Leslie Ordal: From DNA to Decisions

Leslie Ordal's work as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Program Director for the Master's in Genetic Counseling program at Boise State University bridges the gap between complex genetic science and practical healthcare decisions for patients and providers. She shares her journey from early social media adopter to helping create the first fully online genetic counseling program in the United States.

• Genetic counseling helps people understand and adapt to how genetics affects their health during critical decision-making periods
• Boise State's program supports rural healthcare by training counselors who can work remotely and create resources for far-flung providers
• Social media played a surprising role in Leslie's career path, starting with early adoption of platforms like LiveJournal and Twitter
• Student capstone projects focus on creating practical resources like infographics for doctors and children's books about rare genetic conditions
• ReadingFrame.org, created by a student, serves as an online repository making books about genetic conditions accessible worldwide
• The field addresses the challenge of helping doctors identify genetic conditions when they can't possibly keep up with all genetic advances
• Leslie lives and works remotely from Toronto, Canada, demonstrating the program's commitment to the virtual education model they teach

If you're interested in finding a genetic counselor in your area, visit findageneticcounselor.nsgc.org to connect with qualified professionals who can help navigate genetic testing decisions.