Portrait of Laura E Birkeland
Laura E Birkeland, MS, CGC
Assistant Professor (CHS), Director, Master of Genetic Counselor Studies
Maternal-Fetal Medicine
UnityPoint Health - Meriter

birkeland@wisc.edu

MS Medical Genetics University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 2007
BA - Magna Cum Laude Biology Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN 2000

Benoy ME, Iruretagoyena JI, Birkeland LE, Petty EM. The impact of insurance on equitable access to non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPT): private insurance may not pay. J Community Genet. 2021 Jan;12(1):185-197. doi: 10.1007/s12687-020-00498-w. Epub 2021 Jan 6. PMID: 33404996; PMCID: PMC7846657.

2021

s12687-020-00498-w.pdf (application/pdf)

Fisher CF, Birkeland LE, Reiser CA, Zhao Q, Palmer CGS, Zikmund-Fisher BJ, Petty EM. Alternative option labeling impacts decision-making in noninvasive prenatal screening. J Genet Couns. 2020 Dec;29(6):910-918. doi: 10.1002/jgc4.1191. Epub 2019 Dec 3. PMID: 31793699.

2019

Horn IP, Zakas AL, Smith-Simmer KJ, Birkeland LE, Sundstrom R, Burkard ME, Weiss JM. Genetic Testing Utilization: Discrepancies Between Somatic and Germline Results in Patients With Cancer Reviewed at the UW Health Precision Medicine Molecular Tumor Board. JCO Precis Oncol. 2024 May;8:e2300466. doi: 10.1200/PO.23.00466. PMID: 38810171; PMCID: PMC12132614.

2024

Vine MK, Kellom E, Kuhl A, Simone L, Ricker CN, Birkeland L. Spanish language opportunities in genetic counseling training programs in the United States. J Genet Couns. 2025 Apr;34(2):e1958. doi: 10.1002/jgc4.1958. Epub 2024 Aug 27. PMID: 39192515; PMCID: PMC11953460.

2025

Zaman Z, Henry SJ, Birkeland LE, Petty EM. Nine Successful Pregnancy Outcomes in a Woman With Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review. WMJ. 2022 Dec;121(4):e71-e74. PMID: 36637850.

2022

Birkeland becomes program director of Master of Genetic Counselor Studies

Please help us congratulate Assistant Professor Laura Birkeland, MS, CGC, who recently became the next program director of the UW SMPH Master of Genetic Counselor Studies! Birkeland will provide expert leadership, vision, and oversight to continue the growth and positive impact of this important health professions education program.

Laura joined the UW SMPH in 2006, and has been the assistant program director for the Master of Genetic Counselor Studies Program since 2014. Learn more about Laura’s new role here! Congratulations on this well-deserved honor!

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