanking in dementing diseases. [2011 NSGC poster presentation]
Committee: Erin Rothwell, Ph.D ; Vickie Venne, MS, LCGC; Norman Foster, MD.
Megan Blanksma
Where's my answer? Understanding counseling issues surrounding VUS in BRCA 1/2 genes.
Committee: Vickie Venne, MS, LCGC (chair); Sean Tavtigiant, Ph.D; Jennifer Saam, MS, Ph.D., LCGC.
Christina Hawbaker
Surveying state newborn screening programs: The Role of genetic counselors.
Committee: Marzia Pasquali, Ph.D. (Chair); Amanda Openshaw, MS, LCGC; Eric Rothwell, PhD.
Lindsay Meyers
Diagnosing mitochonddrial disease: Which signs and symptoms are the most relevant?.
Committee: Rena Vanzo, MS, LCGC (Chair); Nicola Longo, MD, PhD; Kathryn Swoboda, MD
*Renee Rider
Maternal age and major structural birth defects in twins in Utah. [2011 NSGC poster presentation]
Committee: Marcia Feldkamp, Ph.D. (Chair); David Stevenson, MD; Janice Rinsky, MS, LCGC.
Briana Sawyer
Evaluation of adherence to Huntington disease testing guidelines
Committee: Chris Miller, MS, LCGC (Chair); Bonnie Baty, MS, LCGC; Erin Rothwell, PhD
Erin Youell
Perspectives on new molecular testing for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: Patient awareness and attitudes.
Committee: Jamie McDonald, MS, LCGC (Chair); Amanda Gammon, MS, c|LCGC; Pina Bayrack-Toydemir, MD, PhD.
Class of 2010
Lindsay Boortz
Family CARE (Colorectal Cancer Awareness and Risk Education) Project: Intervention fidelity and reliability.
Committee: Anita Kinney, Ph.D (chair); Amanda Gammon, MS, LGC; Lisa Aspinwall, Ph.D.
Larissa Hansen
Health care transition for individuals with NF1:Patient, parent, and provider perspectives.
Committee: Karen Dent, MS, CGC (chair);Caren Frost, Ph.D, MPH; David Viskochil, MD, Ph.D. Michelle Kempf-Weibel, MS.
Chien-Hui Chuang
Tailoring patient letters to breast cancer patients - Patient needs and preferences.
Committee: Vickie Venne, MS, CGC (Chair); Caren Frost, PhD, MPH; Eric Rosenthal, MS, PhD, CGC
*Heidi McCoy
Descriptive review and comparison of clinical outcomes of AFAP patients. [2010 NSGC poster presenation]
Committee: Wendy Kohlmann, MS, CGC (Chair); Deborah Neklason, PhD; Randall Burt, MD
*Jennifer Mueller
The current standards of practice for delivering genetic test results to clients in prenatal and pediatric genetic counseling specialties. [2010 NSGC platform presentation]
Committee: Janice Rinsky, MS, CGC (Chair); Jamie McDonald, MS, CGC; Lee Ellington, PhD
Kara Reynolds
Potential indications for prenatal microarray.
Committee: Sarah South, PhD (Chair); Alan Rope, MD; Katherine Dunn, MS
Tara Somer
Stress and support in rural and urban families.
Committee: Marcia Feldkamp, MPSH, PhD (Chair); Karin Dent, MS, CGC; Caren Frost, PhD, MPH
Heather Williams
The value of patient letters in prenatal genetic counseling.
Committee: Rebecca Hulinsky, MS, CGC (Chair); Jonathan Saari, MS, CGC; Erin Rothwell, PhD, Sally Planalp, MA, PhD
Class of 2009
Adrienne Baxter
Parent expectations and experiences with support groups for genetic pediatric conditions.
Committee: Janice Palumbos, CGC (Chair); Alan Rope, MD; Lynn Kerr, MD
*Kim Hart
Effects of genetic testing in HHT. [2009 HHT meeting platform presentation, Santander, Spain]
Committee: Jamie McDonald, CGC (Chair); Lee Ellington, PhD; Arthur Brothman, PhD
*Amber Mathiesen
Increasing parent-to-parent support in Utah, parents' needs, recommendations, and preferences. [2008 NSGC platform presentation]
Committee: Karin Dent, CGC (Chair); Marcia Feldkamp, MPSH, PhD; Caren Frost, PhD, MPH [This research won the 2008 Public Health SIG Grant Award.]
Lorraine Naylor
Evaluation of influences when choosing prenatal screening in Utah women age 35 years and older.
Committee: Danielle LaGrave, CGC (Chair); Brent Hafen, CGC; Nancy Rose, MD
◊Kayla Sheets
Latina mothers of children with Down syndrome and breaking difficult news.
Committee: John Carey, MD (Chair); Bonnie Baty, CGC; Wendy Hobson-Rohrer, MD [This research won the 2008 Membership Committee Student Project Award.]
Tatiana Tvrdik
Impact of structured plan of care on stress and coping in parents of children with Prader-Willi syndrome.
Committee: David Stevenson, MD (Chair); Karin Dent, CGC; Sidney Thornton, PhD
Class of 2008
†*Katherine Dunn
Melanoma Risk Communication: Assessing a Personal Risk Communication Model [2008 NSGC platform presentation; Expert Rev Dermatol 3:639-643, 2008].
Committee: Wendy Kohlmann, CGC (Chair); Sancy Leachman, MD; Cindy Solomon, CGC
Sara Goldstein
Assessment of the Red-Yellow-Green Diet in Improving Behaviors and Weight Management in the Prader-Willi Syndrome Population.
Committee: Sharon Ernst, RD (Chair); Janice Palumbos, CGC; Caren Frost, PhD
†*Fallon Levine
Attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions: screening and testing minors for FAP - a parent perspective [2008 NSGC platform presentation; J Genet Counsel 19:269-279, 2010].
Committee: Anita Kinney, PhD (Chair); Angela Schwab, CGC; David Stevenson, MD
Shea Patton
Measuring Genetic Counseling Outcomes.
Committee: Janet Williams, CGC (Chair); David Collingridge, PhD; To Be Named; Marc Williams, MD
Tessa Pitman
Molecular Genetic Testing for Hereditary Hemmorrhagic Telangectasia on At-Risk, Asymptomatic Children: A Parental Perspective.
Committee: Jamie McDonald, CGC (Chair); Lee Ellington, PhD; Carla Reyes, PhD
Kiana Siefkas
Evaluating Outcomes of Genetic Counseling for Pancreatic Cancer Sessions.
Committee: Wendy Kohlmann, CGC (Chair); Anita Kinney, PhD; Rob Wong, MD
Class of 2007
Kit Clark
Genetic Counselors' Attitudes toward Their Pregnancies and Utilization of Prenatal Testing.
Committee: Janet Williams, CGC (Chair); Janice Byrne, MD; Jeffrey Botkin, MD, MPH
*Heather Hussey
Patient Responses to 16 Testing in Familial Melanoma: A Grounded Theory Analysis [2007 NSGC platform presentation; 2008 NSGC poster presentation].
Committee: Sancy Leachman, MD, Lisa Aspinwall, PhD (Co-Chairs); Bonnie Baty, CGC; Lisa Wadge, CGC
*Michelle Kempf
Health Care Transition for Individuals with NF1: Adult Patient Perspectives [2007 NSGC platform presentation].
Committee: Karin Dent, CGC (Chair); David Viskochil, MD, PhD; Caren Frost, PhD
†*Zoe Lewis
Pancreatic Cancer Surveillance Among High-Risk Populations: Knowledge & Intent [2007 NSGC poster presentation; J Genet Counsel 18:229-238, 2009].
Committee: Vickie Venne, CGC (Chair); Caren Frost, PhD; Patricia Berry, PhD
†Candice Meldrum
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Genetic Counseling Access and Genetic Knowledge. [J. Child Neurol. 22(8):1019-26, 2007].
Committee: Kathryn Swoboda, MD (Chair); Nicola Longo, MD; Brent Hafen, CGC
†Jennifer Saam
How physicians use array comparative genomic hybridization results to guide patient management in children with developmental delay. [Genet Med 10(3):181-6, 2008].
Committee: James Gudgeon (Chair); Janice Palumbos, CGC; David Viskochil, MD, PhD