Laura
Birkeland,
MS, LCGC
Program Director, Assistant Professor
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Laura Birkeland, MS, LCGC is an assistant professor and directs the Masters of Genetic Counselor Studies program at UW-Madison. She teaches several courses in genetics and genetic counseling, mentors graduate students with their research project, and work with genetic counseling students, Laboratory Genetics and Genomics fellows, Maternal and Fetal Medicine fellows, as well as OB/Gyn residents. She provides prenatal genetic counseling services at the Center for Perinatal Care at UnityPoint Health - Meriter Hospital. She collaborates with the Center for Interprofessional Practice & Education and helps develop new IPE learning opportunities. She received her MS in Medical Genetics at UW-Madison, WI and her BA in Biology at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN.
Presenting at the Nexus Summit:
Perinatal loss is often considered a traumatic life event. Genetic testing is available to patients upon provider initiation to investigate the etiology, which can aid in the grieving process. While genetic testing is trending towards increased utilization by non-genetic providers, it remains unclear the perceived value in the perinatal setting, specifically in cases of spontaneous miscarriage, stillbirth, and loss due to life-limiting congenital anomalies. Historically, genetic testing is perceived as having lower priority and lower utility in palliative care, with barriers to pursuing…